11 Most Costly Mistakes A Boater Can Make If They Don't Hire A Waterfront Specialist.

Dear Boater,

If you're in the market to buy a home and you have a boat that you want to bring to your new home, here's 11 mistakes that you can avoid and learn from to make your buying process a smooth one. First of all you need to know some things about the area and what kind of restrictions and rules are in place for boaters. I wrote this report to bring you important information about boating in Cape Coral and Ft. Myers Florida.

1. Boating Access in Cape Coral

Cape Coral is a boater's paradise with 410 miles of canals giving it more waterfront than any other city in the world. In the 1970's the Army Core of Engineers blocked off 75% of the canals with a series of lock, lifts, and dams. This information is critical depending on the size and type of your boat.

50% of all waterfront property in Cape Coral is landlocked fresh (or sweet) water. This means there is no access to the Gulf of Mexico by boat. There are several advantages to this type of property. First, the price is extremely low-$5,000 up to $40,000 for a lot. Second, if you like to fish there are bass, carp and trout-right out your back door. Most canals lead to lakes where you can waterski or jetski. Instead of your neighbor being in your backyard your canal will gives you a great buffer.

25% on the waterways will give you Gulf access through locks and lifts (Lots range from $15,000 to $80,000). The advantage here is that the water is brackish so you can leave your boat in the water and still be able to get to the Gulf of Mexico. The downside to locks and lifts is that they have confining hours of operation. Sometimes there are long lines creating delays and occasionally there are mechanical problems, forcing you to cancel your trip or find temporary docking.

15% is Gulf access (Lots range from $15,000-$80,000), without locks or lifts but you do need to go under a bridge. Unless you have a sailboat or tall boat, you can have great Gulf access without paying a huge lot premium, which is a great investment. 10% is direct access (Lots range from $50,000-$200,000), no locks, lifts or bridges. This is as good as it gets and you pay for it. A true boater will think the price is worth it and it is probably the best investment in Cape Coral, and possibly in S.W. Florida. Note: All percentages are approximate.

2. Get your boat out of the Water
Salt water can do devastating damage to both your hull and motors. Barnacle growth is almost immediate and can not only dramatically affect the performance but can also cause fiberglass blistering on your boat. If your boat is too big to get out of the water the hull should be painted every 6 months or so. Older homes have davits to pull your boat out of the water but they are clumsy to use and put a lot of pressure on the pull points. Boatlifts not only are easy to use but also offer the maximum protection against storms. There cost is between $6,000-$10,000 depending on size and weight.

3. Make sure you can get your boat into your dock!
If there are big boats around you make sure the docks aren't arranged so your boat won't be able to get in and out, particularly if the docks on the side of you haven't been built yet or may be rebuilt.

4. Riverfront Property
The vistas are spectacular and you pay a premium price $250,000-$1.5 Million. For the boater you leave your boat vulnerable to all the natural elements of storms and wave action. Here is where a lift is a necessity.

5. The more water behind you the better.
The wider the canal behind your home offers you better views, more privacy typically deeper water and more manuverability for your boat. Canals in Ft Myers range from 40' to 100'wide and Cape Coral canals are 80' to 200' wide.

6. Mean low tide.
The lower down river the more the tide change will affect water depth. If there is a standard it would be 1'-2' difference but this can change due to season, moon release of water from lake Okeechobee and weather. Tropical storms can suck out almost all water from your canal or push in several more feet of water than usual.

7. Secure your boat in a tropical storm.
Tropical storms can dump several inches of rain cause dramatic tide changes and high winds. Make sure you can protect your boat by getting it out of the water with davits, a lift, or spider web it close to the center of the canal.

8. Sailboat Access
Some property billed as Sailboat access, which usually means no lock, lifts, or bridges may not allow your sailboat through. If your mast is over 50' high you won't be able to fit under Cape Coral Bridge (55'), or power lines (55') on the Bimini Canal.

9. Draft
The Caloosahatchee River with its entire expanse appears to be deep and wide. Not so. I recently hit a sandbar in the middle of the river causing a $1200 repair. Although most canals have adequate water depth some channels to the main river have filled in somewhat. Shallow channels include some of the north part of SE. Cape Coral, Whiskey Creek and Bonita Bay. Areas of good water depth are Waterway Estates N. Ft. Myers, Town and River, Landing, Palmetto Point, Deep Lagoon, Pepper Tree Point and most of Cape Coral.

10. Talk to your Neighbors.
Before you make your final decision to buy boating property talk to a neighbor. Don't be shy, boaters love to talk about their boat and boating in general. They can be your best source of objective neighborhood information.

11. Protect Yourself and Your Boat.
Choose only a Waterfront Specialist to assist you in finding that perfect Boating Property. Someone who will protect you and your boat through an iron clad "Boater's Addendum".

Contact us now for current boating properties.