sailboats in florida

Sailboats For Sale Florida

20 listings found.

2018 Seaclipper Trimaran 20′

Westerly conway 36

• United States

1984 Herreshoff Tortola-Trawler Nereia 36′ Sailboat

36 Hunter Vision 1993

Hobie Mirage Tandem Island

• Florida , United States

1972 Luders 36 by Cheoy Lee

Tartan 10 Snowballs Chance

• Connecticut

1975 Bristol 32 Sloop, Keel/CB by Ted Hood (Am’s Cup)

• Massachusetts

Used Yamaha 200 HP 4-Stroke Outboard Motor Engine

Used Yamaha 115 HP 4-Stroke Outboard Motor Engine

33ft Blue Water Sailboat

Freshwater Only – 1989 Hunter 33.5 Sloop-Rigged Cruiser, Shoal Wing Keel

F&C 44′ Ketch

Reeds Cub Scow – SOLD

Melges C Scow

470 sailboat and trailer

• Pennsylvania

1978 Hunter 30 Cheurbini

New and Used Sailboats For Sale

Florida is often the most sought after state to own a sailboat. Nearly surrounded by water, Florida offers both ocean, inlet and lake sailing. This offers Floridians the possibility of owning a range of types sailboats. The coastline paired with beautiful weather throughout the year, SailTrader has a variety of sailboats for sale in Florida suited for these conditions to choose from.

• Cruising Sailboats

Cruising sailboats are a popular choice for many sailors looking to get on the water with friends and family. For some sailors this means either an afternoon sail or a multi-day adventure. No matter what you’re sailing agenda is, you’re sure to find a variety cruising sailboats for sale in Florida on SailTrader. Browse sailboats from popular cruising brands like Hunter, Catalina, Beneteau, Jenneau, Swan, Cal, Tarten, Pearson and more.

• Racing Sailboats

One Design Sailboats

One Design sailboats can often provide the best chance to learn and improve your racing skills. It’s common to find one design racing sailboats near larger bodies of water. Search sailboats for sale in Florida from popular one design classes like the J24, J70, Tarten Ten, J105, J111, Melges 24 and more.

Dinghy’s are a often preferred due to the convenience and low maintenance costs. There are different classes that can offer a range of benefits and regattas. Browse dinghy’s for sale in Florida like Thistles, Lightnings, Flying Scots, Scows, Optimists, 420’s, Lasers, VX Ones and more. Dinghy’s are also a popular choice in areas of Florida that have small bodies of water. For racers, the cost of new sails for a dinghy are far less then a large racing sailboat. Search SailTrader for your next dinghy sailboat. 

Catamarans and Trimarans

Both catamarans and trimarans can be a great choice no matter if you’re a racer or cruiser. Racing multihulls are fast and light while cruising catamarans are wide and comfortable. SailTrader makes it easy to find the right catamaran or trimaran sailboat for sale in Florida. We cater exclusively to sailors so you’ll find the latest and most recent sailboats available.

The Sailor's Choice For Sailboats For Sale in Florida

SailTrader is exclusively designed to makes it easy for dealers and to privately  sell a sailboat . Browse local Florida sailboat listings above or search sailboat listings nationwide.

The Sailor’s Marketplace for Sailboats and Sails.

Sell Your Sailboat

Sailboats for sale.

• New Sailboats
• Used Sailboats

Sell Your Sails

Sails for sail, sail manufacturers.

• North Sails
• Quantum Sails
• Doyle Sails
• UK Sailmakers

Sailing Reviews

• Sailing Line
• Safety Equipment
• Sailing Accesories

As an Amazon Associate SailTrader earns from qualifying purchases.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. 

Sign up for an account

Already have an account? Log in

Login to continue

Don't have an account yet? Sign Up

Forgot your password?

