Advice welcome!

[TBubrick]

Retiring this week. We will continue to live in Central Florida for one more year, then able to relocate. We have another year here while my daughter finishes High School. My wife and I are then planning to move to the East Coast of Florida, more to the south of Orlando, Boca, Deerfield, Lauderdale...

As a new/old hobby, my wife and I are thinking of taking up boating/fishing when we relocate. I've been looking at the SeaCrafts for years. I've owned one back in 1980, a 23 Sceptre. My brother had one back in the mid 70s.

One idea is to take the year we are stuck in Orlando and use it to renew a SeaCraft which would be ready for that relocation in a year. My inclination is a Center Console 23.

Should I take to two aspirins and lay down until the feeling passes or get after it? lol It really is the only hope we have of sharing the same hobby so to speak.

The general idea is to relocate to a home on the water with a spot for the yacht outside the door. Most likely fishing scenarios would be slightly offshore most of the time with hopefully the option to run a couple of times a year across to the Bahamas..on those days when the weather is favorable.

Your comments, wisecracks and otherwise are greatly appreciated as I've thick enough skin and am old enough to handle it.

[NoBones]

First off welcome to CSC Tbub...
Rest assured we are all leatherbacks here made of Kevlar !!
The thicker the better. Follow your heart and go for it..
My saying has always been "you can not take it with you" when we are
called home..

Best thing to do is during your year of waiting, is go visit your areas
on this side of the state you have targeted !

Keep in mind the further down the coast you go the more the price goes
up for waterfront dirt... They just do not make any more of it.

Ideally I would like to have a house in Islamorada and one in Sanibel !
That ain't gonna happen unless those 6 numbers hit..

There a 23 projects that show up on a regular basis, but I have noticed
the price is starting to go up as they become more sought after.

Enjoy your retirement.. I'm down to 3 days a week now..

[uncleboo]

Take 2 aspirin and a stiff drink and dive in!

[FLexpat]

Originally Posted by TBubrick

My wife and I are then planning to move to the East Coast of Florida, more to the south of Orlando, Boca, Deerfield, Lauderdale...

Insanity loves company - welcome!

As Ken said - you should scope places out - Doing that while chasing down a hull or parts for said hull is a perfect 2fer plan

[pelican]

Originally Posted by TBubrick

Retiring this week. We will continue to live in Central Florida for one more year, then able to relocate. We have another year here while my daughter finishes High School. My wife and I are then planning to move to the East Coast of Florida, more to the south of Orlando, Boca, Deerfield, Lauderdale...

As a new/old hobby, my wife and I are thinking of taking up boating/fishing when we relocate. I've been looking at the SeaCrafts for years. I've owned one back in 1980, a 23 Sceptre. My brother had one back in the mid 70s.

One idea is to take the year we are stuck in Orlando and use it to renew a SeaCraft which would be ready for that relocation in a year. My inclination is a Center Console 23.

Should I take to two aspirins and lay down until the feeling passes or get after it? lol It really is the only hope we have of sharing the same hobby so to speak.

The general idea is to relocate to a home on the water with a spot for the yacht outside the door. Most likely fishing scenarios would be slightly offshore most of the time with hopefully the option to run a couple of times a year across to the Bahamas..on those days when the weather is favorable.

Your comments, wisecracks and otherwise are greatly appreciated as I've thick enough skin and am old enough to handle it.

smartest move:

first

honestly assess your skill set - a common trait is to believe your abilities are much greater than what they truly are.

[JohnC]

The boating and fishing changes a lot in different parts of Fl. Northwest is easy-breezy with no real big seas to worry about most days and deep water is a loooooong way from land. Southeast is a few hundred feet deep within 2-3 miles of shore and the gulfsream is a little past that. Miami to Bimini is less than 50 miles. Northeast is different form these and southwest & Fl Keys are another kind of different.
I like to fish in several places around Fl so I gave up a larger boat for a 20 (project) so that I can easily trailer to different places. Whatever you do I would say stay mobile. There are lots of places to see and you can't see them all from your home port.
Good luck.

[TBubrick]

Lots a very good advice and its encouraging there seem to be plenty of owners here in Florida.

I am in the exploratory phase and simply putting together lists of what I need to learn and figure out. Forty years ago, I'd have bought the boat and headed for the tackle shop by now...ignoring a few details along the way. Small items like, understanding how an engine operates to be able to "fix" something that might malfunction out on the water, basic navigation and boat handling...

Been there done that.

Trying to measure twice this time around and cut only once.

[TBubrick]

Assuming a 23 ft, probably center console, for at least a year I'd need a vehicle capable of towing.
Still of course in the early planning stages, but raising more questions than answers..
So what would the towing capacity need to be? We are a family of sedans at this point and certainly would favor some sort of SUV/Jeep etc over a pick up.

Thoughts? and thanks.

[TBubrick]

Pelican, I thought I'd sent a private message to you earlier today, but on checking my messages I don't see its been sent.

Wanted to maybe hook up with you since you are over in Daytona, me Orlando.

Thanks much.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by TBubrick

Assuming a 23 ft, probably center console, for at least a year I'd need a vehicle capable of towing.
Still of course in the early planning stages, but raising more questions than answers..
So what would the towing capacity need to be? We are a family of sedans at this point and certainly would favor some sort of SUV/Jeep etc over a pick up.

Thoughts? and thanks.

Sooo, I see you are a brick. You`ll fit right in here. For the east coast, you really don't need to know how to fix your engine and you cant really carry a parts department in a cc.

Sea tow.

Find a good hull.

For areas maybe rent for a year and look around.

We don't burn a ton of gas here, but you can if you are like me and enjoy trolling
with an old rude smoker. You can just run out to the reefs and drift livies for short money.

Lots to read here.
Welcome,
GFS