Author Note

Fort Lauderdale is not merely one of the largest yachting hubs in the world — it is arguably the most operationally complex, with more than 40 marinas and marine facilities along the New River, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Port Everglades. As a broker and former delivery captain who has docked vessels from 28-foot center consoles to 120-foot sportfishermen in Broward County, I have developed strong opinions about which facilities serve which vessel types well, and where the hidden costs and constraints are. This guide is that distilled knowledge.

Fort Lauderdale’s Marina Landscape: An Overview

Broward County’s marine infrastructure splits into three distinct categories relevant to yacht owners:

Full-service deep-water marinas: capable of accommodating vessels 50-200+ feet with utilities, liveaboard amenities, pump-out, and adjacent boatyard services
Resort and transient marinas: primarily oriented toward visitors; higher nightly rates but first-class amenities
Dry-storage and lift facilities: most appropriate for vessels under 45 feet; dramatically lower per-month costs than wet slips

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) estimates Fort Lauderdale and Broward County collectively home approximately 50,000 registered vessels, making this the highest-density recreational boating county in the United States (source: https://www.nmma.org/statistics/marine-industry-statistics).

Key Fort Lauderdale Marinas by Vessel Category

Vessels 40-65 Feet

Bahia Mar Yachting Center (801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) is the home of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and a premier address for this size class. Wet slip rates in the current Broward market run approximately $25–$35 per foot per month for annual contracts. Bahia Mar offers full utilities, concierge-level dockmaster service, and direct Intracoastal access with no fixed bridge clearance issues.

Las Olas Marina (250 SW 11th Ave., Fort Lauderdale) is a well-positioned option for owners who prioritize proximity to Fort Lauderdale’s urban core. Slips accommodate vessels to approximately 60 feet; rates are competitive at $22–$30 per foot per month. Bridge clearance on the New River approach is a constraint for vessels with air drafts above 55 feet.

Lauderdale Marine Center (1900 SW 21st Ave., Fort Lauderdale) is the largest boatyard and marina complex in the southeastern United States by service capacity. It is less resort-oriented and more operationally functional — ideal for owners who need active maintenance access, haul-out, and yard services on the same property. Slip rates are market-competitive and the center accommodates vessels through approximately 200 feet.

Vessels 65-120 Feet

Pier 66 Marina (2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale) is the signature superyacht address in Broward County, with deep-water slips accommodating vessels to 200 feet and alongside dockage for vessels up to 300 feet on select faces. Pier 66 offers 50A and 100A shore power, high-capacity freshwater delivery, and direct access to the 17th Street Causeway provisioning corridor. Rates for annual contracts in this class range from $35–$50 per foot per month. This is where vessels arrive for FLIBS showings and pre-sale preparation.

Harbour Towne Marina (801 Harbour Dr., Dania Beach) sits just south of Fort Lauderdale proper and offers deep-water accommodations at slightly lower annual rates than Pier 66. It is a practical choice for vessels in the 65-100 foot range whose owners do not require the full-service resort amenity set.

Vessels Under 40 Feet: The Dry-Storage Math

For vessels under approximately 40-45 feet, dry storage combined with a hydraulic or travel lift launch is almost always the better financial decision over a wet slip in Broward County. The math:

Dry-storage facilities in Broward County with launch capability include Harbour Isles Yacht Club, Harbour Towne Marina, and several facilities along I-95’s marine corridor. Annual savings of $4,000–$6,000 are realistic for vessels in this size range.

Hurricane Haul-Out Planning: The Broward Reality

Florida’s Atlantic coast is statistically exposed to tropical cyclones from June through November. NOAA’s hurricane climatology data shows that the Fort Lauderdale area has been affected by tropical-storm-force or higher winds in approximately 12 percent of Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1950 (source: https://www.weather.gov/mfl/hurricane). Most Broward marina insurance riders require or strongly incentivize haul-out for named storms in the Gulf or Atlantic threatening South Florida.

Critically: Lauderdale Marine Center and Harbour Towne Marina book hurricane haul-out capacity fast once a named storm enters the Gulf. Waiting until a storm is within 72 hours of Fort Lauderdale often means no yard availability. Owners with annual slip contracts at full-service yards should pre-negotiate haul-out priority access — and understand whether their marina provides tie-down service or whether that is the owner’s responsibility. See hurricane haul out plans and timing for a detailed pre-season prep protocol.

Liveaboard Considerations in Broward County

Broward County has specific zoning and marina operational rules governing liveaboard vessels — defined as vessels occupied more than 30 days in a calendar year by any person as a primary residence. Not all Fort Lauderdale marinas accept liveaboards; those that do typically charge a liveaboard surcharge of $150–$400 per month above standard slip fees. Pier 66, Bahia Mar, and Lauderdale Marine Center each have defined liveaboard policies. Confirm current policy with the dockmaster before executing a slip agreement if liveaboard use is anticipated.

Choosing the Right Facility: A Decision Framework

For yacht owners evaluating Broward County marina options, the prioritization should run:

Does the facility’s draft and air-draft clearance match my vessel? (Verify current low-water depth and any bridge height constraints on your approach route)
Does the power infrastructure match my vessel’s shore-power requirements? (30A / 50A / 100A; single-phase vs three-phase)
Is there an adjacent boatyard for routine maintenance, or will every service visit require moving the vessel?
What is the hurricane haul-out policy and realistic yard availability?
What are the liveaboard, pet, and guest policies if relevant to your use case?

Moretti Yachts International maintains active relationships with dockmaster teams at all major Broward County facilities and can assist clients in securing slip space as part of our yacht management coordination services. dry storage vs wet slip cost math provides additional financial modeling for the haul-in/haul-out decision. Contact our Fort Lauderdale office for current availability and rate referrals.

Fuel Infrastructure and Provisioning Access

Fuel access is a practical variable that many owners overlook when selecting a slip. Fort Lauderdale’s major fuel docks operate on the ICW and at Port Everglades:

Pier 66 Marina operates an on-site fuel dock with diesel and gasoline; high-capacity delivery to the slip is available for vessels fueling more than 500 gallons
Bahia Mar has a dedicated fuel dock with competitive rack pricing; discount card programs (e.g., Sea Cards) are accepted and can yield $0.08–$0.15/gallon savings on diesel at volume
Lauderdale Marine Center does not operate a retail fuel dock but is within a five-minute transit of the 17th Street Causeway fuel dock cluster

For owners running high-hour programs — charter vessels, passagemakers, tournament sportfishermen — proximity to a competitive-price high-capacity fuel dock is a significant annual cost variable. At 4,000 gallons per season, a $0.10/gallon differential is $400 saved per year; at 15,000 gallons on a large motoryacht, that spread is $1,500.

Provisioning for extended cruising or charter departures from Fort Lauderdale is well-served by the wholesale marine provisioners operating near the 17th Street Causeway corridor — proximity to which is one of Pier 66’s and Bahia Mar’s functional advantages for charter operators preparing for Bahamas or Caribbean departures.