Log in | Sign Up

Sailboats for sale in Florida

• Sailboat Listings
• United States
• Catalina (32)
• Pearson (25)
• Hunter (24)
• Beneteau (18)
• O'Day (15)
• C&C (12)
• Macgregor (11)
• Custom (11)
• Capital Yachts (10)
• Morgan (10)
• Island Packet (8)
• Hobie Cat (8)
• J Boats (6)
• Jeanneau (6)
• Pacific Seacraft (6)
• American (6)
• Bavaria (5)
• Cape Dory (5)
• Bristol (5)
• Hans Christian (4)
• Cheoy Lee (4)
• Islander (4)
• Watkins (4)
• Precision (4)
• Ericson (3)
• Passport (3)
• Formosa (3)
• Young Sun (3)
• Performance Cruising (3)
• General Boats (3)
• West Wight Potter (3)
• Westerly (3)
• Van de Stadt (3)
• Leopard (2)
• Freedom (2)
• Challenger (2)
• Bayfield (2)
• Coronado (2)
• Canadian Sailcraft (2)
• Colin Archer (2)
• Sparkman & Stephens (2)
• Endeavour (2)
• Westsail (2)
• Vagabond (1)
• Caliber (1)
• Hallberg Rassy (1)
• Seidelmann (1)
• Southern Cross (1)
• Wellington (1)
• Gulfstar (1)
• Cascade (1)
• Endurance (1)
• Nautor Swan (1)
• Lord Nelson (1)
• Palmer Johnson (1)
• Ocean Cruising (1)
• Columbia (1)
• Windrider (1)
• Admiral (1)
• Ontario (1)
• Sailboat Trailer (1)
• Downeaster (1)
• Nauticat (1)
• Durbeck (1)
• Dragonfly (1)
• Seafarer (1)
• Corsair (1)
• Soverel (1)
• Ta Shing (1)
• Sea Eagle (1)
• Bruce Roberts (1)
• Intrepid (1)
• Sovereign (1)
• Flying Scot (1)
• Ron Holland Gibbs Marine (1)
• Farrier (1)
• Camper Nicholsons (1)
• Wauquiez (1)
• Stevens (1)
• Contest (1)
• Force 5 (1)
• United States (343)
• Canada (15)
• Caribbean (15)
• Mexico (13)
• French Polynesia (4)
• Colombia (2)
• Guatemala (2)
• Belgium (1)
• Germany (1)
• Portugal (1)
• Croatia (1)

74 listings found

• Featured First
• Price: Low to High
• Price: High to Low
• Year: Oldest to Newest
• Year: Newest to Oldest
• Length: Short to Long
• Length: Long to Short
• Date Added: Newest
• Date Added: Oldest
• Recently Sold

1992 Hunter 34 | Rythm n Blue Marathon, Florida, United States

1978 Morgan 45 | Miller Time Vero Beach, Florida, United States

2013 Leopard 48 | Paradise St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

1983 Passport 40 | Peppin Jacksonville, Florida, United States

1983 Catalina 30 | Advantage Treasure Island, Florida, United States

Looking to sell your sailboat.

Post your sailboat for free and find a buyer.

2018 American 14 | Aqua Cat North Miami, Florida, United States

1982 C&C 35 Port Charlotte, Florida, United States

1985 Amel 46 | Late Harvest Titusville, Florida, United States

1975 Morgan 51 | Possessor Palm Coast, Florida, United States

1977 Downeaster 38 | SUSURRO Fernandina Beach, Florida, United States

1995 Hunter 26 West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

2006 Beneteau 50 | Attitude Adjustment Pompano Beach, Florida, United States

2013 Leopard 39 | Spear It Animal Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

1991 Hunter 43 | Motivation North Miami, Florida, United States

1978 Durbeck 38 | Nina Luz Miami, Florida, United States

2022 Custom 44 | Windsurfer South Daytona, Florida, United States

1984 Custom 36 | Argo Port Canaveral, Florida, United States

2006 Bavaria 50 | RONDA Miami, Florida, United States

1986 Hans Christian 43 | Tipitina St John, USVI, Florida, United States

1992 Amel 45 | Alibi Delray Beach, Florida, United States

2007 Bavaria 50 | Vacatio Saint Augustine, Florida, United States

2003 Beneteau 33 | OASIS Miami, Florida, United States

1999 Endeavour 36 Palm Coast, Florida, United States

1981 Cal 25 | Loves Labour Palm Coast, Florida, United States

1996 Catalina 42 Miami, Florida, United States

1977 Albin 30 | Sedna Key West, Florida, United States

1998 Bruce Roberts 35 | Odessa Leone West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

1988 C&C 30 | Coralei Palmetto, Florida, United States

1990 Custom 37 | Illusions Marco Island, Florida, United States

2008 Beneteau 43 | SUNQUEST Miami, Florida, United States

1993 Hunter 40 | EL CANA Miami, Florida, United States

2004 Jeanneau 40 | NIRVANA Miami, Florida, United States

1986 Custom 28 San Juan, Florida, United States

1996 Gemini 34 | DayDreamer Fort Pierce, Florida, United States

1979 Nautor Swan 65 | ILIOS Miami, Florida, United States

2006 Jeanneau 37 | Wind Spirit Gulfport, Florida, United States

2016 Performance Cruising 45 | Panda ROSSO Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

1981 Cal 25 | Cal 25 Palm coast , Florida, United States

1978 Pacific Seacraft 20 | Nellie St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

1994 Beneteau 44.8 | Rout'Deau Vero Beach, Florida, United States

1975 Bristol 32 Port Charlotte, Florida, United States

1981 Irwin 33 | Capella St. Pete Beach, Florida, United States

1983 Morgan 38 | Cashmere Miami Beach, Florida, United States

1961 Custom 39 | Memsahib Patillas, Florida, United States

1973 Allied 31 Crawfordville, Florida, United States

1982 Young Sun 35 | Noctiluca Key West, Florida, United States

2004 Hunter 27 | Rose inn Apollo Beach, Florida, United States

1976 Seafarer 31.5 | Wild Daytona Beach, Florida, United States

1978 O'Day 30 | Santana Sarasota, Florida, United States

• Sign In or Register
• Boats for Sale
• Research Boats
• Sell a Boat
• Search Alerts
• My Listings
• Account Settings
• Dealer Advertising

