What is the difference between a fixed bridge and a drawbridge?
A fixed bridge has one permanent vertical clearance. NOAA's U.S. Coast Pilot lists bridge clearances in feet above mean high water, and for drawbridges it lists the clearance in the closed position. If the highest point of your boat (its air draft) is taller than a fixed bridge's clearance, the boat cannot pass under it at any time.
A bascule drawbridge lifts its span for boats on a schedule or on signal. In the October 2026 edition of Coast Pilot 4, each highway bridge listed across the Intracoastal Waterway from Lake Worth Avenue (Mile 1028.8) south to Fort Lauderdale's SE 17th Street bridge (Mile 1065.9) is a bascule span. Closed clearances vary: 9 feet at the center for East Camino Real in Boca Raton, 19 feet at the center for Palmetto Park Road, 21 feet at the center for Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, and 15 feet at the center for Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach.[1][2]
Where do fixed bridges limit boats in Broward and Palm Beach?
In this stretch, the fixed bridges described in the Coast Pilot sit on side waterways and inlets, and some are low. Examples from the October 2026 edition:
- U.S. 1 over the Hillsboro Drainage Canal near Deerfield Beach: fixed span, 14 feet of clearance.
- Middle River in Fort Lauderdale: Sunrise Boulevard fixed span with 10 feet and U.S. 1 fixed span with 8 feet.
- Mercedes River toward Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale: fixed span with 7 feet.
- Boynton Inlet: State Road A1A fixed span with 18 feet.
- Farther north, the Jerry Thomas Memorial Bridge between Riviera Beach and Singer Island (Mile 1017.2) is a fixed bridge with 65 feet.[1][4]
How do you check a "no fixed bridges" claim?
Treat the phrase in a listing as a claim to verify, not an official designation. Work through the route yourself:
- Trace every turn from the dock to the inlet you plan to use on a current NOAA chart.
- Look up each bridge in Coast Pilot 4, Chapter 12, and note whether it is fixed or bascule and its listed clearance.
- If the route passes under a small neighborhood street bridge, confirm its clearance with the city or by measuring at high tide.
- Compare clearances with your boat's air draft, including towers, antennas and outriggers, and remember that higher water means less room.
- Check opening times in 33 CFR 117.261; as of 2026, East Camino Real opens at :00, :20 and :40, and Spanish River and Palmetto Park open on the hour and half hour.
- Note overhead power cables, which the Coast Pilot lists separately.[1][2][3]
Key takeaways
- A fixed bridge sets a hard height limit for any boat kept behind it, while a drawbridge mainly adds waiting time.
- NOAA's Coast Pilot lists bridge clearances above mean high water, and drawbridge clearances in the closed position.
- Each Intracoastal highway bridge the Coast Pilot lists from Lake Worth Avenue to Fort Lauderdale's SE 17th Street is a drawbridge; fixed bridges in that stretch are on side waterways and inlets.
- Verify the route bridge by bridge against your boat's air draft instead of relying on listing language.
Sources
- [1]NOAA Office of Coast Survey — U.S. Coast Pilot 4, Chapter 12: Intracoastal Waterway
- [2]NOAA Office of Coast Survey — U.S. Coast Pilot 4, Chapter 1: General Information
- [3]eCFR — 33 CFR 117.261, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway drawbridge operations
- [4]NOAA Office of Coast Survey — U.S. Coast Pilot 4, Chapter 10: Fort Pierce Inlet to Miami
Reviewed October 11, 2026. General real-estate information for Florida, not legal, tax, lending or insurance advice. Laws, rates and deadlines change — confirm property-specific facts with the agency cited, a Florida real-estate attorney, CPA or licensed insurance agent.