How far to your boating waters?

L

Larry Patrick

New member
We have a slip at Erie for the season its 5.5 hrs. Last year at finger lakes only 2hrs. Didn't realize until driving that far that wish boat was closer ,but not to many closer options. With a busy work season we have only got there twice. Wish it was 1/2 hour away,we would be on boat 4 or 5 times a week. Going to try and get up there every other week from now on. Any one else travel regularly as far as we do? Sure would be nice to be close to boat.
 
75 feet from breakfast room, where I am sitting to dock. Boating was so important in my life, that for the majority of time, my boat in a slip was less than 20 minutes from my home or work--often 10 minutes. One of the reasons for us to retire in Florida, was to have an affordable home on the water.

We have some folks who drive from Atlanta GA. to Pensacola, FL--it is probably about 5 to 5.5 hours. That is a long time, and dedication to boating!
 
Our usual launch places are 50 miles (~1.5 hours) and 80 miles (~2.15 hours) one way. That doesn't include the hour it takes to pick up the boat from the storage lot.

The closest suitable place to boat is 45 miles away. but we don't often go there.

Because of my work travel we typically use the boat about once a month for a couple of days.
 
thataway":1vqnkb1n said:
...One of the reasons for us to retire in Florida, was to have an affordable home on the water. ...
Click to expand...

I thought "affordable home" and "on the water" was an oxymoron even in FL. Perhaps your definition of "affordable" is different from mine.
 
ssobol":1ao5m60o said:
thataway":1ao5m60o said:
...One of the reasons for us to retire in Florida, was to have an affordable home on the water. ...
Click to expand...

I thought "affordable home" and "on the water" was an oxymoron even in FL. Perhaps your definition of "affordable" is different from mine.
Click to expand...

Well, we came from Calif. and sold an nice, average subdivision home in Westminister for $350,000. Bought a 40 year old home with 100 feet of waterfront (water depth was 6 feet), and half an acre for $90,000. There were plenty of homes for less at that time. (23 years ago).

We sold that house and bought a newer house, about 15 years ago. 75 feet waterfront, with 3' shoal at entrance to bayou-but about 6' depth at the house. After hurricanes, and the recession: houses are about where they were 15 years ago. Three vacant lost with 100 feet of water front, and 200 feet deep, just sold for $65,000 each. A 1500 sq foot house is currently being built on one. The house next door to this could be bought for $220,000. (about 2,000 sq feet). I find a number of waterfront in the $250,000 +/- in many areas of Florida. (not Miami--but I would not live there). Supposedly the "Median" home in the US is $189,000. Median house in VA is $234,000, but up in the NE area over $560,000...So by that criteria, I would say that Fl. Water front is still affordable.
 
For us, it is 1100 miles from Indy to second home on Charlotte Harbor. I visit 3 or 4 times per year and The Admiral a lot more and all ready to go boating. Once there. it is about 50 feet from back door to the boat on a lift and about the same to other dock on a canal. Cant wait to move there for good or sell and move to the ICW
 
Down 9 steps from our deck to the dock. Like Dr. Bob, it is the reason we built a vacation home (now, our only home) in the Tropical Tip of Texas. The house is on a canal that leads to the Gulf ICW.

For full disclosure, we are currently boatless. So, when we are there, it is still convenient for tossing in a kayak or SUP.

When we had the home in the frozen northland, we were two hours from a marina on a lake. Drove there most summer weekends for a lot of years. It meant yard work and other chores had to be done after work on weekdays so we could have that escape time on the boat. There is something to be said for living close to (or next to, or ON) your boat. :wink:
 
Thousand miles or so in one direction or another :lol: (There are places to boat closer, but I like to stay out for awhile and am not much of a "day sailor.")

When I do go out for a day type thing, it tends to be in a kayak or rowboat.

I grew up on the water with the dock just steps away - that was special and I only got out of the water when I had to. Now I travel to water but boat in a variety of places. Both nice in their own ways.
 
Retired early, sold the house, after a few years cruising in a small r.v., we bought a boat, moved aboard and our home was on the water for many years, all over our country. El and Bill
 
Larry: Your slip is 5.5 hours away from you? That definitely seems like an inconvenience. Especially if you need to get there quick to check on the boat before/after a storm.

My slip is 40 minutes from my house. Next season I'm considering getting a Boston slip which will be 20 minutes away from me, especially if I buy a 25.

Larry, I just checked the map. You live in Dallas, Pa correct? Would putting your boat in Long Island, NY or the Jersey shore be a viable option for you? Those areas are only 2.5 hours from Scranton.....Way better than 5.5!
 
200 miles to Yellowstone, 189 to Flaming Gorge, 300 to Pen O Reil (sp) or Cour D Alane, 400 to Lake Powell, but being retired gives me time and choices. I can also get to Washington State and Southern California in two days. Retirement is great. BUT, I'd love to walk out my door and down a dock to my boat.
 
For me, it's not how far is it to boating waters but rather how far is it to good fishing waters. My boat spends half the summer in Neah Bay and half in Ilwaco this year. Both are about 4.5 hours away. While there is fishable water only 20 mins away, the number and quality of fish is so much better that it's worth the extra 4+ hours drive each way (for me). But you have to be crazy about fishing to understand this. :lol:
 
A hundred yards or two as the crow flies (yes we have crows as well as eagles and seagulls), perhaps twice that taking the paths. But unfortunately shoulder surgery still means no boating without a friend who knows boat handling.

I manage to get out every few weeks, but still fatigued afterwards, must be getting old. I was warned recovery was slow, but didn't think it was take this long (ten weeks and counting).
 
When I've lived so far from the water I've gone to the rivers and ponds in kayaks, rafts, jet boats, inner tubes and little sailboats. It scratches that itch pretty darn well.

Presently, it's about a third of a mile to my boat, but that's because my house is kind of on the far side of the harbor, and my boat is at the end of a long float. I can look out most of the rooms in my house and see my boat, as well as the boat's I'm responsible for at work. It is the best! You need to move ASAP.
 
My boat is "slipped" on it's trailer in my driveway or back yard. lol. My Boating locations are then anywhere from 8 minutes away to several days away. :D Colby
 
30 feet to the home waters. I can also echo the sentiment above - there are still a few homes here in the $90K range and many lots in Hernando Beach for a fraction of that. It just takes diligent looking to find the right situation and price for waterfront living.
 
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