Sailboats for sale in Florida

1-15 of 553

1974 Fuji 35 Ketch

Clearwater, Florida

Model 35 Ketch

Category Sailboats

Posted Over 1 Month

1974 Fuji 35 Ketch This classic Fuji Ketch is located in southern Chile.  For those who have dreamed of sailing Patagonia, this is your chance!  Despite her age she is well maintained, well equipped, and ready to go! Of the design, here is an excerpt of a review from famed bluewater yacht designer Robert Perry:   By now the Fuji 35 is a very successful stock yacht. Upon her introduction I was quite surprised that there was a market for a yacht with very little of the current stock boat trappings. In fact, the Fuji 35 seemed a little anachronistic. It is, I'm sure, this feature that has brought her to the popularity she is now enjoying. The John G. Alden office has been known for years for producing fine performing yachts. The Fuji follows in this tradition. She is of a hull form that traces its model back to the well-known Alden schooners. Compared to most of the current production yachts, the Fuji is a bit narrow. I don't think it's narrow, I feel it's about right for good windward performance. While the Fuji won't point like an IOR racing yacht, she will move to weather well, to cruising boat standards. The sheer and other aesthetic treatments on the hull are done with impeccable taste, and the Fuji doesn't convey the "toy boat" image of some of the other character type designs. In fact, to call the Fuji a character yacht would be wrong. She is a traditional yacht. The beam on deck is generous. This makes for a very dry boat and has the bonus of affording large side decks and a huge cockpit area. The keel is long but cut away slightly forward to improve maneuverability. There is a slight drag angle to the keel also. This, I think, is also to improve maneuverability. There should be no question as to the Fuji's ability to track or steer herself. The large transom and the minimum overhang of the mizzen boom would be ideal for attaching a self-steering device. The displacement / length ratio of the Fuji 35 is 413. This indicates the Fuji is in the heavy displacement area. The Fuji is available in two rigs, the standard ketch and optional cutter. Aesthetically both rigs look great on the yacht, but my preference is for the ketch. It's true that you possibly could go to weather a little bit better with the cutter; however, I think the improvement would be negligible due to the hull form of the Fuji. The largest sail in the ketch rig is only 220 square feet. This would make the Fuji very easy to handle short handed. The ketch rig is very hard to beat for leisurely husband and wife sailing. While I don't care for the shape of most club jibs, they do cut down the activity during a tack. Very few people can go below a Fuji for the first time without some sort of pleasant exclamation. The woodwork is of a quality that is all but extinct and has to be one of the main selling points of the Fuji. Her builder is Fuji Yacht Builders, Japan. The molding details are the best I'v

1979 Cherubini Ketch

Key Largo, Florida

Make Cherubini

Model Ketch

1979 Cherubini Ketch Probably the nicest example of this classic sailing vessel. Ananda has been lovingly maintained and upgraded by the same owner for over 20 years. she regularly sails from Maine to the Lower keys, and the Bahamas. Words or photos don't do her justice.

1969 Spencer 44

Make Spencer

1969 Spencer 44 An amazing Blue Water Ketch This boat has been upgraded over the last ten years and it s stunning!   Perkin 236 330 hrs. Weterbeke generator 5 kW 470 hrs. Full isinglas and canvas enclosures Two air conditioners Beautifully maintained classic interior with appliances upgrade 68 head room

1978 Gulfstar 50

St Augustine, Florida

Make Gulfstar

1978 Gulfstar 50 This Gulfstar 50 has done it all and it can do it for you. Sailed through the Panama Canal, six trips to the Bahamas, five trips to New England and Maine, two years live aboard and just hundreds of great weekend and day sails. Can be easily single handed. I have owned this boat for 20 years and over 100,000 miles but my cruising days are over. She has had loving care. I can teach you sailing and could deliver her to any place on the Atlantic or Gulf Coast as a part of the purchase. Disp. 35,000 lb.  Draft  6 ft. Ketch rig with main, job, mizzen, spinnaker, spin stay sail, covers 72 hp Westerbeke diesel 2003 with service manuals and service records. With $$$$ of spare parts 8 kw Westerbeke diesel generator Auro pilot Inverter inflatable raft with 18 hp engine Live Raft and all safety gear EPIRB Anchor windlass (3 anchors ) Pulpits, lifelines, gates Aft swim step and ladder 200 gallons fuel 250 gallons water (2 tanks) Refrig and freezer RO water maker (13 gal/hr) hot/cold pressure water, shore power, shower Fwd and aft heads Owner cabin aft/ guest cabin fwd Propane stove and oven 480 watts of solar power (2 panels) Dodger, bimini sun shade Garmin GPS, Radar, Depth Sounder Two VHF radios Two compasses

1981 ENDEAVOR 37 Ketch

Daytona Beach, Florida

Make ENDEAVOR

Model 37 Ketch

1981 ENDEAVOR 37 Ketch JUST REDUCED TO $49,500 37' ENDEAVOR KETCH 1981

1971 Hallberg-Rassy 35

Jupiter, Florida

Make Hallberg-Rassy

1971 Hallberg-Rassy 35 1971 Hallberg-Rassy 35 Contact Bill Lutch at (561)339-8176 [email protected]

1983 Freedom Cat Ketch

Punta Gorda, Florida

Make Freedom

Model Cat Ketch

1983 Freedom Cat Ketch FARALLON is a classic Freedom Cat Ketch that has been continually upgraded and maintained by her owners.  She sailed here from San Francisco and is ready to go cruising again.  If you love to sail you have to see this boat.

