Top 10 Offshore Center Consoles (33–36 ft) for Orange Beach, Alabama

Top 10 Offshore Center Consoles (33–36 ft) for Orange Beach, Alabama

On a good Orange Beach day, you can idle out of Terry Cove, slide past the markers to Perdido Pass, and decide—bluewater dash or Robinson Island raft-up. In this size class, a deep-V center console with triple power gives you the flexibility to do both. The hull softens the afternoon chop, a second-station tower helps thread crowded anchorages, and the range is there when the Gulf window opens. If you’re pairing a boat like this with a home, plan for a 20k–25k lb lift, double-check beam and piling spacing, and think through fuel and shore-power access at the dock.

Orange Beach — https://www.searchthegulf.com/orange-beach/
Ono Island —…

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Best Boats for Orange Beach Homeowners: Draft, Depth, and Design for Every Waterway

Best Boats for Orange Beach Homeowners: Draft, Depth & Design for Every Waterway | Search the Gulf

BEST BOATS FOR ORANGE BEACH HOMEOWNERS: DRAFT, DEPTH, AND DESIGN FOR EVERY WATERWAY

I measure my days in tides and light. In Orange Beach, Alabama, mornings begin with a gull’s laugh over Terry Cove and end with a golden hush sliding across Bayou St. John. Between those moments lies the joy of choice: drift toward Old River or idle through Cotton Bayou; chase a bluewater sunrise through Perdido Pass or anchor behind Robinson Island while the kids cannonball from the swim ladder. I’m a homeowner and real estate advisor here—and the question I’m asked most is simple: “What’s the perfect boat for my dock?”

The right answer lives…

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Top 5 Boats for the Gulf Coast Lifestyle

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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A 54′ Ricky Gillikin in Orange Beach: A Southern Sportfisher Dream on the Gulf Coast

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.

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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Ono Island Homes + Boat Series: Big-Water Living on Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway

Ono Island Homes + Boat Series: Big-Water Living on Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway

By Meredith Folger Amon

Ono Island Homes + Boat Series: Big Water Living on Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal

By Meredith Folger Amon

Life on Ono Island is defined by water, and nowhere is that more evident than along the big-water stretches of Bayou St. John and the Intracoastal Waterway. These properties aren’t just homes—they’re harbors for boats that take their owners into the Gulf, across the Intracoastal, or over to waterfront restaurants with ease. For serious boaters, the right street matters just as much as the right floorplan.

Big-Water Streets for Serious Boats

The premier addresses on Bayou St. John—…

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A Summer Evening at OSO and Bear Point Marina

A Summer Evening at OSO and Bear Point Marina

By Meredith Amon

There’s something magical about a summer evening in Orange Beach, and nowhere is that more evident than at Bear Point Marina and OSO at Bear Point Harbor.

As the sun began to slip below the horizon, casting its final glow over the Gulf waters, I found myself drawn to the gentle hum of the marina. Boats rocked softly in their slips, their silhouettes striking against the fiery gradient of the sky. The air was warm, salty, and filled with the kind of peace only a coastal evening can offer.

I wandered past the glowing string lights wrapped around the dockside bar, where friends were gathered over cold drinks and the occasional guitar strum floated through the air.…

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Sportsfishing Yacht in Orange Beach: Pure Power and Coastal Elegance

COMMANDING THE GULF: A POWERHOUSE YACHT IN THE HEART OF ORANGE BEACH

By Meredith Amon | Real Estate Advisor & Coastal Lifestyle Enthusiast

There’s something about the way a sportfishing yacht slices through the water at full throttle that gets your heart racing. I had the chance to photograph this absolute beast of a yacht as it made its way through the pass in Orange Beach, Alabama, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Graceful, aggressive, and unmistakably elite—it’s the kind of vessel that turns heads from every balcony and beach chair.

This yacht isn’t just transportation—it’s a statement. 

Built for Speed. Designed for Power.

 With its sky-blue hull and sleek black window profile, this sportfisher roared through Perdido Pass…

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Boating on Ono Island: A Homeowner’s Guide to Bridge Clearances, Canal Depths, and Boat Choices

Boating on Ono Island: A Homeowner’s Guide to Bridge Clearances, Canal Depths, and Boat Choices

By Meredith Amon, Licensed In Alabama and Florida

Owning a waterfront home on Ono Island is one of the great joys of living on the Gulf Coast. As a real estate advisor and homeowner on Ono myself, I’ve learned how important it is to understand the unique boating considerations here on the island. From bridge clearance and water depths to finding the right boat that fits both your lifestyle and your canal, this guide is based on my personal experience and the many conversations I’ve had with neighbors and fellow boaters.

Whether you’re a seasoned mariner or just starting your coastal journey, here’s everything you need to know about boating and…

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A Peaceful Bike Ride on Peninsula Drive: My Favorite Street on Ono Island

A Peaceful Bike Ride on Peninsula Drive: My Favorite Street on Ono Island

By Meredith Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

View Ono Island real estate at www.searchthegulf.com

Living on Ono Island offers countless little moments of peace, but one of my favorite ways to unwind and reconnect with the beauty around me is by taking a bike ride along Peninsula Drive. Just the other evening, with the sun beginning to dip and the air still warm from the day, I joined a dear friend and neighbor for a leisurely ride through one of the most scenic stretches of the island—the Harbour.

As a full-time homeowner and real estate advisor on Ono Island, I never take for granted how magical this place is. And every time I bike down Peninsula Drive, I’m…

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Experience Deep-Sea Fishing on the Sea Spray in Orange Beach, Alabama

Experience Deep-Sea Fishing on the Sea Spray in Orange Beach, Alabama

By Meredith Amon, Licensed in Alabama and Florida

If you're looking to experience world-class deep-sea fishing in Orange Beach, Alabama, the Sea Spray is one of the top charter boats for serious anglers and adventurers alike. Whether you're an experienced offshore fisherman or a first-timer looking for an unforgettable experience in the Gulf of Mexico, this 65-foot sportfishing vessel delivers comfort, luxury, and top-tier fishing opportunities.

About the Sea Spray Charter Boat

The Sea Spray is a 65-foot Resmondo sportfishing vessel, renowned for its deep-sea fishing excursions from Orange Beach Marina. With over 25 years of experience navigating the Gulf waters,…

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