My retired parents spend their winters in Crystal River Florida. I've been down several times and was thinking of investing in a summer place. Any pro's-con's to the area? What's the boating scene like besides the Manatee mess?

That right there would be reason enough.
And the reason they're so bad there is a nuke plant I think? Not that it should be a deal breaker. How close do you want to be to the parents? I think the west coast, north of Crystal River, is growing. But I have no idea what boating is like. My dad was looking at Steinhatchee last year...much further north from Crystal River though.

The nuke is close by but not a deal breaker. My folks would be caretakers during the winter months and I would use it as a weekend/vacation get away.

There is a ton of real estate inventory and quite a few distressed properties. I was thinking of making some low ball offer on a deeded development spec-house.

Crystal River is nice if you like what I call old Florida living...not is a bad way of course. Lots of shallows and good fishing but not a place for a fast 35 Fountain.

I would agree on your assesment of the "feel" of the place. Most of the inlets appear to be pontoon and center console havens. Saw a few performance boats, but they are the minority. I would guess your average trip to the open gulf is a couple of miles? It may not be the best but it looks like a decent central point for either a long cruise down to St. Pete or not too far from hundreds of launches on the gulf side.

How much further south do I have to go before the boating becomes sport boat friendly? Tampa?

I have a place in Crystal River for sale, not on the water though. But within 5 minutes of the barge canal (deep water) and another 5 minutes to the neighborhood dock on lake Rousseau, for great bass fishing.

New Port Richey area.

Tampa is not on the Gulf, I would say Clearwater, there is
a hangout called Sheppards.