From: awootten@polaris.cv.nrao.edu (Al Wootten)
Newsgroups: rec.boats
Subject: Re: waterfront property
Date: 6 Oct 92 15:33:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: polaris.AWOOTTEN.92Oct6103315
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory

In article <1ahvi1INNanv@gilligan.East.Sun.COM> mike@gilligan.East.Sun.COM (Mike Roncadori) writes:

   Specifically, I'd like to know about:

   1) How much actual advantage is there in waterfront versus
      away/lake access (I know what it means, I just want to
      know from somebody who has waterfront property how much
      real tangible advantage there is being next to the water).
      Any disadvantages?
I live on Sturgeon Creek at Deltaville, VA fronting to the NE, the
Rappahannock just 3 miles up from the Chesapeake.  The only disadvantage
is the wind and rain during a Nor'easter.  But having the boat in the
front of the house, the view, catching crabs and fish from the front
dock, watching the birds and the traffic on the river and the bay are
just incomparable advantages.

   2) How much better is the resale (on average)? Is it easier
      to sell waterfront, or back lot (When you have to move on)?
      How much average assessment value does waterfront add (based
      on a 1 acre plat)? (I know this may vary... I'm looking for
      "You can expect to pay XXX percent more in property taxes
      on waterfront property.").
Resale is far better--the difference between sale and no sale.  In
Middlesex County, assessments for waterfront property are 60% of
appraised value, 100% off the water, so the differential is not large.
We bought 0.5 acre July 1987 before any houses were built for $43K.
Interior lots were then $10K.  The most recent resale occurred year 
before last for $135K; interior lots are now $45K.  A neighbor's
riverfront home (note that a pier on the Rappahannock would be ill-advised,
owing to ice flow in winter) is on the market for $475K.

   3) What about bulkheads? Are they pretty high-maintenance items?
      What kinds do you have experience with? Which would you re-
      commend? Any tips that will help ease maintenance?
We have a bulkhead which is anchored by horizontal pilings buried in
the ground behind the bulkhead, as I don't like the looks of pilings,
or the way they the vertical anchors tend to rise up when the waves
overwhelm the bulkhead.  We have had three northeasters in the last year
during which the pier and bulkhead were under water at high tide; other
than cleaning debris which became trapped in them there has been no
maintenance.  Our neighbor with stone riprap has lost most of his
protection, however, as the waves undercut the bank and carried the 
rocks off.

   4) Have you installed a launch ramp? What type of difficulty
      and expense does this present? Again, what are the mainten-
      ance issues/tips to lessen problems?
We have an expensive community boat ramp which was built too massively.
Walls on either side of the ramp were supposed to protect the boat
from current and wind, but of course they just acted as jetties and
within a year had built up a fine beach.  The ramp is landlocked now.
DO NOT put any obstruction in the water which might slow 
the tide and current and cause them to drop the sand they carry.  I
still cannot convince my neighbors of the physics of this, and they
will not permit removal of the `protecting' timbers.  Of course, they
are buried four feet deep in sand now!

   5) What type of pier or dock do you use? Is it best to use the
      community-provided one, or build one of your own?
No substitute for one of your own.  I went with the lowest bidder and
my 75' dock cost $3000 when built in June 1990.  No problems so far, but
my neighbor's dock, built by the artisan who built my bulkhead, has
definitely kept appearances up better than mine.  The builder has informed
me that I have a simple dock, not a pier, though the difference is subtle
to me!  Now the neighbor is having the fellow who put my simple dock in
replace his riprap with a bulkhead.  Comparison will interest me.
     Don't let them jet the
pilings in--insist that they be driven.  The biggest problem will be
ice--not as bad where we are as it might be on a lake.  Make sure there
are no cross members which will afford the ice purchase should the water
level rise--that will pull your pilings up as nothing else will.  We had
foot thick ice through Nov-Dec 1990 with no damage to our pier.

   6) What about security of the home while you are away? Is vac-
      ation home robbery pretty typical? What have you seen or done
      to combat this problem?
Only one person lives in our development week around, but we have never
had a single incident of theft.  We left our door open by accident for
a month once without entry.  Of course, we don't leave much there which
is particularly marketable.  I don't believe in having a TV when the
Chesapeake is fifty feet away.  We leave the curtains open so that people
can see there is nothing they would want inside.

Clear skies,
Al

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