Dock & draft match
Homes that fit your boat, not just your budget.
Tell us the boat. We match the dock length, the water depth, the beam of the slip and every bridge between you and the Atlantic.
Waterfront homes with dockage
Bridge & inlet route analysis
Charted clearances| Primary route | Min to inlet | Fixed bridges | Homes now | Navigation notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
via Boca Raton Inlet | 6 min | 0 | On Lake Boca itself — the shortest run to open water in Boca Raton. Note that Boca Inlet is narrow and shoals; big-beam boats time it with the tide. | |
via Port Everglades | 8 min | 0 | Closest big-boat address to the inlet. Deep, protected water and no bridges of any kind between the dock and the Atlantic. | |
via Hillsboro Inlet | 8 min | 0 | Effectively on top of the inlet. Deep-draft sportfish territory with a fast, bridge-free-in-height run to the Atlantic. | |
via Hillsboro Inlet | 10 min | 0 | The "Millionaire's Mile" — ocean in front, Intracoastal dockage behind, and Hillsboro Inlet minutes to the south. | |
via Boca Raton Inlet | 10 min | 0 | Boca's premier yachting address. Out the canals to the Intracoastal, past the Camino Real bridge and straight out Boca Inlet. | |
via Port Everglades | 12 min | 0 | One of the shortest bridge-free runs in Fort Lauderdale — straight south to Port Everglades. | |
via Hillsboro Inlet | 12 min | 0 | North Pompano canals sit close to Hillsboro Inlet — one movable bridge and you are outside. | |
via Hillsboro Inlet | 12 min | 0 | Wide, deep finger canals with no fixed bridges to the inlet — the reason big sportfish boats live here. | |
via Port Everglades | 15 min | 0 | The classic no-fixed-bridge run. South down the Intracoastal and straight out Port Everglades — no bridge waits, no air-draft limit. | |
via Hillsboro Inlet | 15 min | 0 | Short run north to Hillsboro Inlet. No fixed bridges — the Atlantic Boulevard and Hillsboro Inlet bridges both open on schedule. | |
via Cape Florida Channel | 15 min | 0 | The shortest run to blue water in Miami-Dade — straight out the Cape Florida Channel with no bridges. | |
via Port Everglades | 20 min | 0 | Out the isles into the Intracoastal, then south to Port Everglades with no fixed bridges. A little longer at idle than Las Olas Isles. | |
via Port Everglades | 20 min | 0 | Homes on the New River side pass the SE 3rd Avenue bridge; isles fronting the Intracoastal run bridge-free to Port Everglades. Confirm which canal the dock sits on. | |
via Boca Raton Inlet | 20 min | 1 (25') | Intracoastal frontage north of the inlet. The Spanish River fixed bridge governs air draft for anything north of it. | |
via Baker’s Haulover Inlet | 20 min | 0 | Intracoastal frontage a short run north of Baker’s Haulover — bridge-free to the ocean. | |
via Boca Raton Inlet | 22 min | 1 (25') | Gated, guarded, deep-water dockage. Heading south to Boca Inlet passes the Spanish River fixed bridge — confirm your air draft before you commit. | |
via Boca Raton Inlet | 25 min | 1 (25') | South down the Intracoastal to Boca Inlet. The Spanish River Boulevard fixed span caps air draft at about 25 feet — a real limit for flybridge and sailing vessels. | |
via Government Cut | 25 min | 0 | Venetian, Sunset and Star/Palm/Hibiscus island docks run south down Biscayne Bay and out Government Cut. Deep, well-marked and bridge-free for larger yachts. | |
via Baker’s Haulover Inlet | 25 min | 0 | South down the Intracoastal to Baker’s Haulover. No fixed spans, but the inlet runs hard on an outgoing tide against an east wind. | |
via Port Everglades | 30 min | 0 | North up the Intracoastal through the Sheridan Street and Dania Beach bridges to Port Everglades. No fixed spans, but two openings to plan around. | |
via Cape Florida Channel | 30 min | 0 | Open bay running from the Grove basins across Biscayne Bay to the Cape Florida Channel — no bridges, so air draft is unlimited. | |
via Port Everglades | 35 min | 0 | South down the Intracoastal past the Sunrise and Las Olas bridges to Port Everglades. No fixed bridges, but plan around the bridge opening schedule. | |
via Hillsboro Inlet | 35 min | 0 | Canal-front homes run north up the Intracoastal to Hillsboro Inlet. Most of this market is beach and condo rather than private dockage. | |
via Cape Florida Channel | 35 min | 0 | Gables Estates, Cocoplum and Old Cutler canals open straight into Biscayne Bay with no bridges, then south-east out the Cape Florida Channel. Watch bay depth at low tide. | |
via Port Everglades | 35 min | 0 | North up the Intracoastal through the Hallandale, Sheridan and Dania openings to Port Everglades. | |
via Hillsboro Inlet | 40 min | 0 | Primarily a private beach community. Boat owners typically keep vessels at nearby Intracoastal marinas and run north to Hillsboro Inlet. |
Click a community name to see the homes there that match your boat.
