Fort Lauderdale isn't called the "Yachting Capital of the World" as a marketing slogan — it's a statement of fact. More yachts are bought, sold, serviced, and stored here than anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. The city has over 50,000 registered vessels, 300+ marinas, and a marine industry that generates billions annually. If you're serious about buying or selling a yacht, this is where the market is deepest.
The geography alone makes the case. Fort Lauderdale sits at the northern edge of the Gulf Stream, putting Bimini roughly 50 nautical miles east — a comfortable day crossing for most cruising yachts. From there, the Exumas, Abacos, and the entire Bahamas chain open up. Head north on the Intracoastal Waterway and you're connected to the Treasure Coast, the Space Coast, and eventually the entire Eastern Seaboard. Head south and you're in Miami, the Keys, and eventually the Caribbean.
The infrastructure here is unmatched. Bahia Mar, Lauderdale Marine Center, Pier 66 — these aren't just marinas, they're full-service yacht facilities with haul-out capacity, refit yards, and marine service providers within walking distance. When you need a survey, a bottom job, or a full electronics upgrade, you don't have to truck your boat somewhere else. It's all here.
For buyers flying in to look at boats, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is 15 minutes from most major marinas. You can land in the morning, see three or four boats by lunch, and make an informed decision before dinner. That kind of density doesn't exist anywhere else.
Yacht Access is a boutique brokerage based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a second office in Boston, Massachusetts. We're not a volume shop — we don't carry 400 listings and hope something sticks. We work a focused inventory, represent our clients personally, and give every deal the attention it deserves.
Drew Baldwin has been in the marine industry for over 45 years. He's an active IYBA (International Yacht Brokers Association) member, which means adherence to the industry's highest ethical standards, access to the MLS cooperative listing system, and a network of brokers and buyers that spans the globe. When you work with Yacht Access, you're working directly with Drew — not a junior agent, not an assistant, not a call center.
That's a deliberate choice. We believe the best deals happen when the person negotiating your purchase or listing your boat is the same person who picked up the phone on day one. You don't get handed off. You don't get forgotten. You get a broker who knows your boat, knows the market, and knows how to close.
IYBA Member
International Yacht Brokers Association — the industry's gold standard for ethical, professional brokerage.
45+ Years Experience
Decades of hands-on marine industry experience — from center consoles to superyachts.
Fort Lauderdale & Boston
Primary office: 1875 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale. Second office: Boston, MA.
The buying process starts with a conversation — not a form, not an algorithm. We want to understand what you're actually going to do with the boat. Are you crossing to the Bahamas regularly? Running the ICW on weekends? Fishing the Gulf Stream? Running up to New England for the summer? The answer shapes everything: hull type, draft, fuel capacity, generator sizing, even which marinas will work for you.
Once we've narrowed the field, we arrange showings — typically 3 to 5 boats in a single trip so you can compare in person. When you find the right one, we handle the offer, negotiate on your behalf, coordinate the marine survey and sea trial, and manage the closing through a licensed yacht closing agent. Buyers pay no brokerage fee — the seller's commission covers both sides.
Selling a yacht in this market means competing with thousands of other listings. The difference between a boat that sells in 60 days and one that sits for a year usually comes down to three things: pricing, presentation, and exposure. We're direct about all three.
We'll give you an honest market evaluation based on actual comparable sales — not inflated numbers to win the listing. We'll advise on what's worth fixing before listing and what isn't. Your boat goes on the IYBA MLS, major listing portals (YachtWorld, Boat Trader, boats.com), and our own site with professional photography. We handle inquiries, qualify buyers, coordinate showings, and negotiate offers — keeping you informed at every step without wasting your time.
A yacht broker represents buyers or sellers in yacht transactions — handling market pricing, negotiations, sea trials, marine surveys, contract preparation, and closing coordination. A good broker also knows the local market: which marinas have availability, what comparable boats have actually sold for, and how to navigate the logistics of a South Florida purchase.
Buyers typically pay nothing — the seller pays the brokerage commission, which is usually 10% on boats under $1 million and negotiable on larger yachts. As a buyer, you get professional representation at no direct cost to you.
Fort Lauderdale has the highest concentration of yachts for sale in the Western Hemisphere. You can see more boats in a single weekend here than in a month anywhere else. The city also offers year-round boating, direct Bahamas access via the Gulf Stream, the Intracoastal Waterway, and a deep marine services infrastructure for surveys, haul-outs, and refits.
Call us at 954-527-4848 or send a message through our website. We can typically arrange showings within 24–48 hours for boats docked locally. For out-of-area buyers, we offer video walkthroughs and detailed photo packages before you fly in.
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