Help with where to spend the winter... - The Hull Truth

Forrest_Gump · 09-16-2009, 06:16 AM

Hi,

I live in Maine and posted to the Carolinas forum last year, finding a wonderful place on Harkers Island with great fishing till it got colder and windy in January. I have an RV, Grady White walk around with twin Yami 150's on a trailer, and a 4 x 4 pick up. I would like to find a place in the Keys for the coming winter, either a lot on a canal I could rent, or a spot near a deep water ramp. Could be a spot in a Marina, but I need some room and I have a dog. :-) I might be interested in buying a canal lot/trailer/house/dock or combination of the above with access to the ocean without a low bridge. I am in my 60's, a retired pilot, and ready to start spending time where I can fish in the winter. I am going to spend it, not take it with me.

:-)

Thanks in advance,

George

Life is like a box of Chocolate....

Door#3 · 09-16-2009, 08:54 AM

I would spend my winters in Marathon if I was trying to choose a Keys location. You will still probably have lots of those days where you will keep the boat at the dock because of the wind, but at least it will be warm.

CudjoeDon · 09-16-2009, 01:26 PM

Marathon is a good choice, it still has some RV places on the water. Not much choice between there and Key West except where I am in Venture Out. Look at www.waterfrontkeys.com and www.dolberryrealty.com for rental and sales info. Nothing in Key West anymore, Boyd's on Stock Island is questionable for a boat your size -- as is Blue Water RV. Sugarloaf KOA is an outside possibility, I'm not sure of their dockage. All of those are more expensive for rentals.

Many RV parks have gone away, many others would be gone if the real estate market had not crashed.

CudjoeDon

Forrest_Gump · 09-21-2009, 05:30 AM

Thanks, Door and Don... I used to work out of Key West in the mid 70's (shrimping) but would be looking at Marathon/Big Pine/Cudjoe and points in between... I have scoured the realtors and see lots of places for sale, but think I might do better pounding the turf and seas looking when I get there... I have a lead on a trailer and lot at Big Pine but don't find many ramps that can handle my boat nearby... Keep the ideas coming, or you can pm me if you have a place you may want to rent or sell, or know of one...

Thanks,

George (getting cold here in Maine) :-)

CudjoeDon · 09-21-2009, 07:31 AM

A few pieces of advice:

1. A lot of the asking prices are still way higher than what people will take, so look at what's sold and consider low-ball offers. Some people bought their property so long ago that ultimately they'll take very low offers because they still make a big profit.

2. The laws and regulations are very bad down here [since about 1986] and vary whether you are in unincorporated Monroe County or cities like Marathon.

3. There is a lot of pressure to eliminate mobile home and RV parks [although the local governments deny it] so do your homework carefully when ready to buy. Some parks are in turmoil, some sent out eviction notices and then rescinded them because re-development plans/financing fell through, some the residents will have to spend a ton of money for the new sewer system going in, etc.

CudjoeDon