Clearances are charted at mean high water and openings follow posted schedules. Anything not confirmed is shown as unconfirmed, never estimated.
Dock building rules by city
Side-line setbacks and how far a dock plus boat may extend into the waterway vary by municipality.
| City / Municipality | Side line setback (bow/stern) | Max waterway intrusion | Key structural & local notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | 5 ft or 10 ft (depends heavily on neighborhood/street) | 30% of canal width (combined dock + boat beam) | Mega-yacht zones feature lower setbacks but strict clearance controls. |
| Miami | 10 ft minimum from property lines | 25% to 30% max depending on canal type | Docks/piers entering Biscayne Bay are generally capped at 35 ft out without a special exception. |
| West Palm Beach | 15 ft from seawall / 25 ft from mean high-water line | 20% of waterbody width (up to 500 ft max) | Structures must stay completely open and unobstructed from ground to sky. |
| Pompano Beach | 10 ft from extended riparian lines | 30% of canal width | Strictly monitors cross-canal clearance to preserve navigable channels. |
| Boca Raton | 10 ft from property lines | 25% of canal width | Tight restrictions on vessel overhangs and motorized boat lifts. |
| Coral Gables | 10 ft minimum side buffer | 25% to 30% max depending on specific waterway | Highly restrictive aesthetic and environmental oversight via local boards. |
| Hollywood | 5 ft to 10 ft (varies by residential zone) | 30% of canal width | Adheres closely to Broward County environmental dock building laws. |
| Miami-Dade (Unincorporated) | 10 ft minimum from interior side property lines | 30% of lot width max; cannot stick out past 30 ft wide | Limits total boats parked on a property based on overall lot acreage. |
| Florida DEP Default Rule | 25 ft (drops to 10 ft for marginal docks) | 20% of waterbody width | Applies to any municipality or county that lacks an explicit local code. |
General guidance only. Rules change and can vary by street or zone — always verify with the city's building department before planning a dock, lift, or boat purchase.
Boating guides
Boat size & dockage
What each waterfront pocket can actually dock, and where the size claims break down.
Las Olas Isles
Deep-water canals a short idle from Port Everglades, with no fixed bridge on the run.
Lighthouse Point
Straight shot to Hillsboro Inlet — the classic sportfish address.
All waterfront homes
Every active waterfront listing with dockage, updated from the MLS.
Waterfront & boating questions
Does 80 feet of water frontage mean I can dock an 80-foot boat?
No. Cities require side setbacks for docks and boats, so the usable berth is usually shorter than the frontage. Confirm the actual berth size and local dock rules at the property.
What does 'no fixed bridges' mean?
It means boats can reach the ocean without passing under a fixed bridge, so air draft (height above water) is not limited by a bridge. Always verify the route yourself, because listing descriptions are not always accurate.
How much water depth do I need at my dock?
Plan for at least your boat's draft plus about 1.5 feet of clearance at low tide. Water depth varies by canal and should be checked on site.
How long is the run from a Fort Lauderdale canal to the ocean?
It depends on the canal, speed zones and bridges. Many east Fort Lauderdale homes reach Port Everglades Inlet in 15 to 40 minutes; each listing shows its estimated route and time.