Found 102 blog entries tagged as boating.

Boating Lifestyle • Orange Beach, Alabama • Ono Island Waterfront Living

Why Serious Boaters Are Paying Attention to Insetta Boats on the Gulf Coast

A Closer Look at One of the Most Underrated Offshore Boats Running Orange Beach Waters

Insetta Cataraman Fishing Boat Gulf Coast
Every now and then, I see a boat on the water that makes me pause for just a moment longer. Not because it is flashy, but because it is different. It moves differently. It sits differently. It carries itself with a quiet confidence that tells me there is something more going on beneath the surface.

That is exactly how I feel when I see an Insetta running through Orange Beach or just outside Perdido Pass.

“Some boats are built to be seen. Others are built to be understood. Insetta falls…

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Boating • Docks And Lifts • Gulf Coast Ownership Guide

TYPICAL COSTS TO INSTALL A NEW BOAT LIFT ON THE GULF COAST

Gulf Coast Boat Lifts Docks Costs

Short Answer: Most new boat lift installs on the Gulf Coast fall into a few common ranges depending on capacity, lift style, pilings, and electrical.

These numbers are planning ranges. Exact pricing depends on your dock, water depth, access for equipment, and the brand and materials you choose.

Best Next Step: Price the lift itself, then confirm pilings, power, and any dock reinforcement. That is where budgets change the most.

If you are touring waterfront, I can help you estimate what is realistic for that specific dock setup. Call or text:

“Most boat lift surprises aren’t the…

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GUIDED BY INTEGRITY. BACKED BY EXPERIENCE. SEARCH THE GULF WITH MEREDITH FOLGER AMON.ONO ISLAND VS. HILTON HEAD ISLAND: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE ON TWO VERY DIFFERENT COASTAL LIFESTYLES

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Ono Island and Hilton Head Island

There are some comparisons that feel purely analytical, and then there are some that feel deeply personal. For me, comparing Ono Island and Hilton Head Island is personal in every sense. I was born on Hilton Head Island, my mom sold real estate there, and now I am a homeowner and real estate adviser on Ono Island in Orange Beach. Because of that, I see both places through a very specific lens. I do not just see homes and streets. I see rhythm, memory, lifestyle, and the feeling each island…

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BEST WEBSITES TO FIND BOATING-FRIENDLY HOMES ON THE GULF COAST

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Boating-Friendly Homes on the Gulf Coast Websites

When buyers reach out to me looking for a boating-friendly home on the Gulf Coast, I usually tell them the same thing: not every real estate website is built the same. Plenty of sites can help you find a waterfront house. Far fewer help you narrow in on what really matters to a boater, such as a private dock, lift, protected canal, deep-water access, or the ability to get out quickly to big water.

That is why I always recommend using a few websites strategically rather than relying on just one. If you are serious about finding the right property, the best search is not simply “waterfront.” It is a more thoughtful search…

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Why a Mid-30-Foot Freeman Makes Sense in Orange Beach, Alabama


Freeman Boat Orange Beach Alabama

When I see a boat like this running off Orange Beach, I understand why so many waterfront buyers light up when they start talking about slips, lifts, canal width, and quick access to the pass.  This appears to be a Freeman offshore center-console catamaran in the mid-30-foot class, most likely in the Freeman 34VH, 35, or 37/38 family. Freeman’s specs for those models place them in roughly that size range, with beams around 10'10" to 11'6" and shallow drafts that suit serious Gulf Coast boating remarkably well. 

That matters in our market because a boat is not just a toy here. It can shape the kind of property that makes sense for a buyer. On Ono Island and across…

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THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BOATING IN ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA AND PERDIDO PASS

By Meredith Folger Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

Perdido Pass Boating Orange Beach Alabama

When people think about Orange Beach, they often picture beautiful water, salt air, and the easy rhythm of life along the coast. What I have learned from living and working here is that boating in Orange Beach is both a lifestyle and a responsibility. Friends, neighbors, and homeowners here know that a great day on the water usually starts with a little preparation, local knowledge, and respect for the conditions.

Perdido Pass, in particular, deserves that respect. It is one of the most important gateways between the back bays and open water, and it can change quickly depending on tide, traffic, wind, and…

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Why the 2026 Bertram 34CC Works So Well in Orange Beach, Alabama


Bertram 34CC Boats and Fishing Orange Beach Alabama

A neighbor recently shared this helm-running shot from a day on the water off Orange Beach, and it made me smile because it captures exactly what I hear from serious boaters here. The right boat is not just about a brand name. It is about how it runs in our Gulf conditions, how it handles quick weather changes, and how it fits the day-to-day reality of docks, slips, and getting in and out with confidence.

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In Orange Beach, the best boats are the ones that feel composed when the Gulf stops being polite.

Why the Bertram 34CC fits Orange Beach boating

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The South | Alabama Gulf Coast | Beaches, Boats, and Beautiful Homes

What Is the Prettiest Beach in Alabama

Alabama Prettiest Beach Oceanfront Along the Alabama Gulf Coast, “prettiest beach” is not a single coordinate. It is a moment. It is the hush before sunrise when the Gulf looks like brushed glass. It is the scent of bay brine drifting in on a light south wind, the soft scratch of sea oats in the dunes, and that unmistakable sugar-white sand that makes even a simple walk feel like a small ceremony of the South.

I get asked this question often, especially by buyers exploring the coast for the first time. They want the most beautiful shoreline, and they also want the lifestyle that comes with it: boating, fishing, an evening porch view, a place that…

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Ono Island | Old River Water Levels

Why Old River Looks “Lower” in Winter Around Ono Island

Ono Island Ole River Homes Boathouses

If you live near (or shop for waterfront property on) Ono Island in Orange Beach, you have probably noticed it. In winter, Old River (sometimes called “Ole River” in conversation) can look dramatically lower. Sandbars show themselves. Dock pilings look taller. Some stretches feel shallower than you remember from summer.

This is normal for our back-bay system on the Alabama side of Perdido Bay. Most of the “winter low water” look is driven by wind, barometric pressure, and timing with tides, not a problem with the river itself.

The quick takeaway

What causes it most often:
Winter cold fronts bring strong north and northwest…

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Orange Beach Boating and Real Estate

Sportsman Marina Orange Beach: Slip Layout, Boat Sizes, Storage Options, and Boater-Friendly Condos Nearby


Sportsman Marina Orange Beach Alabama


When buyers tell me they want Orange Beach living that feels anchored to the water, I almost always ask one question first: where will the boat live. That is why Sportsman Marina comes up so often in conversations about boat slips, dock access, and the back-bay condo lifestyle along Canal Road in Orange Beach.

This guide is written in the same practical way I talk through boating and real estate decisions. If you want to browse everything in one place, start here: https://www.searchthegulf.com.

My rule: match your slip and your lifestyle before you fall in love with the condo view.…

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