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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.2
    
 
   
        [CRARY, BUCHANAN, BOWDISH, BOVIE, LORD, ROBY & EVANS LETTERHEAD]
    
 
   
                                 April 11, 1997
    
 
   
Board of Directors
    
   
Seacoast Banking Corporation
    
   
  of Florida
    
   
815 Colorado Avenue
    
   
Stuart, Florida 34994
    
 
   
Re:  Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida -- Registration of 900,000
    
   
     shares of $.10 Par Value Class A Common Stock on Securities and
    
   
     Exchange Commission Form S-4
    
 
   
Gentlemen:
    
 
   
     In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of 900,000 shares of $.10 par value Class A Common Stock ("Class A
Stock") of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, a Florida corporation
("Seacoast"), for issuance in the manor described in Seacoast's Registration
Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to
which this opinion is an exhibit (the "Registration Statement"), we, as counsel
to Seacoast, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other
documents, including the Merger Agreement (as defined below), as we have
considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. The shares
of Class A Stock are to be issued in connection with the proposed merger of Port
St. Lucie National Bank Holding Corp. ("PSHC") with and into Seacoast (the
"Merger") pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by
and between Seacoast and PSHC dated as of February 19, 1997 (the "Merger
Agreement").
    
 
   
     On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Class A Stock
offered pursuant to the Registration Statement when issued by Seacoast to
holders of PSHC common stock and PSHC warrants in connection with the Merger as
provided in the Merger Agreement, will have been duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
    
 
   
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference of our Firm in the section entitled
"Opinions". Alston and Bird may rely upon this opinion.
    
 
   
                                          Very truly yours,
    
 
   
                                                 /s/ LARRY E. BUCHANAN
    
                                          --------------------------------------
   
                                          Larry E. Buchanan
    
   
                                          Partner