My Backyard Could Have A Boatslip? Options

[1retiree]

Does anyone have advice on this place or town? I found this waterfront community, lots for sale in Wilmington, NC called Mason Landing Yacht Club. They are selling lots for about $550k, but they have boat slips included. I have always wanted to retire in a boating type community, but do any of you have suggestions on pros & cons of maintaining a boat? I love the fact that my backyard could be right on the intracoastal, but if I am going to invest $$, i would like to know the "skinny". Please give me your feedback.
Here is the link.
www.masonlanding.com

I just sent away for their information, it's free, and I was reading too they are giving away round trip tickets in a drawing just for sending away for info...I am all over that!

Here is the sign up page:
Mason Landing Info

[rewind]

I don't have any particular knowledge of this area although I have driven through Wilmington, NC and can say it is a nice area.

Regarding boats. I have owned a sail boat and was a member of a couple different yacht clubs over the years. The big disadvantage to a power yacht these days is the cost of gas or even diesel. It would not be unusual to hand over $1500.00 or more to fill up a descent size boat and that would be good for a couple days motoring. The big advantages are that it is ready to go at all times and requires only the turn of the key and you drive away. The operation is relatively simple and requires little attention or effort while under way. Compared to a sailing yacht, a motor yacht draws little water so approaches to harbours and anchorages is simplified.

Sailing yachts also get under way easily under a motor but once under way, you must raise and trim sails and the sail trim and course requires constant attention and some work. While it is possible to sail single handed, it usually requires at least a one additional knowledgeable and capable crew. The cost under sail is near zero so extended cruising becomes attractive. A sailing vessel has a keel that can be very deep requiring deep water anchorages and care with harbour approaches and tides etc. If you are contemplating a sailing vessel, one of your first concerns should be water depth at all tides at your slip and the approaches. Tides around NC will be up around six feet and a 35 - 40 ft yacht might draw up around 8 or 9 feet depending on keel style.

In both cases, a yacht requires constant maintenance and attention. It has been said, with some truth, that a yacht is a big hole in the water into which you must constantly pour buckets of money.

[1retiree]

Thanks "rewind". This was very helpful. I see what you mean about the gas, but I would shy away from large vessels after your assessment. This Mason Landing does not give in depth details of the slips, but I think It would be worth sending away for more details on their site. They are giving away $1000 too, so it's worth the hassle of giving my info I guess.

I guess what's appealing to me is that there is a dogone' marina in your backyard, and it's private....I need a small community like this, there are only 34 lots.

Any other waterfront retiring suggestions?

[rewind]

I don't really have an opinion on the area you are looking at nor any other. We spent last winter in Destin, FL and on our return trip by car we were looking at the coastal lighthouses along the Gulf coast of Northwest FL and then along the Atlantic coast from St Augustine, FL up as far as Myrtle Beach, SC which is just south of Wilmington. Because we were looking at lighthouses, we drove through a lot of coastal resort areas including Amelia Island, FL, St Simon Island, GA, Hunting Island, SC, Oak Island, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC. It was my distinct impression that the housing and mortgage situation in the US had produced a buyers market in retirement coastal properties. In some locations (Amelia Island, FL) it looked like about every third or fourth waterfront property was for sale. These ran the gamut from middle class retirement homes either on or near the water to huge mansions with private beaches to gated communities with easy access and a variety of housing styles like high rise condos and beach cottages.

If there is any problem, it is that there is too much choice but one thing is certain, there should be some very good deals available. Go to http://maps.google.com/ and type into the search box "Mason Landing Road, Wilmington, NC" (without the quotes) and you will fly into the location of your development. there will be a marker and the Yacht Club docks will be just below and to the right of the marker. Click on "Satellite" and the view switches from a map to a satellite view. Click on the + in the upper left of the view and zoom in. Click and drag the centre of the view so Mason Landing development stays in the centre of the picture. Note that the satellite view is a couple of years old so there is no development and the harbour is that of a prior business (a Marina). Click on the More Tab and then click on Photos and some local photos become available for viewing. You may have to zoom out somewhat. For a quick trip over the area, zoom out and click and drag the view south keeping the coast in sight. Switch back and forth between Map and Satellite views and you can take a complete trip all the way down the coast to Florida. Zoom in and out as appropriate.

