There is no odor of any kind from either salt water or fresh water. The fresh water canals have been built by the developer and are "treated" to maintain a proper PH level. It was done to eliminate any build up of barnacles on the bottom of the vessel and keep fresh water running through the engines of the vessel. Maintanence on the boats bottom is greatly reduced. It stays clean!

The "lifts" are at the end of each canal,and are designed to lift the boat out of the fresh water and lower it into the waters of the Manatee River, which are brackish (part salt and part fresh) and provide you the abaility of driving your boat out into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Inlets has always been an area cattering to upscale corporate executives and professionals that move a lot. There is NOTHING wrong with the development; on the contrary, it is beautifuland highly sought after.

Richard N. Armstrong

Great neighborhood, have lived here 4 years on a fresh water canal. My boat has never been bottom painted which keeps up the value. It only takes 3-5 minutes to go through the lift to the salt water canal. There are many homes for sale due to the economy and over eager investors wanting to flip houses a few years ago. I believe things are starting to pick up a bit. If you choose a salt water canal, you do have more convenience as far as accessing the river goes. The smell of barnacles at low tide is sometimes an issue not to mention the higher boat maintenance and lift costs. Hope this helps buch1982@tampabay.rr.com

It's better for your boat to keep it in fresh water than the salt due to the critters that grow on the hul. No stinky mud either when the tides change. There are limits to the boat you can take through the lift as a penalty though...
Below is a link to all the listings in the inlets. Updates nightly so save the link!!

http://www.gulfsideland.com/index.php?PROPERTY_TYPE_CODE=Sin…


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A saltwater access canal will go out to open waters. A fresh water cansl may go to a lake but is usually land locked. Boat lifts are used to keep the boat out of the water when not in use. This helps keep banacles off the vessel in salt water and proteced from tides and rough weather.

Salt water access cansal are usually more expensive but it depends on the location. There are pricey lake front homes as well. As far as the smell goes, if it smells bad don't buy it!