1986 Nauticat 44 Motorsailer

Naples, Florida

Make Nauticat

Model 44 Motorsailer

1986 Nauticat 44 Motorsailer This 44 Nauticat "Hummingbird" is built in Finland by one of the most respected boat builders world wide and is an extremely well construct yacht.  It has a double head sail ketch that features a strong 120hp Ford Lehman diesel auxilary.  The vessel has V-berth forward, full galley, dinette/salon, spacious pilothouse, and a aft stateroom with centerline berth.  After an extensive cruising history, the owner is getting out of boating and is looking for a new owner for this much loved yacht.

1979 ENDEAVOR 43 Ketch

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Model 43 Ketch

1979 ENDEAVOR 43 Ketch The Endeavour 43 comes from the first generation of sailboats from Endeavour Yachts, a yard that built its early reputation around simple, straight forward shoal draft designs with big volume accommodation and mediocre sailing performance. True to that formula, the Endeavour 43 was penned by Robert Johnson as a heavy displacement center-cockpit cruiser with large comfortable living quarters and a shoal draft optimized for Florida sailing. The boat was first introduced in 1978, offered in both ketch and cutter rig options, and had a production run that lasted to 1984. Easy to see in Fort Lauderdale.

1983 Morgan Out Island Ketch

Placida, Florida

Make Morgan

Model Out Island Ketch

1983 Morgan Out Island Ketch 1983 Morgan out Island 41 ,Second Owner,..Perkins 41-154-01689 ,62 HP Diesel engine ,runs like new very clean and maintained all new hoses ,belts ,fluids,Two 16000 BTU,reverse cycle central air conditioner,hot water heater 110 volt..force 10 propane stove,with oven ,large refrigeration-deep freezer,large double steel sink,plenty of storage.four deep cycle 6 volt golf cart batterys,VHF new 2010 Raymarine ST40 Depthsounder,and ST speed,,all new not installed,lots more,this is the cleanest morgan in Florida ,I looked for years,Health issues must sale,,on the hard at JR boat storage.ready for bottom paint ant a few add ons,,,also solar panels.hard top .tons more please email or call.   [email protected] ,,,,,,361-461-7517

1982 Morgan Out Island 41

Jacksonville, Florida

Model Out Island 41

1982 Morgan Out Island 41 New Listing

1983 Contest 42 Center Cockpit Ketch

Make Contest

Model 42 Center Cockpit Ketch

1983 Contest 42 Center Cockpit Ketch Clean, Well Maintained, and Loaded With NEW Equipment Major Refit 2012-2014   Be sure to watch the walkthrough video above to see for yourself!   This venerable blue water cruiser was designed by Dick Zaal and built in Holland by Conyplex Marine (Contest Yachts).  Contest still builds iconic and sought-after sailing yachts today.  All Contest Yachts are built to Lloyds standards, and are comparable in quality to any domestic high-end boutique builder.   "Borne Free" is a real beauty with her classic lines and decadent high gloss teak interior.  Her balanced sail plan and powerful hull shape are easy to manage and comfortable in heavy seas.  This handsome ketch has undergone an almost complete restoration over the past 5 years.  Her owners have poured their heart and soul into transforming this stunning cruiser into one of the prettiest and best-equipped boats on the market today.   Her teak decks have been removed and recored with foam and epoxy.  She has all new electronics, new electrical, fresh Awlgrip paint, new fuel tank, and was re-powered in 2004.   She is neat as a pin, and gleams inside and out.   This vessel is loaded with new and upgraded equipment.  Take a close look at the full specs to get a complete understanding of everything this cruiser has to offer.    Highlights Included: Full Survey Showing "Above Average Condition" Available To Potential Buyers.  Dated 8/2016 200 Gallons of Fresh Water, 90 Gallons Diesel Yanmar Diesel installed in 2004 (1500 hours)

1981 Island Trader Center Cockpit Ketch

Miami, Florida

Make Island Trader

Model Center Cockpit Ketch

1981 Island Trader Center Cockpit Ketch Big Price Reduction!  Don't miss this great buy on a classic sailing yacht..   A William Garden design. Arete is a heavily built blue water yacht that features striking good looks and hard to find old world teak woodwork.    Solidly crafted with a full no nonsense keel she is designed to be sailed on any of the 7 seas.  Below decks you will find a comfortable layout along with a galley redesigned by her knowledgeable owners.  Two staterooms each with private head / shower access,  a forward  facing navigation station and abundant storage all combine to make this boat an excellent choice for cruising.

