If you buy a lot on any kind of water, sooner or later you’ll be faced with putting in a seawall and dock or some alternative.
DOCK AND SEAWALL
Generally, for investment property, I don’t think the cost is justified. On the other hand, if you plan to build on the lot, it might be worth it if you can get a good deal on the seawall/ dock costs. In this economic climate, you have a better chance of pulling that off than you might at some other time. Finding a lot with seawall and dock already in can be the best of both worlds.
RIP RAP, lining a retention pond
Not every community requires seawalls. Some, like Rotunda in Charlotte County, accept rip rap (rocks placed above and below the water line) for bank erosion control. Also on some Cape Coral canals, rip rap may be required where utilities like sewer and water lines cross a canal. This is probably true outside the Cape as well. Rip rap is a cheaper alternative to a seawall but has some drawbacks:
- The rip rap rocks are a snake’s idea of paradise. Or would be if the snake had any ideas.
- The lack of an elevated water edge and the (usually) gray rocks offer a napping place for alligators which may then wander around your yard.
- You may still need to put in a dock if you have a boat since you’d not be able to drag the boat or drive over the rocks. The dock needs to be long enough to traverse the rip rap area.
- Weeds can be a problem.
A seawall is not an absolute barrier to gators and snakes, but they will tend to pass them up if there’s an area at water level they can more easily climb onto. Since most seawalls and docks are a light color, I suspect this is also a turn-off because these animals like to blend in with their surroundings.
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