Adding to list of free docks - and thoughts on free facilities boaters expect On the Albermarle try Edenton NC - 2 nights free with water and $10 elec great town right at dock Plymouth NC elec?? NC Welcome Center on The Dismal Swamp Canal - water only I think you can see from the pattern of free docks that the towns that offer them are quite a bit more desperate for business that typical towns in FL. Cruisers pass through those areas. They come to FL and stay a longer time. Thus the idea that town government and C of C create an attractive lure to trap a trickle of travelers for local businesses, it make sense. When relative hoards of "travelers" concentrate in a very desireable area they become thought of as "freeloaders". When long stay boaters, who also expect free services ( yes that free library is paid for by somebody) , then residents and businesses feel they are being taken advantage of because they pay stiff property taxes to pay for services that the "freeloaders" take for granted. Small communities may see the "delta" but large towns and resort areas see very little extra income. Live aboard boaters often choose their lifestyle to take advantage of checking out of responsibility for local taxes. Take my possible scenario if I decide to sell my house and live aboard. Now I pay hefty property tax (the biggest source of taxes for FL communities) for my house but also have a very nice slip in a economical yacht club for my very liveable boat. If we live only on the boat and sold the house, my month bills would almost disappear. The cost of my club and slip fees is 18% of the typical homeowners property taxes alone. I would no longer contribute to local infrastructure except by sales tax on my purchases for food and entertainment - a very small part of local government tax income. Perhaps that is why some states (NC, SC, GA) charge [ersonal property tax on long stay boats. Greg and Susan Han Key Biscayne, FL Allegria -- Krogen Whaleback #16 MTOA # 3702 On Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 8:07 AM, Jim Quince <vquince@comcast.net> wrote: > I just went through my notes and did a quick list . I'm sure there are more > so > please let me know what to add or edit....thanks! > > > > Free Walls and Docks for Cruising Boats, Eastern USA/Canada > > ( No services unless stated otherwise) > > Grand Haven, MI, City Wall, can roll from lake waves. > > St Joe, Mi, Park Wall on LDB above railroad Swing Bridge, can roll from > lake > waves. > > Joliet, IL, RDB Bicentennial Park wall with some services > > Ottawa, IL, RDB city docks with power and water. > > Clarksville, TN, 280-foot floating dock w/ electric, for permission call > 931-645-7476. > > Guntersville, AL, LDB lots of dock space. > > Shell Mound Recreation Area, RDB Nickajack Lake, AL, floating dock (may be > moved for new marina) > > Blue Bluff Rec. Area, mm368 TennTom, tee-dock on western shore beyond the > bluff. > > Convention Center, Mobile, AL, RDB wall > > ? New Orleans Dock at Madisonville, LA > > Fort Walton Beach, FL, dock > > White City FL, LDB fixed and floating dock space > > La Belle FL, Ft Myers side of the canal, med tie. room for 3 boats with > water > and limited power. > > ? Moorehead City > > ? Oriental, NC, MM181.5, 48 hour dock, TownDock.net > > ? Mariner's Wharf in Elizabeth City, NC. > > ? Portsmouth, VA? > > ? Bath > > ? Washington NC. 30 miles up the Pamlico River (mm 147.5 on the ICW), five > 80' face docks - 48 hour limit > > > > ? Erie Canal Towns > > > > ? Little Current Ontario, day use of docks, space available > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Restaurants, etc. with Dockage if you buy from them > > Moores Stone Crab House, Longboat Key, FL, overnight docking with meal > purchase > > > ? The Provision Restaurant, Southport (mm309) > > > > Other frugal stops > > Carolina Beach State Park Marina (mm297). $20 for the night including > electric and water. Check depths. > > > > > > All information subject to change (after all, it's about boating) > > Listings posted with a ? need to be confirmed as information may dated > > > Please send any other listings, recommendations or changes to > VQuince@comcast.net > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/great-loop