Somehow I have made it to 2025 without realizing that there’s an entire street in the keys that has both runway access and a dock in the back.
S Airport Dr, Summerland Key, FL 33042
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/260-S-Airport-Dr-Summerland-Key-FL-33042/45812606_zpid/?mmlb=g,1
First of all:
Also hangers from dog butts.
Anyway.
That’s a cool arrangement but I wonder how bad the wear and tear is on aircraft so close in proximity to salt water that aren’t so lucky to have an enclosed hangar including the lack of UV protection.
This has me wondering if similar homes exists in Alaska as I could just see those guys with seaplanes taxiing up to a personal dock like that. I do know there are a lot more water runways that serve as companions to their hard surface friends up in AK.
Just imagine how nerve-wracking it’d be with any sort of crosswind deal with wing clearances in a channel like that if you wanted to to the whole ASES thing.
There are quite a few seaplane docks in my area with all the fresh water lakes. What a dream. My buddy with the Turbo 206 also has a Sportsman and a very nice enclosed hangar right on Lake Sammamish.
I would hate to keep my aircraft outside anywhere, but coastal Florida in particular would be really bad!
A casual walk around the tie downs of airports down here can be depressing. There are some would-be-great airplanes at every airport that are just scorched! Completely destroyed by the sun damage, corrosion from all the salt in the air and general heavy rain/wind/hail wear-n-tear. 
This particular example would be a tear down in my opinion.
Many of the other homes on this street have a big hangair on the bottom floor for the airplane and boat gear. Then have all of the residential living space on top.
This would be the way to go down there as it’s only 5 feet above sea level in a severe hurricane area. (Design the hangar in a way where it doesn’t matter (as much) if it gets 10 feet of saltwater inside and storm surge hitting the walls once in awhile.)
No way you could get a seaplane in that channel! That would be cool though.
There’s got to be setups in Alaska that incorporate all this… so much land up there for relatively lower costs.
I don’t think I could live in the Keys though… but a little retreat I could fly to with my dive boat ready to go out back would be cool!
@balls_to_the_wall have you ever been in/out of Summerland Key?
Sorry been swamped with work this week. Fml.
I’ve driven through Summerland Key on my way to Key West, but have not landed in that private strip. Might be fun, but would probably need to coordinate with the owners/etc which is probably a pain.
However its right between Marathon and Key West, so also no need given proximity to two other airports.
Agree on planes down here near the salt water. Corrosion is a real problem, and if not hangared, the sun/storms give the plane a beating. Also agree on not wanting to live in the Keys; love visiting them for 3-4 days at a time a few times each year, but that’s about it.
