Shoes... OMG!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCF3ywukQYA

We seriously considered buying a new Ski Nautique last fall, the technology has improved so much since 2004 (my current boat). You want a perfect wake, just push the button and the computer does the rest. We demo'd it for a day and I have never wakeboarded better. Dealer was down almost $20k as it was a "leftover" 2017. Out the door with trailer we are at $103k for a boat. I just don't know if I can actually buy a $103k wakeboard boat when my current one is paid for and in showroom condition as it has spent it's entire life in the garage. Maybe in 2 years we will buy a lightly used 2017 for $75k, still a ton of money for a summer only toy.

I will give Nautique credit that the interior has some of the nicest stitch work and craftsmanship I have every seen. When I asked how so many people afford to buy new, they offer financing up to 30 years now, I just thought great I will be almost 70 and still making a boat payment.

That's real cool, we've been thinking of doing an expedition RV for when we retire, I love to do this instead, but my wife gets seasick watching the ocean on TV.

Poking around I wondered about a diesel outboard and found the new yanmar 50hp 2 cylinder turbo diesel. Supposed to have the same power as a gas 70hp but quieter and less vibration than traditional diesels.

Talk about an innovative engine design, it has two crankshafts!
Below shows how it works.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zDANivoB4KE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I love the water and spend as much time at the lakes up here as possible but I have a serious question for the salt water boaters here. We’re planning to retire somewhere on the warm coast of Florida, Alabama or Texas in a few years. I very much want to live right in the coast and have access to a boat, but I don’t want to get in too deep over my head. Up here on the lakes we have boat sharing clubs where you get a certain amount of access to a variety of boats for a set fee each season. Are there any boat clubs like this on the ocean? If so, how does membership cost compare to the hole in the water that is owning a salt water boat?

Haven't come across any sailing clubs here in the fl panhandle yet.
But there are lots of large bodies of salt water just inland from the coast, big bays that could be good training areas on your way to sailing off shore. There is an inter coastal waterway, aka the ditch connecting many of those bays. Plenty of sheltered waters.
And for that matter the gulf is usually quite mellow as open water goes.

I've just scratched the surface of the sailing scene so far. There may well be the sort of sailing club you are thinking of. Let's see what other come up with.

I've been thinking a trailerable 20'/24' centerboard cuddly cabin sailboat would be a good fit for these waters.
Keep it at home when not using it.

Cheers Richard

Have you heard of any motor boat clubs, or motor boat sharing?

I don't know a lot about Florida, yet, but we have seen the bayous and Intercostal Waterway. I've always thought that a house on a bayou or on the back side of an island that give access to blue water through the Intercostal Waterway would be the perfect way to get my feet wet, so to speak.

be very careful of boat sharing clubs. read some horror stories of a prominent one in Fla. at a minimum spend some time on background. The Hull Truth is a great forum to dig around for all boating issues particularly saltwater.

I think you'll be hard pressed to find a sharing club for ocean sailing. The typical deal is you get a boat for a half day, day or weekend. I was part of a club on the Chesapeake that had clear rules of where you could use their boat, you couldnt make it to the Atlantic but if you could you werent allowed to.

Depending on what you want to do you might want to charter. Not cheap but point of use and you leave the keys are the desk and are done.

There are several boat sharing operations (clubs) some good - some that are a little cagey - just pick up a nice center console outboard boat and you should be good -

Bingo. Also I live in the PNW people buy boats here and then later when it rains they all seem to dump them. Buy in the winter. Give me some parameters and Ill find you an example

If you ever encounter a 2000+ Cobalt 262 or Formula 260BR with a big block, under 500 hours, fresh water only use, clean overall, under $30k, let me know. I've been looking for a good deal over the winter but they are pretty scarce.

Yes those back bay, bayou facing areas are far preferable to me, to the gulf facing areas, with their runaway condo / resort focused development. Plus not so exposed to the frontal assault of storms coming ashore.
Those areas are not undiscovered but have some nice older established neighborhoods with good spacing and nice waterfront homes. Lynn Haven and St. Andrews are places that have caught my eye here in Panama City area. My Brother used to have a nice place on Mobile bay. Lots of exploring to do.

Google did turn up a couple of sailing schools with rentals offered. This seems a mostly motorboat focused area, with lots of very capible high powered boats designed to reach the good fishing waters well out in the gulf.

MRM. Feel free to PM me if Eyes on the ground here can be of any help.

Cheers Richard

When you do get one it doesn't take long to get a case of 2footitas.

Stijn - this won't get your feet wet.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515763262.jpg

Florida? Byron ? is that you ?