1989 Scylla Ketch

Make Scylla

1989 Scylla Ketch Quality Classic Ketch Dutch designed, and built by the Swallow Company Solid bluewater or great live aboard Handcrafted wood interior!!

1977 Hallberg-Rassy 41

1977 Hallberg-Rassy 41 "Lost Unicorn", 1977 Hallberg-Rassey 41' Ketch has beautiful classic lines, a full complement of sails, a new 55 hp Volvo engine, ground tackle that delivers the holding power needed, rich and spacious interior and a center cockpit - with full enclosure, glass windshield, a combination hard and soft bimini.. Delivering one of the most comfortable and safe blue-water vessel on the market. But , then again, you would not expects anything less from one of the world's top 10 premiere sailboat manufacturer. A Hallberg-Rassey Ketch 2014 - New Engine 55hp Volvo 2016 - 2 - 8D Batteries, 1 - 12v starter Full Complement of Sails - inspected and maintained in 2013 Decks replaced 2004 Fully enclosed Cockpit with Glass windshields, hard and soft top Biminis Spacious Aft Cabin with head and separate shower

Narrow Results

Current search reset all.

• Category: Sailboats
• State: Florida
• Hunter (56)
• Beneteau (46)
• Jeanneau (32)
• Catalina (31)
• Morgan (27)
• Pearson (19)
• Gulfstar (12)
• Robertson And Caine (12)
• Endeavour (8)
• Island Packet (8)
• Cheoy Lee (7)
• Macgregor (7)
• Fountaine Pajot (5)
• Bristol (4)
• ENDEAVOR (4)
• Hallberg-Rassy (4)
• Hinckley (4)
• J Boats (4)
• Pacific Seacraft (4)
• Bayfield (3)
• Beneteau USA (3)
• Cherubini (3)
• Contest (3)
• Ericson (3)
• Island Trader (3)
• MacGregor (3)
• Nauticat (3)
• Privilege (3)
• Seaward (3)
• Wauquiez (3)
• Alerion (2)
• Bavaria (2)
• Boston Whaler (2)
• Caliber (2)
• Cape Dory (2)
• Com-Pac (2)
• Custom-Made (2)
• De Vries Lentsch (2)
• Don Brooke (2)
• Formosa (2)
• Freedom (2)
• Freedom Yachts (2)
• Hinterhoeller (2)
• Nautitech (2)
• Newport (2)
• Westerly (2)
• Westsail (2)
• #1 Hull (1)
• 44 Beneteau (1)
• 49 Ft Custom Catamaran (1)
• AB Marine (1)
• ANGEL MARINE (1)
• Alloy Yachts International (1)
• Asmus Hanseat (1)
• Bautek Marine (1)
• Beneteau. (1)
• Bruce Robert (1)
• Bruce Roberts (1)
• C&C Fiberglass (1)
• CATALINA YACHTS (1)
• COM-PAC (1)
• CUSTOM PILOTHOUSE KETCH (1)
• Canadian Sailcraft (1)
• Canyon Industries (1)
• Catalina Morgan (1)
• Chris White (1)
• Chris White Designs (1)
• Chrysler TMI (1)
• Classic (1)
• Columbia (1)
• Com - Pac (1)
• Commander (1)
• Contour (1)
• Corbin Les Bateaux (1)
• Clearwater (73)
• Fort Lauderdale (68)
• St Petersburg (51)
• Dania Beach (29)
• Naples (16)
• Punta Gorda (15)
• Stuart (15)
• St Augustine (14)
• Cortez (11)
• Dunedin (11)
• Sarasota (11)
• Daytona Beach (10)
• New Port Richey (10)
• Palmetto (10)
• Pensacola (8)
• Key Largo (7)
• Palm Beach Gardens (7)
• Marathon (6)
• Cape Coral (5)
• Fort Myers (5)
• Jacksonville (5)
• Placida (5)
• Pompano Beach (5)
• Jupiter (4)
• Key West (4)
• Miami Beach (4)
• Sanford (4)
• St. Petersburg (4)
• West Palm Beach (4)
• Fernandina Beach (3)
• Fort Myers Beach (3)
• Marco Island (3)
• Orlando (3)
• Englewood (2)
• Fort Pierce (2)
• Green Cove Springs (2)
• New Smyrna Beach (2)
• North Fort Myers (2)
• North Palm Beach (2)
• Palm Beach (2)
• Tarpon Springs (2)
• Wesley Chapel (2)
• Belleair Beach (1)
• Bradenton (1)
• Cape Canaveral (1)
• Clearwater Beach (1)
• Crystal River (1)
• Gainesville (1)
• Gulfport (1)
• Hobe Sound (1)
• Holiday (1)
• Hollywood (1)
• Indiantown (1)
• Jacksonville Beach (1)
• Lake Park (1)
• Longboat Key (1)
• Merritt Island (1)
• Palatka (1)
• Palm Bay (1)
• Palm City (1)
• Panama City (1)
• Ponte Vedra Beach (1)
• Port Charlotte (1)
• Port St Joe (1)
• Riviera (1)
• Safety Harbor (1)
• Satellite Beach (1)
• Titusville (1)
• Search Title Only
• Has Picture
• Include Sold Listings

