Liveaboard limitation in FLA?

BrianSmith · Apr 15, 2014

Shopping for a marina in the Melbourne, FL area for out hopefully soon-to-be acquired trawler. The plan is for someone (a family member) to live on the boat for the next few years, while we get ourselves ready to head off down the Carribean.

When talking to one marina, we were told that they can't have someone living on a boat in their marina for more than 6 months out of any consecutive 12 months, because of some property tax regulation. Does anyone have any more information on this? It's the first we'd heard of it.

Thanks!

BandB · Apr 15, 2014

BrianSmith said:
Shopping for a marina in the Melbourne, FL area for out hopefully soon-to-be acquired trawler. The plan is for someone (a family member) to live on the boat for the next few years, while we get ourselves ready to head off down the Carribean.

When talking to one marina, we were told that they can't have someone living on a boat in their marina for more than 6 months out of any consecutive 12 months, because of some property tax regulation. Does anyone have any more information on this? It's the first we'd heard of it.

Thanks!

Liveaboard rules vary town by town, marina by marina. About all you can do is look for recommendations of marinas and check on your own as well. I can tell you this as well, your likelihood of getting a liveaboard slip is greater in person than on the phone.

Melbourne Harbor has live aboard slips.

Harbortown at Merritt Island.

JNandJN · Apr 16, 2014

Brian,
Many marinas have a no live aboard policy, but don't enforce it unless they need to. If you are a good neighbor and keep your boat up you may be okay even if there is a policy prohibiting. Just don't tell the staff you are living aboard and be sure to pull the boat from the dock occasionally. Here is a link to some info on marina along the east coast. Many of them have their website listed and you can view their lease agreements, rules and policies, etc. Good luck.

Cruiser's Net » Marinas EF – All

JNandJN · Apr 16, 2014

Brian,

If pressed about being a live aboard, simply explain that you are a permanent cruiser.

markpierce · Apr 16, 2014

JNandJN said:
... Just don't tell the staff you are living aboard and be sure to pull the boat from the dock occasionally. ... l

Most boats don't seem to ever leave the dock. :facepalm:

I was once so accused, but then we usually "sail" during weekdays, most frequently Mondays and Fridays.

markpierce · Apr 16, 2014

JNandJN said:
Brian,

If pressed about being a live aboard, simply explain that you are a permanent cruiser.

No, you're a transient.

psneeld · Apr 16, 2014

Just look o different cruising guides for marinas with liveaboard fees...the fees may not make it automatically OK for 365 days...but even one night off/mo usually satisfies even restrictive rules.

mfeene01 · Apr 16, 2014

Cocoa Village Marina is just north of Melbourne and allows liveaboards with no extra fees. They rent month-to-month for as long as you'd like.

You can see the basics at this link : Leasing – Cocoa Village Marina offers boat slips for short & long-term rent

Good luck in your search...

Larry M · Apr 16, 2014

markpierce said:
No, you're a transient.

It depends on how long you stay or maybe it's a Florida thing.

. Our marina uses the term transient for daily or weekly stays and the term cruiser for monthly or longer.

Transient Dockage Rates*
Daily Rate: $1.75/boat foot Length Overall
(4 days or more, more favorable weekly rate applies)

*Electric is included
Transient Rates do not include the Sales Tax (7%) & Land Lease Fee (6%)

Monthly dockage - Non Full Time Cruisers
$10/slip foot

Catamarans (non-full time cruisers) or Full Time Cruiser (non-catamaran)
$13.35/slip foot

Catamarans Full Time Cruisers
$16.65/slip foot

Full Time Cruiser rates include two free pump outs per month.

Electric additional
5% & 10% discounts for prepaid 6 and 12 month leases

BrianSmith · Apr 16, 2014

Thanks, all! Good info. I'll go talk to the marina guy in person, and see if I can find out if there are any loopholes, such as taking the boat out of the marina at least a couple times per month.

mfeene01, Cocoa Village is, unfortunately, a little too far north. Our "liveaboarder" is a college student at FIT in Melbourne, and he has classes 4-5 days a week. Too far to drive between there and Cocoa Village that often. But thanks!

caltexflanc · Apr 16, 2014

Too bad Cocoa is a nice little town, loved anchoring off there. You can sometimes get around the live aboard thing by not having the marina as your legal address, just have mail forwarded there. But as noted different towns and marinas have different requirements.