If you are going to sink big $$ into a place, I suggest you take a long motor holiday and visit several areas along the coast.

[1retiree]

Thanks again for the feedback. I think I need to take your advice and take a roady' trip. I know the area well, but need to take a closer look at this. Thanks for the tips on Google maps! You must be pretty good on the internet.

[daniell]

Alot of people don't consider the indirect connection between gasoline prices and large boats. Some people may consider "ok" so it'll cost a little more to fill my outboard but most of the time I'll be under sail.

However, a keel boat requires a large car to tow it - if not around the highway, then only up and down the launching ramp - you'll need something larger than a Corolla. Such a waste of money to purchase an SUV, Pickup, or van just to launch your boat.

[1retiree]

You are not kidding about an SUV....
I just want a peaceful place to live in where I can lay in a hammock!

[rewind]

Alot of people don't consider the indirect connection between gasoline prices and large boats. Some people may consider "ok" so it'll cost a little more to fill my outboard but most of the time I'll be under sail.

However, a keel boat requires a large car to tow it - if not around the highway, then only up and down the launching ramp - you'll need something larger than a Corolla. Such a waste of money to purchase an SUV, Pickup, or van just to launch your boat.

Actually, your concerns are badly misplaced. Almost all keel boats are too heavy, too tall and too inconvenient to tow with any passenger vehicle or launch from a boat ramp. Even a smallish 25 ft keel boat will weigh in at over 5000 lbs. The keel plus hull and deck will be around 10 or 11 feet from bottom to top so will make up a trailer package near 6000 lbs and about 12 feet tall. The mast would be around 30 feet long and usually would require a couple of strong people at least to step and unstep. Sailing boats small enough to be towed by a passenger car, launched at a boat ramp and rigged and unrigged on each launch will all be under about 16 ft max and will be centre board style rather than fixed keel style. Such boats rarely have any supplementary power.

Keel boats are almost always launched only once per year with a crane or marine railway. Sailing, even considering the small amount of fuel burned while on axillary power, is probably the most environmentally friendly recreational activities that a person can engage in. They are clean, quiet and after having sailed past, leave no trace of their passing.

[maxicat]

Yes it can be expensive to move even a relatively small sailboat. We had a 26 foot sailboat for several years and the only way to move it over land was by tractor-trailer. A 48 foot mast and a weight of 9000 pounds made it impossible to tow with any SUV or pickup truck.

[1retiree]

I hear what you all are saying, but keep in mind that this place I am looking at has a 40 foot private boat slip included, not to mention it is in a protected marina. I know it would have to be maintained, but hopefully taken out of the water yearly right?

I just like the idea of going in my back yard and stepping into my boat!!

[rewind]

I have never maintained a boat in salt water so I'm not sure what bottom maintenance is required. Around here, the water gets very hard for a few months every year so the boats are routinely lifted out and then back in a few months later. During this time any boats I have been associated with have their bottom paint renewed and any maintenance done.

[firstmate]

Rewind is right,
"In both cases, a yacht requires constant maintenance and attention. It has been said, with some truth, that a yacht is a big hole in the water into which you must constantly pour buckets of money."
We had a 30 ft. Sailboat for 18 years on the coast of Vancouver Island and it is a lot of work and money spent. Half the time you still need your motor because the wind is non existing. We had a diesel engine though and it was cheap to run. Repairs always crop up on a boat and anything for a boat is much more expensive than the same part for a land use. We pulled it out of the water for maintenance once a year to clean and paint the bottom. That was a lot of work. We saw how the boat yard workers did the job on other peoples boats and were not impressed, so we did the job ourselves. All told I am glad we sold after all that time Think it over carefully!!
firstmate

[1retiree]

Yes I know. I appreciate all the feedback, however if I have the resources to own a boat, albeit a small boat, I just like the idea of being able to walk 20 yards and step into my own private boatslip. Remember, we are retireing, and as long as I do not go banannas with a large vessel, I can swing it financially. If you remember, Mason Landing Yacht Club comes with it's own 50 slip marina, and I can come and go as I please. I do not do well in large areas.

Am I missing something, please tell me if there is something glaringly wrong with the place I am looking at.

Mason Landing Yacht Club, Wilmington, NC