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Live aboard slips in Florida

  • Thread starter Thread starter elec6143
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elec6143

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Looking for recommendations on live aboard marinas in Florida or private docks. We are relocating to Florida from the Boston area. We are finding it quite difficult to find anything.
 
Florida is pretty big... SOFL, west coast, north central?

In SoFl dockage is a problem especially over 50. Most private docks do not allow liveaboards because of zoning issues.
 
Good afternoon! We ran into similar issues but settled on the Fort Myers area because of large selection of marinas that welcome liveaboards. If you're interested check out the Waterway Guide reviews, or PM me and I will be glad to tell you what I know about the marinas in our area including the one we're living in and love.
 
Pascal said:
Florida is pretty big... SOFL, west coast, north central?

In SoFl dockage is a problem especially over 50. Most private docks do not allow liveaboards because of zoning issues.
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Thanks, we are open to any location.
 
elec6143 said:
Thanks, we are open to any location.
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In that case, you have a lot more work to do than simply finding a marina. There is a HUGE difference between, say, the Destin/Pensacoloa area and the Miami/Ft.Lauderdale area; Jacksonville/St. Augustine is vastly different from the Keys; Tampa Bay is different from Ft. Pierce/Stuart. Narrow down your choices on population density, costs-of-living, urban/rural, distance to airports, shopping, cultural outlets, and climate. Then start looking for marinas. Active Captain and Waterways Guide are good places to start once you've narrowed your search.
 
Here in SoFl the only affordable marinas which accepts liveaboards is the city of Miami run Dinner Key Marina. Long wait list though.

Prime Marina, also in the grove, allows LAs but about $40/50 a foot per month on annual contract. Same price range at Miami Beach marina. County marinas do not allow LAs or even sleeping on boats at some locations.
 
elec6143 said:
Looking for recommendations on live aboard marinas in Florida or private docks. We are relocating to Florida from the Boston area. We are finding it quite difficult to find anything.
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Boston?! I was going to say that Florida is full, but upon second thought, I recommend the Pensacola/Orange Beach Alabama area- just for the amusement factor of y’all trying to understand each others English. Lol
 
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Another thought to consider; getting an annual slip is going to be harder that a seasonal or monthly one. When we first moved aboard full time, we were limited to seasonal rental slips while waiting for an annual slip to become available. So, we moved several times a year. Being retired, this wasn't much of a problem. We enjoyed all areas of the state from the Keys to Ft. Meyers, to Titusville, Ft. Pierce, Jacksonville, Hollywood, Lauderdale and the upper Gulf areas from Orange Beach to Destin and Pensacola. We eventually settled in the Keys [Islamorada] before deciding to sell the live aboard and move ashore. Lots to consider.
 
Monthly or seasonal can be as much as 30% more expensive...
 
captainwjm said:
Another thought to consider; getting an annual slip is going to be harder that a seasonal or monthly one. When we first moved aboard full time, we were limited to seasonal rental slips while waiting for an annual slip to become available. So, we moved several times a year. Being retired, this wasn't much of a problem. We enjoyed all areas of the state from the Keys to Ft. Meyers, to Titusville, Ft. Pierce, Jacksonville, Hollywood, Lauderdale and the upper Gulf areas from Orange Beach to Destin and Pensacola. We eventually settled in the Keys [Islamorada] before deciding to sell the live aboard and move ashore. Lots to consider.
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Thanks, there is a lot to consider.
 
They have live aboards where I am (in Melbourne), 12/ft + electric, but I rent from a slip owner for 10/ft + electric. Also, I think there is a live aboard fee ($150 / mo) if you rent from the marina, versus no fee from the slip owner. At least here. So, that is a factor to watch for. Renting the slip from an owner versus from the marina.

https://melbourneharbor.com

I don't live aboard, but several do. I am there mainly on weekends.
 
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Retired1 said:
Boston?! I was going to say that Florida is full, but upon second thought, I recommend the Pensacola/Orange Beach Alabama area- just for the amusement factor of y’all trying to understand each others English. Lol
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I see a lot of, “Say do what?”, replies in their futures. :D

If y’all decide on that part of the country, I can handle making slip reservations and stuff so you’re not discriminated against.
 
Clearly Retired1 has never been to Boston.......particularly by water 😀
 
We have been considering moving from Morehead City NC area to Fl and live aboard for winter months. Have head horror stories about insurance rates that are way above ours here. Any insight from those of you down there?
 
Don't know what a good versus bad rate is. I pay $2800 a year. Diving and bottom paint is more.:(
 
johnjen50 said:
Clearly Retired1 has never been to Boston.......particularly by water 
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But have been to Bywater many times. They have a patois that sounds like the Bronx, but all you need is a “yay, you right” (pronounced as in one word)to fit right in. After my last trip to Boston, I instigated a self imposed rule of “never again, any place east of Long Island NY”. More recently I updated it to “Never more than one mile north of I-10 in its entirety “. Makes me happy.
 
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Photolomy said:
They have live aboards where I am (in Melbourne), 12/ft + electric, but I rent from a slip owner for 10/ft + electric. Also, I think there is a live aboard fee ($150 / mo) if you rent from the marina, versus no fee from the slip owner. At least here. So, that is a factor to watch for. Renting the slip from an owner versus from the marina.

https://melbourneharbor.com

I don't live aboard, but several do. I am there mainly on weekends.
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That's is great idea renting from a slip owner. How do you find an owner that is renting a slip in Melbourne Harbor marina?
 
elec6143 said:
That's is great idea renting from a slip owner. How do you find an owner that is renting a slip in Melbourne Harbor marina?
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That is a good question. We came across ours in craig's list. There are also dock sites on the internet. There isn't one leader, so you have to google and look through each of them. Where we are the owners seem to handle renting on their own. Some marinas manage the owned slips for the owners.
 
Photolomy said:
Don't know what a good versus bad rate is. I pay $2800 a year. Diving and bottom paint is more.:(
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Who do you have for insurance company?
 
elec6143 said:
Who do you have for insurance company?
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BoatUS (Geico). I get a discount (~300) because I also have car insurance with them.
 
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