By the way, I loved WFIT, they have great music shows in the mornings. I once made a donation to their pledge drive while motoring up the ICW; the guy got a big kick out of that and put me on the air. I still stream the "Sound Waves" and World Cafe shows now and then and get their e-mail bulletins and throw a few bucks their way. All you cruisers check them out @ 89.5

BandB · Apr 16, 2014

JNandJN said:
Brian,
Many marinas have a no live aboard policy, but don't enforce it unless they need to. If you are a good neighbor and keep your boat up you may be okay even if there is a policy prohibiting. Just don't tell the staff you are living aboard and be sure to pull the boat from the dock occasionally. [/url]

That really isn't very true in Florida. Most marinas have very specific rules, often governed by their permits to operate or their leases if their water is leased from the state. It's actually very difficult at this point to build new marinas in Florida with liveaboard slips. So marinas are not generally going to risk trouble by allowing liveaboards if not permitted for them or in exceeding the number permitted.

In some parts of the country the choice to allow liveaboards is simply a marina preference and therefore is flexible, but in Florida it is generally tied to their permit to operate.

Still there are available live aboard slips throughout the state, just might not be in the marina that is your first choice.

BrianSmith · Apr 16, 2014

BandB said:
That really isn't very true in Florida. Most marinas have very specific rules, often governed by their permits to operate or their leases if their water is leased from the state. It's actually very difficult at this point to build new marinas in Florida with liveaboard slips. So marinas are not generally going to risk trouble by allowing liveaboards if not permitted for them or in exceeding the number permitted.

In some parts of the country the choice to allow liveaboards is simply a marina preference and therefore is flexible, but in Florida it is generally tied to their permit to operate.

Still there are available live aboard slips throughout the state, just might not be in the marina that is your first choice.

That's the impression we got from the guy - that his operating permit is at risk if he doesn't follow the rules to a "T". So I guess we'll either figure out a way to follow HIS rules, or find another marina with a different permit and/or different rules.

Thanks.

rwidman · Apr 16, 2014

If you lie to the marina or try to trick them, you may find yourself put out on short notice. Then what will you do?

The best policy is to be honest. Tell them what you need and see if they can accommodate you.

I would guess it is local laws or permits that dictate whether a marina will allow people to live aboard their boats at that marina. My marina's permit does not allow liveaboards.

Dougcole · Apr 16, 2014

Try Sebastian River Marina in Sebastian. Owner's name is also Doug, he is a great guy and it is a very good facility. Well priced but not a ton of amenities. There are a few live aboards there.

Tell Doug you heard about his marina on here from me. That kind of stuff means a lot to him.

BandB · Apr 16, 2014

BrianSmith said:
That's the impression we got from the guy - that his operating permit is at risk if he doesn't follow the rules to a "T". So I guess we'll either figure out a way to follow HIS rules, or find another marina with a different permit and/or different rules.

Thanks.

Did you check Melbourne Harbor?

SCOTTEDAVIS · Apr 16, 2014

Come on down to Vero Beach, The Loggerhead Marina in Grand Harbor is the best. Heated pool, first class lounge, 15 min walk to shopping. Best hurricane hole on the east coast of Fl.

FIT is a beautiful and relaxing 45 minute drive north up A1A along the river (I have been there many times both by land and air)

Liveaboards are no problem. There are several here and many year round transients that use their boat as a week long condo during the year and then winter here.

East Coast FL Florida Marina -- Loggerhead® Marina Vero Beach -- South Florida Boat Slips, Vero Beach FL Yacht Slips and Docks for rent

Arch · Apr 16, 2014

Try Waterline Marina and Yacht Sales in Melbourne. Nice little marina that does allow live aboards. Prices are not bad.
Arch

BrianSmith · Apr 17, 2014

Dougcole said:
Try Sebastian River Marina in Sebastian. Owner's name is also Doug, he is a great guy and it is a very good facility. Well priced but not a ton of amenities. There are a few live aboards there.

Tell Doug you heard about his marina on here from me. That kind of stuff means a lot to him.

Doug,

That sounds great, except for the fact that our liveaboarder will have classes 4-5 days a week, but all spread throughout the day. A 40 minute drive each way, every day, or even twice a day, just wouldn't work. But for launching to the Bahamas, this might be perfect: spend the night there, then head out before the sun comes up. Thanks!

BrianSmith · Apr 17, 2014

BandB said:
Did you check Melbourne Harbor?

That's where we're running into the liveaboard limitations. Otherwise, they're perfect.

BrianSmith · Apr 17, 2014

SCOTTEDAVIS said:
Come on down to Vero Beach, The Loggerhead Marina in Grand Harbor is the best. Heated pool, first class lounge, 15 min walk to shopping. Best hurricane hole on the east coast of Fl.