Showcase Ads

2016 Realse 208 RX

Indian Harbour Beach, FL

2013 Robalo R200

Chester Twp, PA

2006 Sea Ray 300 Sundancer

Washington, DC

2015 Sea Hunt Triton 188

Little Rock, AR

2015 Sea Hunt Gamefish 25

Savannah, GA

2011 Yamaha SX 210

Mesquite, TX

2018 Nautique Super Air GS24

Create Alert

Please, name this search

Select Interval

Alert Successfully Created

Did You Know That We Offer Contract to Closing Services? Click Here to Find Out More.

Need Marine Financing? Apply Here With Our Partner, First Approval Source

• Bahamas (4)
• Chesapeake Bay (0)
• Florida (24)
• New England (0)
• North Carolina (0)
• South Carolina (2)
• Atlantic South (0)
• Caribbean (29)
• Indian Ocean (1)
• Pacific (9)
• Mexico Pacific (4)
• South Pacific (2)

Large Multihulls

• Stealth 11.8 (California)
• Leopard 44 (Atlantic)
• Leopard 40 (Puerto Rico)
• Lagoon 440 (Puerto Rico)
• Dean 440 (Georgia)

Lagoon 42 (Florida)

• Bali 4.0 Open Space (Caribbean)

Fountaine Pajot 48 Custom (Florida)

• Leopard 45/47 (Caribbean)
• Lagoon 450 F (Bahamas)
• Lagoon 42 (Mexico Pacific)
• Lagoon 40 (Caribbean)
• Aquila 44 (Caribbean)
• Catana Bali 4.3 (Guatemala)
• Dean 440 Espace (Caribbean)
• Looping 50 (Caribbean)
• Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 (South Carolina)
• Fountaine Pajot Belize 43 (Caribbean)
• Lagoon 410 (Atlantic)
• Voyage 380 Maxim (Indian Ocean)

Outremer 50 Standard (Florida)

• Knysna 440 (Caribbean)
• Lagoon 42 (Caribbean)
• Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 (Caribbean)

Endeavour 44 TrawlerCat (Florida)

• Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 Evolution (South Pacific)
• Bali 4.1 (Italy)
• Leopard 46 (Caribbean)
• Lagoon 450S (Caribbean)
• Leopard 46 (Bahamas)

Royal Cape 45 (Florida)

Endeavour 44 sailcat (florida), st. francis 44 mk ii (florida).

• Fountaine Pajot Athena 38 (Mexico Pacific)
• Crowther-Alwoplast 47 (Caribbean)

Leopard 47 (Florida)

• Lagoon 380 (California)

Pocket Catamarans

• Fountaine Pajot 35 Tobago (Bahamas)

Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35 (Florida)

• Catalac 9m (Europe)
• Gemini 105MC (Greece)

Lagoon 37 TPI (Florida)

• Corsair F28R (Texas)
• Endeavour Victory 35 (Mexico Pacific)
• Catalac 8M (Turkey)

Gemini 105M (Florida)

Power catamarans, leopard 39 powercat (florida), endeavour trawlercat 44 (florida), sale pending.

• Prout 37 Snowgoose Elite (USVI)

Lagoon 450F (Florida)

• Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 (Caribbean)

Lagoon 450 F (Florida)

• Catana 471 (Bahamas)

Privilege 42 (Florida)

• Lagoon 52F (Caribbean)
• Admiral (0)
• Americat (0)
• Antares (0)
• Beneteau (0)
• Broadblue (0)
• Catalac (2)
• Chris White (0)
• Contour (0)
• Corsair (1)
• Crowther (1)
• De Villiers (0)
• Dolphin (0)
• Endeavour (5)
• Farrier (0)
• Fortuna (0)
• Fountaine Pajot (11)
• General (0)
• Grainger (0)
• Hirondelle (0)
• Kelsall (0)
• Lagoon (27)
• Leeuwin (0)
• Leopard (12)
• Looping (1)
• Maine Cat (0)
• Maverick (0)
• Nautitech (0)
• Outremer (1)
• Privilege (1)
• Royal Cape (1)
• Sailcraft (0)
• Schionning (0)
• Seawind (0)
• Simpson (0)
• Solaris (0)
• St Francis (1)
• Stealth (1)
• Wauquiez (0)
• Wharram (0)
• Whitehaven (0)
• Xquisite (0)

Region: Florida

This is a 2019 Lagoon 42 catamaran, for sale by owner.

