C3530911
There are more than 400 miles of canals in Cape Coral, Florida, more than any other city in the world.
​
The canals act as an extension of the property owned and can increase the area by almost a third to the size of a backyard depending on circumstance.
​
Vacation homes are most commonly found as close as possible to the Gulf of Mexico or the Caloosahatchee River on the South-West Gulf coast. Though it is important to be aware that not every canal leads to the gulf.​
RULES
The canals can be considered as a road system in Cape Coral and so they have rules and regulations.
- Keep boat motors in good repair to prevent fuel leakage.
- Never empty bilges into canals, only empty holding tanks at designated pump-out stations
- Do not spill or overfill the fuel tank. If boating in seagrass, go slowly, or pole along with the
motor raised.
​
All canals are idle speed, no-wake zones whether they are salt or fresh water. Idle speed is the slowest speed you can run and still have control of your boat. Basically, if you see a wake or water turning up bubbles, you are going too fast and you can receive a citation from the marine patrols. Some canals lead to lakes that welcome their own rules and regulations.
LOW BRIDGES
Almost every intersection of water and road has a bridge to access the surrounding area. However, some of the bridges are particularly low considering the size of the sail boats that are seen in the area. The low bridges can range from a clearance height of 7 - 11ft.
BOAT RENTALS
Most residents in Cape Coral own a boat though visitors and others may need to rent a craft however due to low numbers there is only one rental company in the area.
BOAT RAMPS
A boat ramp or slip way is a ramp on the shore by which ships or boats can be moved to and from the water.
MARINAS / GAS STATIONS
The marinas provide an area for boats to be moored if the owner does not have adequate space or availability to dock their boat.
​
The gas stations are placed along the waterfront to allow easy access for the boat owners.
