Retirement home in the south

Sounds like Florida is a neat place. What size boat would you feel comfotable running up and down both coats and along the nothern Gulf coast as far as the Mississippi. Fore those that moved there do you find your boat deteriorates any faster than it did in the north and are moorage cost similar? We go to Baja Mexico for the winter and miss having a real boat to go out on. We have brought down our 21 footer but it is not the same as a cruiser. May try Florida next year. No offence to those in AZ but there is not much open water there.
 
In Northwest Florida, we have the ICW that allows you to go from Mississippi to East of Apalachicola FL in a dinghy if you want to. IT is a great place for any sized boat because there is something and somewhere for everyone. We find that a fairly large cruiser affords us the ability to trade either off shore in the gulf or via the ICW depending upon the winds and weather. The size boat you need depends more upon your comfort level for space than sea keeping since barrier islands protect most of the coast and give you a flat water option.
 
Havana Shamrock said:
Congrats Mark, can you elaborate on the positives that appealed to you in Punta Gorda?
Click to expand...
Besides the fact that it just feels right I'll list a few things that come to mind.

Quiet little town but has everything you need as far as retail, bars, restuarants.
Lots of waterfront parks, walking trails, bike trails.
Canal system and seawall behind my house are maintained by the city.
Deed restricted community - all houses are stucco with tile roofs - nothing looks junky.
Right on Charlotte harbor with lots of open water and reasonable distance to the gulf.
Great back water fishing. Tarpon, snook, sheepshead, redfish, jacks.
Lots of community activities and events.
Very low crime
very low crime
Very low crime
Affordable homes
Nice people.
The only thing you hear at night while laying in bed is the sound of fish jumping in the canal and the rustling of palm trees. It's very quiet and peaceful. Mark
 
northern said:
Sounds like Florida is a neat place. What size boat would you feel comfotable running up and down both coats and along the nothern Gulf coast as far as the Mississippi. Fore those that moved there do you find your boat deteriorates any faster than it did in the north and are moorage cost similar? We go to Baja Mexico for the winter and miss having a real boat to go out on. We have brought down our 21 footer but it is not the same as a cruiser. May try Florida next year. No offence to those in AZ but there is not much open water there.
Click to expand...

No offense taken because there is no open water here that would allow for extended cruising like in the ocean or Gulf. The bigger boats here are pretty much dock queens.

BTW Frank W I saw a picture in the news this morning of a Florida license plate with ice on it in Fort Walton. Better get some long johns for your resident gator!!!:smt043
 
Sea Ray Mark said:
Besides the fact that it just feels right I'll list a few things that come to mind.

Quiet little town but has everything you need as far as retail, bars, restuarants.
Lots of waterfront parks, walking trails, bike trails.
Canal system and seawall behind my house are maintained by the city.
Deed restricted community - all houses are stucco with tile roofs - nothing looks junky.
Right on Charlotte harbor with lots of open water and reasonable distance to the gulf.
Great back water fishing. Tarpon, snook, sheepshead, redfish, jacks.
Lots of community activities and events.
Very low crime
very low crime
Very low crime
Affordable homes
Nice people.
The only thing you hear at night while laying in bed is the sound of fish jumping in the canal and the rustling of palm trees. It's very quiet and peaceful. Mark
Click to expand...

My sister and her husband have been wintering in PGI for probably 15 years and finally bought a place around 5 years ago. They love it there. Their both boaters and have 1 in PGI, and 1 in their full time place on the North Shore of LI.

I've only been there once, and that was in the summer and it was REAL quiet then. Like nobody there.

Mike
 
Sea Ray Mark - You must be mistaken, that town is called "Heaven" LOL!!
 
Seems like another good reason to pay off the mortgage. I live on an inland FL lake that is in a 100 year flood plane but the lake level is controlled by the corps of engineers so flooding is unlikely. It's the lender requiring the flood insurance.
 
Hi Mike; Have you met Deb and Scott Cusenz yet? They have the 53 Hatteras at Twin Dolphins. We had a nice Sunday morning brunch with them last month. A nice couple, and they are living on the boat. Griff4
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,474
Members
61,034
Latest member
Lukerney
Back
Top