This new member of the Lagoon family is a sleek, modern design. While retaining the main features of the latest generation of Lagoons, it shows us a new path. The elegant silhouette with new coach roof design emphasizes the powerful and dynamic nature of this new model… A VPLP design , performance under sail.

This Lagoon 42 was never chartered and has many upgrades and options as part of a complete overhaul in November 2023. These include engines and generator (all serviced in 2023) as well as propellers, Starlink, and bottom paint new in 2023.

S/V Catalyst is a 1988 Fountaine Pajot 48 Custom, for sale by owner. She is a classic, fast cruiser with long, narrow hulls and high bridge-deck clearance for efficient and comfortable (no slamming) open-ocean sailing. She is a custom sleek 48’ long (14.7 meter), 23’ beam sailing catamaran in excellent condition. Strong, light construction of isophthalic resin and S-glass. Stellar sailing machine with excellent sea-keeping qualities. All systems serviced/upgraded, ready to cruise.

Roomy, airy, comfortable accommodations with 4 staterooms, plus two single berths in bows, two heads, galley-up, comfortable salon with teak dining table and comfortable seating for 6 with ample storage. Easy handling with protected helm station; all sail and furling lines leading to the cockpit.

Cockpit has teak surround seating with custom-made cushions and plentiful storage. Dedicated engine rooms, large anchor locker, sizeable front trampoline for lounging and rear trampoline for dinghy storage. The boat is long enough to have good accommodations without sacrificing sailing performance and ability. The boat is a U.S. documented vessel.

S/V Cheval is a 1995 Outremer 50 Standard catamaran, for sale by owner. We purchased Cheval in January 2013. As the second owners we have continuously upgraded her including her most recent upgrade late 2023 through 2024 in preparation for a pacific passage. A change of plans creates a rare opportunity to acquire this Outremer 50 standard ready to cross an ocean.

As of this writing to the best of my knowledge she is the only Outremer 50 standard currently for sale in the world. Sometimes referred to as the Porsche of catamarans this boat has the speed you would expect while being large enough to provide comfortable accommodations.

As she is only cored in the decks with solid hulls the common occurrence of water found in the cored hull at survey will not be a problem.

S/V Bonaventure 1 a Florida based 1994 Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35 catamaran for sale by owner.

It is a 3 cabin and 1 head. The saloon is bright with a 360 panoramic view. The galley, navigation table and dining table are all located in the spacious saloon. The Tobago 35 is light and well canvassed. With 20 knots of wind on the beam the polars promise 9 knots of boat speed particularly with it JProp folding propellers, it make this model and exciting machine to sail. Despite his age it remain a solid choice for those seeking adventure on the water.

The Tobago 35 is a compact catamaran that offers a good opportunity with a smaller budget. Naturally seaworthy, the Tobago 35 is an innovative-looking sailing vessel.

M/Y The Big Yay is a 2006, Endeavour 44 TrawlerCat catamaran, for sale by owner.

The Big Yay offers a 3-stateroom, 2-head layout, master stateroom with queen/king-size bunk on the main deck, 6’6” headroom in the pilothouse and salon, walkaround top deck, easy stern boarding, new canvas enclosing the pilothouse. The twin Yanmar 240 HP main diesel engines with 2,000-hour detailed service recently completed, and new Raymarine Axiom self-steered navigation electronics with remote-control autopilot. Her Endeavour dinghy has a new Mercury 10hp electric-start outboard motor.

Docked in Halifax Harbor Marina, Daytona Beach, Florida, with the slip transferable to the new owner. With the Big Yay’s 14’8″ height and 3’ draft, she is a popular Great Loop cruiser as well as a great Bahamas boat!

M/Y Fat Cat is a 2002 Endeavour Catamaran 44 Trawler Cat catamaran, for sale by owner. I love this boat as its main characteristics are she has prop pockets and 3ft draw. This is very good for cruising Florida and Bahamas, also with a narrow beam as catamarans come. We can usually find regular berths and not pay for a double.

She has fuel flow scan meters, and it is a joy to see the economy of the Yanmars. I never owned such an efficient boat with this square footage, and 1500 mile range at 8-10 knots. All work has been done in last two years, as I just purchased the boat in the Fall of 2020. Previous owner was a snow bird and rarely was down.

We are coming back home to get a bigger boat. Fat Cat has been great to us but we need more space as the kids have decided to cruise the eastern Caribbean with us. The western Caribbean has been great, its like a condo. You can move around the marinas and are very affordable. Easy to see in the water, ready to run.

S/V Jus Dreaming is a 1995 Lagoon 37 TPI Jeanneau Catamaran, Ready to cross the Atlantic. This boat is set up for a Full-time live Aboard couple with over $100,000.00 in upgrades. This is Not a project boat, it has all been done for you. This boat has crossed the Atlantic twice and is rigged and ready to cross again. I guarantee it will pass any survey. 

