DEPTH, DRAFT, AND DESIGN: BOATING ONO ISLAND’S WATERWAYS

By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Boating Orange Beach Alabama Drafts Waterways

On Ono Island life moves with the tide and the hum of an outboard at dusk. Morning coffee on a dock becomes a ritual, and the day’s decisions often start with a glance at the waterline. As a homeowner on Ono Island and a local real estate advisor, I help buyers and boaters match the right waterfront home with the right draft and the right waterway. Depth is not just a number here. It is a lifestyle choice that determines how and where you run, from inshore flats to the Gulf beyond Perdido Pass.

Reading the Water: Ono’s…

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Ono Island Boating & Waterfront Living: A Complete Guide to Depths, Navigation, and Coastal Homes

By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.


Ono Island Waterfront Homes Boats and Yachts

Introduction

On Ono Island, boating isn’t just recreation; it’s a way of life. From sunrise over Bayou St. John to sunset across Old River, every tide and channel defines the rhythm of this private coastal community. Living here means not only owning a piece of Orange Beach paradise, but also having direct access to some of the most scenic and navigable waters on the Gulf Coast.

As a local real estate advisor and homeowner on Ono Island, I often help buyers understand how water depth, tide…

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Waterfront Living by the Waterway: Exploring Orange Beach & Ono Island’s Signature Shores By Meredith Folger

By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Orange Beach Waterways and Homes For Sale with Boats


Where Every Waterway Tells Its Own Story

Along the Alabama Gulf Coast, every waterway has a personality of its own. From the deep, steady currents of Ole River to the peaceful stretches of Bayou St. John, each shoreline reflects a different pace of life. Over the years, living and working as a real estate advisor and homeowner on Ono Island, I’ve learned that finding the right waterfront home isn’t just about location — it’s about how you connect with the water itself.

Some buyers are…

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Top 5 Boats for the Gulf Coast Lifestyle


By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

When you live on the Gulf Coast — especially in places like Orange Beach, Ono Island, and Gulf Shores — your boat becomes more than a vessel. It’s an extension of your home and lifestyle. Whether it’s a calm cruise through the back bays, a Saturday anchored off Robinson Island, or a long offshore run to chase the bite, the right boat brings both comfort and capability to every adventure.

Here are my top five boats that perfectly capture the essence of Gulf Coast living.

1. Grady-White Canyon 336

Grady-White remains one of the most respected names in…

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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ORANGE BEACH & ONO ISLAND, ALABAMA 

Investment Opportunities Orange Beach Ono Island

By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.


Why Orange Beach and Ono Island Continue to Attract Smart Investors

As an expert real estate advisor specializing in Orange Beach and Ono Island, I’m seeing growing interest from investors seeking opportunities along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. With its blend of pristine waterfronts, boating access, and strong rental demand, this region offers unique ways to build long-term equity.

A 6% drop in Orange Beach single-family home inventory last month signals that the market is shifting. With roughly 11 months of inventory and a median sold…

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Gulf Shores, AL 36542 Investor Market Update: Opportunities for Buyers and 1031 Exchange Investors


By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

Gulf Shores Alabama Investment Properties 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges

Why Investors Are Watching Gulf Shores

As a Gulf Coast real estate advisor, I’m seeing more investors than ever evaluating Gulf Shores — https://www.searchthegulf.com/gulf-shores/ — for long-term wealth building. From buy-and-hold rental income to fix-and-flip renovations, this market offers an attractive blend of strong rental demand, mid-luxury pricing, and coastal lifestyle appeal.

One strategy that’s gaining momentum here is the 1031 tax-deferred exchange. Many investors who are selling…

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ONO ISLAND BOATHOUSE RULES, RESTRICTIONS, AND PERMITS

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

When it comes to owning waterfront property on Ono Island, one of the most frequent questions I hear is about building or maintaining a boathouse. Because Ono Island is a private, gated community in Orange Beach, the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) enforces strict guidelines to protect property values, water quality, and navigability. Below, I’ve outlined the most important rules, fees, and restrictions every homeowner should know.

Ono Island Boathouses Rules and Regulations

Boathouse Placement & Setbacks

  • Shoreline indentions are allowed on 40-foot-wide platted canals…

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A 54′ RICKY GILLIKIN IN ORANGE BEACH: A SOUTHERN SPORTFISHER DREAM

By Meredith Folger Amon — Licensed in Alabama and Florida
Guided by Integrity. Backed by Experience. Search the Gulf with Meredith Folger Amon.

54 Foot Ricky Gillikin Sportsfishing Yacht on the Gulf Coast


From time to time, I’ll see a 54-foot Ricky Gillikin sportfishing boat making her way through Perdido Pass, and it always stops me in my tracks. There’s just something about the clean Carolina lines, the sharp bow, and the way she sits on the water that makes you pause and say, now that’s a serious boat. From my perspective, it appears to be a mid-1990s build,, and I can’t help but imagine what a machine like this is capable of out in the Gulf.

My Observations and Thoughts 

In my opinion, a 54′ Ricky Gillikin likely measures…

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THE INVINCIBLE 36 OPEN FISHERMAN AND ONO ISLAND WATERFRONT LIVING

By Meredith Folger Amon

Life on the Gulf Coast is about more than just a beautiful home—it’s about how your property and your boat work together to create a lifestyle. Few boats embody that lifestyle better than the Invincible 36 Open Fisherman, and few communities showcase it more seamlessly than Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Why the Invincible 36 is a Gulf Coast Favorite

At 36 feet 10 inches in length with a 10-foot beam, the Invincible 36 Open Fisherman is an offshore powerhouse with the versatility to handle everything from back bays to bluewater runs. Powered by twin Mercury 400 Verados (800 horsepower combined), the boat cruises comfortably above 50 mph and…

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ONO ISLAND HOMES + BOAT SERIES: BIG WATER QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

By Meredith Folger Amon

When buyers ask me about Ono Island, the conversation almost always comes back to boats. Along Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway, the big-water streets define what kind of vessel you can comfortably own, dock, and enjoy. To make things easier, I’ve created a quick-reference guide so you can see which streets work best for different types of boats.

Hatteras Fishing Yacht Ono Island Alabama

Which Ono Island Streets Fit a Viking 48?

The Viking 48 Convertible is a Gulf Coast favorite—a sportfisher with range, power, and luxurious comfort. Streets like Harbour Drive, Turtle Key, Hatteras Cove, and Marlin Key are ideal. These properties typically offer 90–110 feet of frontage and…

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