Relocating - help!

[michigangeorge]

Hi Tugnuts,
I've been enjoying your forum for awhile now and am hoping you may help us in our quest for a new home base.
We will be buying a trailerable trawler of some sort ( yep, Rangers are high on the list) and would like to find a mid - east coast location for our new home. We are hoping to spend our summers cruising up north and winters in south Florida near our kids in Naples.
Looking for a location where we can purchase an inexpensive (under $250,000)retirement home so more $$$ can be spent on and enjoying our new boat. We do not need waterfront property but would like to be near a larger body of water with dockage available.
As retirees living on a fixed income downsizing is necessary if we are to purchase a high quality boat, truck and trailer such as used by you folks. We feel eastern Virginia offers the climate and location we would like but we have not found the small town with affordable housing we are after.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
George

 

[knotflying]

George,
You may need to go further south than VA to find something less than $250,000 in a house, especially if you want to be close enough to the water to get some cruising in.

 

[golftrek]

We keep our boat at Southport, NC, a lovely town in southern NC right on the ICW with access to the ocean and the Cape Fear River. Southport has a alot to do, has its own hospital and is near the larger town of Wilmington, NC. There are several nice and reasonable marinas and easy to use ramps. There are already 4-5 Ranger Tugs in Southport. We do not own a house there (Live in Chapel Hill--the middle of North Carolina) but we have casually looked at housing prices and the off water prices seem reasonable. There is also a beach island, Oak Island with reasonable prices (reachable by a bridge). Don't look at Bald Head--very expensive. The winters will be milder than Virginia. We did not winterize last year and used our boat several times in the winter.
Send us a private message for more info.

Jim and Jo Ann
Banjo

 

[tuggertoy]

Southeastern PA is close to the Chesapeake Bay and PA (like Florida) doesn't tax retirement income. We live in West Chester, PA which puts us 45 minutes from North East, MD and 1.5 hours from Rock Hall, MD. If you looked in Southern Chester County near Oxford, West Grove or Nottingham - that would put you a lot closer. It will take you a lifetime to cruise the entire bay. Many counties in Maryland have public boat launches which you can use after purchasing a permit. This would allow you to launch your tug in many different locations. That is what we do with TuggerToy. Good luck with your search and welcome (we hope) to the family!!

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

George:

As Jim on Banjo stated Southport is a great town. Another, further north and into N Carolina is New Bern, which might be worth checking into. If you'd consider moving inland to the Great Lakes our town of Traverse City, Michigan is a great community with access to the Great Lakes, the east coast via the Erie Canal and down south via the river system. Both New Bern and Traverse City are in the latest BoatU.S. magazine as 2 of there top 10 boating retirement communities in the U.S. I have friends in Southport and New Bern in the event you want to talk to someone for any first hand information or if by chance you'd be interested in Traverse City please feel free to PM me.

Jim

 

[SPaddock]

The June/July issue of Boat US magazine had a feature story on ten great boating towns. You might enjoy reviewing the information they gathered.

Good luck!

 

[circusmar]

East Coastal = Hurricane risk, shop carefully. Some insurers will not write policies within certain miles of the coast. Add pretty bad coastal flood risk near the water, check your flood designation as flood insurance may be mandatory. The further the north, the better statistically. :?

The tax situation for retirees varies somewhat but that is out of our area of expertise. At least property values in the southern midlantic are reasonable.

 

[mspaugy]

The eastern shore of Virginia is very nice with many small towns near water

 

[michigangeorge]

George:

As Jim on Banjo stated Southport is a great town. Another, further north and into N Carolina is New Bern, which might be worth checking into. If you'd consider moving inland to the Great Lakes our town of Traverse City, Michigan is a great community with access to the Great Lakes, the east coast via the Erie Canal and down south via the river system. Both New Bern and Traverse City are in the latest BoatU.S. magazine as 2 of there top 10 boating retirement communities in the U.S. I have friends in Southport and New Bern in the event you want to talk to someone for any first hand information or if by chance you'd be interested in Traverse City please feel free to PM me.

Jim

Hi Jim, we are already here - in Petoskey! So yes, we agree Northwest Michigan is a lovely place and have truly enjoyed it for the past 14 years. However, all our kids and grandchildren are living in SW Florida and we would like to be closer to them while still able to get "up north" each summer to cruise. We figure we can split the 2000 mile difference and reach that happy medium while extending our "at home" season for some longer spring and fall boating time.
And Jim, it was your TRAILER TRAWLER blog that got us started in this quest! Like so many others here, we have owned larger boats and no longer want the hassle and expense which they entail. We purchased your books and are eagerly awaiting updates to your blog. Aways keeping an eye out for KISMET when around the waterfront as well 🙂

 

[Bill Uffelman]

We have our retirement home in Ocean View DE 3 miles inland from Bethany Beach. Many homes in the area will meet your criteria. Hurricanes do pass through from time to time - Sandy destroyed one of our mums -- but if you are not located on the water they are wind and rain events that modern homes are quite capable of withstanding.

