Boca Raton waterfront guide
Boca Raton waterfront homes with no fixed bridges
For serious boaters, "no fixed bridges" is the most important phrase in a Boca Raton waterfront listing. Here is what it means, why it matters, and where to find it.
What "no fixed bridges" means
Many Boca Raton canals reach the Intracoastal Waterway only by passing under a bridge. A fixed bridge never opens, so its height sets a hard limit on the boats that can use the canal. A home with no fixed bridges has no such limit between its dock and the inlet: the only bridges on the way are drawbridges that open, so a tall sportfisher, a center console with a tower, or a sailboat can reach the Atlantic.
Why it matters to buyers
A low fixed bridge rules out a large share of the boats that South Florida buyers own or want to own. Homes with unrestricted ocean access appeal to every boater, which is why they are among the most sought-after waterfront properties in Boca Raton. When you compare waterfront homes, check the route to the inlet as carefully as the house itself.
Northeast Boca Raton and Lake Rogers Isle
The canals of Lake Rogers Isle, in the 33431 ZIP code just west of the Intracoastal, open onto Lake Rogers and the waterway with no fixed bridges to the inlets. From here, the Boca Raton Inlet is the shortest run to open water, and the Hillsboro Inlet is further south. The beach at Spanish River Park sits just across the Intracoastal.
What to check before you buy
- The route from the dock to the inlet, and every bridge on it.
- Water depth at the dock and along the canal at low tide.
- Width of the water frontage and the canal itself.
- Dock condition, boat lift capacity, and seawall age.
- Exposure: a south-facing yard gets sun on the pool and dock all day.
For sale now
764 NE 33rd Street
$6,975,000
5 en-suite bedrooms, 4,856 square feet and 101 feet of south-facing water frontage with no fixed bridges, a dock with boat lift, three Jet Ski docks and an infinity pool. Built in 2016. No HOA.
Get no-fixed-bridge listings first
Tell Ricky Estera what you are looking for and get new Boca Raton waterfront homes with ocean access, often before they hit the market.
Questions about no-fixed-bridge homes
What does "no fixed bridges" mean for a Boca Raton waterfront home?
It means there is no fixed, non-opening bridge between the home's dock and the ocean inlet. Boats only pass under bridges that open (drawbridges) or that are high enough to clear, so the height of the boat's tower, T-top or mast is not limited by a low fixed span.
Why do no-fixed-bridge homes sell for more?
Buyers with sportfishing boats, center consoles with towers, or sailboats need unrestricted clearance to reach the Atlantic. Homes that offer it suit a wider range of boats, so they tend to be in higher demand than homes behind a low fixed bridge.
Which inlets serve northeast Boca Raton?
The Boca Raton Inlet is the closest route to the ocean from the canals of northeast Boca Raton. The Hillsboro Inlet is further south along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Is there a no-fixed-bridge home for sale in Lake Rogers Isle now?
Yes. 764 NE 33rd St, Boca Raton, FL 33431 has 101 feet of south-facing canal frontage with no fixed bridges, a dock with boat lift and three Jet Ski docks, offered at $6,975,000.