FIT is a beautiful and relaxing 45 minute drive north up A1A along the river (I have been there many times both by land and air)

Liveaboards are no problem. There are several here and many year round transients that use their boat as a week long condo during the year and then winter here.

East Coast FL Florida Marina -- Loggerhead® Marina Vero Beach -- South Florida Boat Slips, Vero Beach FL Yacht Slips and Docks for rent

Sounds great, except for the 45 minute drive. Our liveaboarder is a college student at FIT with a full load of classes, so a 45 minute drive each way, 5 days a week, would be too much.

You've been to FIT by air? KVRB -> KMLB? You an aviator, as well as a pilot? (Us, too - Cessna 182 based at KMLB.)

BrianSmith · Apr 17, 2014

Arch said:
Try Waterline Marina and Yacht Sales in Melbourne. Nice little marina that does allow live aboards. Prices are not bad.
Arch

Waterline is our Plan B. Agree that it's a great little marina, and seems very well protected in case of storms. It's longer than a bike ride to FIT, but a very short drive.

Thanks!

psneeld · Apr 17, 2014

Eau Gallie too far?????

Enjoyed our stay here...and they allow liveaboards and were reasonable for transient prices...

Eau Gallie Yacht Basin
587 Young St
Melbourne, FL 32935-7056
United States (US)
321-242-6577

brian eiland · Apr 17, 2014

BrianSmith said:
Sounds great, except for the 45 minute drive. Our liveaboarder is a college student at FIT with a full load of classes, so a 45 minute drive each way, 5 days a week, would be too much.

Prepare him for the real new world of commuting in ever greater traffic loads :facepalm:

BrianSmith · Apr 17, 2014

psneeld said:
Eau Gallie too far?????

Enjoyed our stay here...and they allow liveaboards and were reasonable for transient prices...

Eau Gallie Yacht Basin
587 Young St
Melbourne, FL 32935-7056
United States (US)
321-242-6577

They're Plan C. They don't have a slip available right now, but are expecting to open up one or two soon, so we're keeping in touch with them. It's just across the Eau Gallie River (a stone's throw) from the Waterline Marina, which is Plan B.

kpinnn · Apr 17, 2014

Florida does have some screwy laws but on our way North From Key Largo we stopped in North Melbourne at a small marina with many liveaboards. The marina was in Eau Gallie. The actual name of the marina is on our blog. www.denandken.wordpress.com. We will continuing our trip next week.

Ken

BrianSmith · Apr 17, 2014

kpinnn said:
Florida does have some screwy laws but on our way North From Key Largo we stopped in North Melbourne at a small marina with many liveaboards. The marina was in Eau Gallie. The actual name of the marina is on our blog. www.denandken.wordpress.com. We will continuing our trip next week.

Ken

Yep, that's the Eau Gallie Yacht Basin. Our Plan C - see above. BTW, nice boat! You may have missed it, but just across the creek from the Eau Gallie Yacht Basin, in the Waterline Marina, is another Gulfstar 36 that we looked very seriously at.

psneeld · Apr 17, 2014

Just across the causeway is Indian River Shores (I think) and the marina "Telemar" was a gas to stay at...the "live dolphin show" every day of them chasing mullet was better than any "sea world" type show I ever saw..just amazing.

The location is great as far as a bike ride to stores and the beach...definitely a favorite in my travels through Florida....but understand the commute now is 15 minutes longer.

BrianSmith · Apr 17, 2014

psneeld said:
Just across the causeway is Indian River Shores (I think) and the marina "Telemar" was a gas to stay at...the "live dolphin show" every day of them chasing mullet was better than any "sea world" type show I ever saw..just amazing.

The location is great as far as a bike ride to stores and the beach...definitely a favorite in my travels through Florida....but understand the commute now is 15 minutes longer.

Yep, we've looked into Telemar, too. One of the more expensive marinas in the area, and even further from our liveaboard's daily college classes at FIT in Melbourne. But you're right about the dolphin show! We take our little boat to Dragon Point (the very southern tip of Merritt Island, just down from Telemar) whenever we have out of town guests, because we ALWAYS have dolphins around the boat!

knotheadcharters · Apr 19, 2014

Cocoa Village Marina is very nice and very convenient to the town. Stayed there a couple of years ago. Ft. Pierce city Marina is nice also but the town seems to be dying off just like Titusville.

Liveaboard limitation in FLA?

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