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No Fixed Bridge & Deep Water Homes in Port St. Lucie

No Fixed Bridge & Deep Water Homes in Port St. Lucie

For owners of bigger boats and sailboats, "ocean access" is only the first question. The next two are whether the boat will clear the bridges between the dock and the inlet, and whether there is enough water under it at low tide. This page is for those buyers.

The listing feed above shows Port St. Lucie homes whose listings are marked "no fixed bridges" or "deep water," updated automatically from the MLS. Those labels are entered by the listing agent and are not measurements, so read this page before you rely on them. For all ocean-access homes, see ocean access homes in Port St. Lucie.

What "No Fixed Bridges" and "Deep Water" Mean

Both are check-boxes in the MLS. No fixed bridges tells you the seller believes the route from the dock to open water does not require passing under a low fixed span. Deep water tells you the seller believes the water is deeper than typical, but there is no standard depth behind the label. One agent checks it for a canal that holds six feet at low tide; another for one that holds four. Treat both as a reason to look closer, not as an answer.

Bridges Between Port St. Lucie and the Inlet

Every boat leaving Port St. Lucie runs down the North Fork into the St. Lucie River and passes through Stuart on the way to the St. Lucie Inlet. That stretch has both high-level fixed bridges and opening bridges, including the railroad bridge, which can be down for trains. Most powerboats clear the high-level spans without a second thought. Sailboats and boats with tall towers need to compare their air draft to the posted clearance of each bridge on the route, and allow for tide. Closer to home, some canals in Port St. Lucie pass under low street bridges before they reach the river, which is exactly what the "no fixed bridges" label is meant to rule out.

Depth

The tidal range here is small, but parts of the North Fork and some canals are shallow, and depth can vary along a single canal. What matters is depth at mean low water, measured at the dock and along the route to open river. Ask the seller for any soundings or survey they have, look at the boats docked on the same canal, and for a larger boat have the route checked before you commit. Remember that a boat lift adds its own depth requirement.

Which Boats Fit Which Homes

Boat What to look for
Center console, bay boat, pontoon Most ocean-access canals work; confirm lift capacity and low-tide depth at the dock
Larger sport fisher or cruiser Deep water at the dock and along the route, a wide canal to turn, a dock long enough for the boat
Sailboat No low fixed bridges, mast height versus every span on the route, keel draft versus low-tide depth

Shopping for your boat as much as your house?

Tell me the boat: length, beam, draft and air draft. I will narrow the homes to the ones that actually work for it and help you verify the route before you make an offer.

RE/MAX - Port St. Lucie agent and licensed mortgage loan officer NMLS #1883073.

What to Verify Before You Offer

  • Air draft versus every bridge on the route, at high tide.
  • Depth at mean low water at the dock and along the route.
  • Dock length, lift capacity and power for your boat.
  • Canal width for turning a longer boat.
  • Speed zones on the way to the inlet, which affect travel time.
  • The seawall and dock condition, which are the owner's to maintain.

Communities where these listings often come up include Vikings Landing, Kitching Cove Estates and the Tarpon Bay area, but always verify the individual home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there homes in Port St. Lucie with no fixed bridges to the ocean?

Listings are marked that way when the seller believes the route to open water has no low fixed bridges. Every route from Port St. Lucie passes through Stuart, which has high-level fixed bridges and opening bridges, so tall sailboats should check each clearance against their air draft.

What does deep water mean in a listing?

It means the seller believes the water is deeper than typical. There is no standard depth behind the MLS label, so confirm depth at mean low water at the dock and along the route.

Can I keep a sailboat at a Port St. Lucie home?

Yes, on the right canal or river lot. Look for no low fixed bridges between the home and the river, enough depth for your keel at low tide, and clearance under the bridges on the route to the inlet for your mast.

How do I check the depth before buying?

Ask the seller for any soundings or surveys, look at the boats kept on the same canal, and for a larger boat have the dock and route sounded at low tide before your inspection period ends.

Which communities have deep water or no fixed bridges?

Listings with these labels often come from east-side communities on the North Fork such as Vikings Landing, Kitching Cove Estates and the Tarpon Bay area, but the label depends on the individual lot and route, so verify each home.