Saltwater Canal Homes with Gulf Access

Before going on a house hunt for a Saltwater Canal home with Gulf access, take a few minutes and determine how you want to use your new property. If you’re going to buy a power or sailboat, you need to ask yourself a few questions because you do not want to end up with a boat sitting high and dry most of the time. If you prefer powerboating, many saltwater canal homes have Gulf access to accommodate smaller, midsize watercraft. Many saltwater canal homes offer easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway, from which you can access the Gulf of Mexico. 

Larger Cruiser or Sailboat

However, suppose you want to accommodate a larger cruiser or a sailboat. In that case, homes are a little more limited, especially if you don’t want to waste a lot of time traveling through boring canals before reaching the open water. Therefore, not every home posted as “Saltwater Canal Home with Gulf Access”  will fit your needs. If you have been a lifelong boater,  you probably know what you are doing. A boater knows if it is going to work. However, if you are new to boating, you better do some more due diligence investigation first. Of course, you need to figure out how easy it will be to get out on the open water and back.  

How deep is the water at low tide?

How deep is the water at low tide? Are there any oyster beds or Sandbars? Oysters are razor-sharp. Are other obstructions like old concrete/steel building structures below the surface? How much space is there to maneuver your boat? Are there any bridges to pass, and how high is the clearance at high, spring, or low tide? Is there a lock on my way out? Questions over questions, but the more answers you get, the better.

What are the conditions in the Canal when the weather is not so perfect?

Low tide, combined with strong winds pushing the water out of the Canal, can rain on your parade. If the boat dock in front of the house is deep enough, that doesn’t mean that the Canal’s whole stretch is deep enough.

Some communities have a lock that’ll keep the water level at the same height. It can be a great feature unless it limits the size of the boat. But not many communities want to have a lock. Somebody needs to run and maintain it.  

You need to go with a deep water canal when you have a sailboat.  There is no other choice unless you want to keep the boat in a marina. That option may not be bad at all because there are not too many deep water canal homes that make sense.   

Even when the canal is deep and wide enough for your boat, it is no fun when the open water is miles away. With a six-foot draft, there are not too many inlets you can use to get to the Gulf of Mexico. For example, the Venice Jetty is always fine, but Stump Pass in Englewood can be questionable sometimes. The next usable exit would be Gasparilla or Sarasota. 

A powerboat might be more suitable for the relatively shallow waters in Florida. You also have less hassle with the motorboat compared to a sailing vessel. 

Waterfront Properties are highly regulated.

In some instances, you can not remove mangroves to build a dock/ widen or deepen a canal. The permitting process is lengthy and nerve-wracking, and you might not even get a permit. Buying a waterfront property does not guarantee you a waterfront property with a boat dock unless there is one already in place. 

What to expect when buying waterfront property?

Florida's natural beauty has always been a major attraction for both tourists and new residents alike. However, all the activity comes with a disadvantage.

The increasing population potentially endangers the coastline that draws so many people to Florida in the first place; therefore, somebody needs to regulate all the activities. To protect the distinctive natural features for future generations' enjoyment, the Florida Legislature has enacted laws to regulate activities that may pollute or destroy environmentally sensitive lands and waters. 

What is protected?

In effect are regulations to protect wetlands, seagrasses, mangroves, and endangered species such as manatees and sea turtles. Generally, any activity conducted in, on, or over the State of Florida's surface waters will require a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the State Water Management District. 

But the counties and municipalities within the State of Florida regulate all those activities as well. If you are considering buying a waterfront property, be aware of the laws and regulations. It is a jungle out there!