So Many Docks, So Few Boats

[sailorboy1]

I'm currently in Daytona Beach and along my way south I've noted: there are so many house along the waterway with docks, but so few of the docks have boats! Huge expensive houses with a real nice pier and dock, but no boat. Lots of the docks don't even have chairs etc. indicating they probably never get used. Why get a house on the water if you aren't interested having a boat of even sitting out on the dock?

[CaptainMurph]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Why get a house on the water if you aren't interested having a boat of even sitting out on the dock?

And, why wouldn't you rent it to a snowbird from November to March?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Why get a house on the water if you aren't interested having a boat of even sitting out on the dock?

Same reason many folk want a house on the seafront..
1/ Status,
2/ Prestige,
and some.. just for the view.
Something I noticed in the Oriental/Pamlico Sound area.. most houses had docks.. as a builders selling point.. regardless of whether the water was actually deep enough to be any use..

[Delancey]

OP makes me think how many boats I see in a typically marina that never leave the slip. My guess is probably at least 75% or maybe more.

Maybe there is a parallel between most people who own boats and most people who own houses on the water with docks. They like the the look of it. They like the idea of having one. They just don't particularly like using them.

[Sandero]

... using them for what?

I see the smallish fishing boats getting a lot of use... I see a fair amount of people out day sailing... or perhaps racing... In LIS there are a fair number of weekend harbor hoppers who maybe use a transient mooring, less likely anchor or most likely take a slip for the weekend... and do the town.

I suppose that this sort of use.. can get boring... for many...

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I'm currently in Daytona Beach and along my way south I've noted: there are so many house along the waterway with docks, but so few of the docks have boats! ....................

But many of them have home made "No Wake" signs.

I suspect it's just assumed that a nice waterfront house should have a dock. Often the permit is obtained and the dock built before the house is built or before the property is sold to someone who will build a house on it.

I suspect it has something to do with the permitting process. Having a dock means you already have a permit and there's no risk of being denied a permit after you've built the house.

[boatman61]

[QUOTE=rwidman;2298062]But many of them have home made "No Wake" signs.
[QUOTE]

Saves the garden eroding away.. be a bummer buying a 1 acre property and only having 1/2 acre when you go to sell 20yrs later..

[RTB]

I don't recall it being that way on previous trips up and down the AICW. It could be things aren't yet back to normal since Hurricane Matthew?

Ralph

[psk125]

Maybe these are all the people who are getting FL legislators to restrict anchoring. They like the water but don't want to look at boats.

[jkleins]

Aren't you still in what most people call the cold weather zone this time of year? It's like 44 degrees in Ft Pierce today. I bet those homes have boats and people when the weather is warm. ;-)

[dlymn]

maybe a different demographic from original purchasers. Where I live we have an apartment block on the river's edge with pontoons and mooring for 100 boats. Never more than 5 in it.

[buzzstar]

Nobody wants to be in Florida anymore?

[Cadence]

[QUOTE=sailorboy1;2297975]I'm currently in Daytona Beach and along my way south I've noted: there are so many house along the waterway with docks, but so few of the docks have boats! Huge expensive houses with a real nice pier and dock, but no boat. Lots of the docks don't even have chairs etc. indicating they probably never get used. Why get a house on the water if you aren't interested having a boat of even sitting out on the dock?[/QUOTE

Ego!

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by buzzstar

Nobody wants to be in Florida anymore?

Or Va, NC, SC, Ga either I guess

[four winds]

A dock is an amenity on waterfront property. It adds value.

Many of these homes are investment property, a summer/winter home depending on latitude, or a second/retirement home.

Often one may notice when no chairs are on the dock, the pool is covered and the windows or patios shuttered. In recent weeks I have noticed many homes here have "opened up". And are occupied.

And, it's probably a mistake to believe that everyone who desires to live by the water is also a boater.