Ranger Tugs are stored on the hard at Indian River Bay Marina so they are obviously using the local waters. If you are trailering you have easy access to the Chesapeake. If boating over, go up the Delaware River to the C&D Canal and cross to the Bay -- lots of places to explore.

While we have not purchased a boat yet it is on the list after we put a screened room on the back deck.

We have also considered storing the boat at Cambridge MD which is about one hour away.

We are headed to Delaware next Tuesday morning after the Nevada legislature adjourns the 2013 session. This will begin a 24 month transition into retirement as I will still commute to work in Nevada and my wife enjoys life in Lower Slower Delaware. BTW no sales tax and low income taxes with a great hospital in Lewes DE.

Email or call if you want more info or want to stop by.

Bill Uffelman
702 - 375 -9025 cell

 

[rt11002003]

You might consider Gainesville, Ga and the surrounding area. It's one of BoatUS's recommended areas, 10 Best. Lake Lanier is here. We live in Flowery Branch on Lake Lanier, about 12 miles from Gainesville. Been retired here for 10 years. Good tax structure for retirees. Excellent medical facilities. Atlanta and its offerings are 45 minutes away. Athens and the University of GA are even closer. Major East/West and North/South interstate system.

We have lived in GA since 1975, retired here from the USAF. Then worked at other places here until 2003. Considered retiring in the Chesapeake (sp) Bay area, Mobile Bay area, Oriental, NC area, etc. Had lived in VA for 7 years exposed the salt water; decided we preferred fresh water full time, with short periods in salt water.

gene

 

[michigangeorge]

Thanks to everyone for the thoughts and ideas. Looking forward to a road trip to check them out 🙂

 

[dante3756]

I can only echo those heralding Southport as a Port of Call. We moved to Southport after several trips up and down the east coast. Lots and lots of land nearby and available housing in all price ranges. Great little town with restaurants along the waterfront with free dockage for lunch or even overnight (with a dinner). Lots of other places to visit nearby. Check out the recent movie (now on DVD), which was filmed in Southport - "Safe Haven." Nice chick flik. Also, marina costs are as low as $200/month for a 40 ft slip. We bought a slip for $60K and wish I hadn't, since rental prices are so low. Snug - Ranger 29.

 

[wefings]

Ill put my 2 cents in for the Gulf Coast of Florida . Specifically the Panhandle . We have all the seasons, the nicest people , and some great cruising here . Our weather unpleasntries [you have them everywhere] are off set by the natural beauty and great lifestyle that us real southerners cherish.And it dosent snow.
Marc

 

[Ainokea]

Agree!

 

[golftrek]

For anyone interested in Southport Marina and the town of Southport, NC there is a great new video at the Southport Marina website.

Jo Ann
Banjo

 

[michigangeorge]

Thanks Jo Ann, looks like a great place.

 

[GA-Midnight Cruise]

For years I did the flight communte from Atlanta to the NE. Like a big kid, I never tired of the window seat and would name the cities as we flew over them. On several occassions, I observed a stunning lake in the midst of substantial topography with an unmistakeable damn. I never knew the name of the beautiful man made feature I saw so many times at the foot of the Applachian mountains. It was prominent and roughly at the southern end of the Shannendoah Valley area. I always intended to ID the lake but after getting home, doing homework was not high on the priority list. I've done some biking on the Virginia Creeper Trail in Damascus, VA over the years, would rent a house and take clients on customer outings. The shuttle to the top is a 45 minute van ride and when you depart White Top, you can literally coast your bike for 17 miles without hitting a lick on the pedals! I once took a very heavy man 300+ lbs on the trip and he had a blast. He stayed an extra day and I could not pass another day on the trail. The experience can best be described as riding your bike thru a Norman Rockwell painting. On my last trip, I found that lake quite by accident while on a Virginia Creeper trip. The North section of the trail literally crosses the headwaters of South Halston Lake. Great mix of boating opportunities and biking. The other end of this abandoned rail trail is Abingdon, VA home of the Barter Theater, Virginia's State theater. Make sure to catch a show. It's like Broadway on a beer budget. The Virginia Creeper is the most beautiful rail trail east of the Mississippi. Go during the hottest part of the summer and ride down in your swimming britches. There are 24 train tressels you'll coast across that crosses the meandering river it's entire length. You can dunk in the river and soak a bottle of wine on a picnic stop. There are several marinas on South Halston Lake, though none sell diesel so plan accordingly. I am planning taking the tug there next year.