OT- Maybe moving to Poquoson or York Co. and boat storage?

[cletusriverbubba]

No fishing reports from me for a while-- Just had twins, boy and girl two months ago! We've never been busier.. but little fishing buddies in the making! Although we love living in Eclipse, I am hoping to move in couple years or so to a place with a better public school system such as York Co. or Poquoson. My wife and I really like the feel and advantages to the area and believe it would be the right move.

I've been talking to everyone I know at the shipyard who lives there, but I figured I'd ask here too. My questions are, does anyone have any advice on home buying or living in those areas? I know about the flood zones and will not consider a property there. And I realize mosquitos can be bad. I've attended the bull island fishing club once and enjoyed that.

If we find a house with the right kitchen etc but does not have parking for a boat, does anyone know of any secure local storage lots for a boat and worst case, truck also. I am waiting for Craig from whitehouse marina to call back about the details for dry storage. And I talked to someone from Owens marina who quoted 50/mo for a boat - not too bad I guess. Not sure what else is in the county. I know prices and things might change in a few years, but just getting a feel of whats there now.

Okay back to changing diapers! Thanks in advance for any advice on the communities there.

[Fishboy OV8]

Dare Marina is worth checking out

[Dangerous]

Call Craig again at 1 (757) 508-2602

[BYRD]

There's a place just past the Messick Boat ramp. Fenced in area for boats on trailers. Several in there. Not sure what he charges. 876-5117

[Tom Powers]

Poquoson comments. I have lived there (west end) for the past 18 years.

Parking a boat is not a problem unless you have no yard. The rules say behind the front of your house unless you can not get it there, in which case you can park it in front of your house. There is a law saying that you can not park boats on the street but it is not enforced unless someone complains.

Buying a house is a case of keep looking. Lots of folks just stick signs in the front yard, and do very little advertizing other than that. Renting is often the same deal. There is a house for sale on the next street over that is like that. Not sure how much they are asking, probably a premium price at this point in time.

Mosquitoes are not so bad in the western end of Poquoson (west of Yorktown Road). I am not a realtor or anything but shoot me a bmail when you actually start looking with some details about what you are willing to pay, etc. and I will keep my eyes open.

Flood zone. . . Don't buy a house where the yard is less than 6 or 7 feet above MLW. Really high ground in Poquoson is 11 feet and there is not much of that. When you do buy a house get flood insurance even if you are not required to have it. It is cheaper if you are out of a 100 year flood zone (generally 8 feet above MLW). The base of my house is at 8-1/2 feet and I have never had any water in my garage. It came close with Isabel.

If you feel that it is necessary to be above the 11 feet you will probably want to look at York County. Watch out for local low spots that will be prone to flooding due to rain.

One last thing when you are looking . . . watch out for neighborhood covenants. They can make it difficult for boat owners.

[cletusriverbubba]

Thanks everyone for the advice on the boat storage, that gives me a couple more options to explore if it would come to it. Craig called me back about the lot at Whitehouse. 600/yr for a 17ft boat.

Tom - Thank you very much for the details about the flood zone levels and the city laws for having a boat in the yard. That and zoning laws are going to be part of decision making this time while looking for a house. It did seem like every other house there has a boat or two in their yard that weren't in a homeowners association area. I'd really like the find a place without a HOA, but with neighbors who can govern themselves like the neighborhood I'm in now.
Never liked the idea of paying a committee to tell me what I can and cant do on my property.

I'll shoot you a bmail when I start really looking to buy. It may be a while, and unfortunately it might take forever to sell what I'm in now without taking a loss these days. Going to keep visiting York/Poquoson and check things out in the meantime. The seafood festival and york riverfront sounds nice.

[fishsticks]

DARE Marina in Grafton.

Great service and crew!