American made, By Jeanneau in a joint production venture with TPI in Warren, Rhode Island, USA.  Known to be one of the strongest catamarans ever built. (They Just don’t build them like this anymore)

Built by French Jeanneau in a joint production venture with TPI in Warren, Rhode Island, USA to the highest standards of construction and finish; the Lagoon 37 has good sailing ability and excellent interior and exterior living space. Designers of the Lagoon 42, Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prevost reproduced the winning formula in a smaller boat.

S/V Ego Domi is a 2003 Royal Cape 45 catamaran, for sale by owner. A fantastic family boat, Ego Domi is a bluewater cruising catamaran built in 2003 at Durban, South Africa. She was sailed across the Atlantic to Florida in 2003 by the original owner and never entered into the charter trade.

This is a large, well-appointed catamaran. Royal Cape catamarans are a very good value, are built with solid construction and are well-tried cruising boats. They are built very tough, as they were designed to handle conditions off the African East coast. This boat is great in rough seas with virtually no bridge deck slap due to the buoyancy of the hulls. Being well built, one shouldn’t expect a racing catamaran, but then again, if you’re looking for a catamaran with a large interior volume, which will keep 8 or so guests in consummate comfort, you could make worst choices than this RCC.

Originally built with fiberglass over a wood core as a 5 cabin and 5 head charter boat, she was converted to 4 cabins and 4 heads in 2005 by the previous owners. The 5th cabin was converted into a tool / spare parts/storage room while the 5th head was converted into a battery storage room. During conversion, it was noted that the laminated bulkheads were 2” thick; main bulkhead is 3” in places.

S/V Freedom is 45 foot Lagoon 450F Owner version Catamaran built in 2013. This cat features a “Fly Bridge” and is ready for you to step aboard and set sail.

With the galley up design just off the cockpit in the salon keeps everyone included in the fun. The galley is fully equipped and the salon is loaded with a Samsung TV, Bosh washing machine and Raymarine I70 displays.

The 3 staterooms are all equipped with queen sized berths with hanging lockers and ample storage throughout with custom shelving added to the owner’s suite. Staterooms each have a private head with full height shower. She is a great live aboard. Fully self-sufficient with water maker, generator, solar.

S/V Beguiler is a 2001 Endeavour 44 SailCat catamaran, for sale by owner. Check out our rare 44 ft Endeavour sailing catamaran, manufactured in Clearwater, Florida. Endeavour’s quality craftsmanship has stood the test of time.

She looks amazing and was built for extended cruising and not the charter market, as is evident in its abundance of storage. We have owned Beguiler for 10 years, and used her for cruising the Bahamas every winter. Her previous 13 years were spent in the summers on Lake Ontario. Both owners are engineers, and coast guard auxiliary members and thus, she has lots of redundancy, and spares, and safety gear ,and a detailed log book. Yearly, she has been waxed, and her sails inspected.

This vessel has incredible head room and spaciousness with unparalleled views from the helm seat. The helmsman and crew all have plenty of space in the cockpit with its massive hardtop bimini and full enclosure for inclement weather. If you’re into easy sailing, then this is the catamaran for you, as all lines lead to the helm with a self tacking jib. Power winches make raising the sails a one person job and power davits make raising the dinghy easy. Fuel efficiency when motor sailing is extremely low at 0.5 gal per hr at 6 knots.

S/V Antares is a very well maintained 2018 Lagoon 450 Flybridge catamaran, for sale by owner. Very recent engine survey available upon request.

Engine cylinders have excellent compressions. Starts right up and purr like kittens. Good oil analysis results for both engines and generator. New engine batteries and generator battery. New trampoline and new bimini in the works.

New wind instrument transducer. Very comfortable queen size beds. New dinghy with 8.0 HP outboard included in the sale. AC, Watermaker, Electronics and Refrigeration are in good working condition. 4 solar panels keep the house batteries charged. A must see to appreciate. Motivated seller.

S/V Lucy is a 1995 Privilege 42 Catamaran, for sale by owner. Lucy comes with a huge cockpit with hardtop and teak cockpit table, a custom cocktail table and bar in the main salon, and a large dining table conversion for cocktail table.

She is docked at Perry Hotel and Marina Stock Island, Key West FL. This prime location offers easy access to the stunning waters of the Florida Keys and the vibrant atmosphere of Key West. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a first-time catamaran enthusiast, the Lucy awaits your exploration. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to own a maintained 1995 Jeantot Privilege 42 Catamaran with spacious cabins, a large cockpit, and custom features.

The catamaran is currently rented to a tenant. Contact us now to schedule a viewing and experience the allure of  Lucy firsthand! 

S/V Majestic is a 1999 St Francis 44 Mk II catamaran, for sale by owner. She is a true blue water cruising boat, built in South Africa and sailed across the Atlantic on her own hulls in 1999. This boat has never been in charter, and has been meticulously maintained full-time and continuously upgraded by her second owner of 20 years.

The St. Francis 44 design has been proven as a seaworthy, world-cruising vessel, which has safely completed numerous circumnavigations and open ocean passages. The design has a low center of gravity and little windage, with weight concentrated low and amidships. The galley-down design allows a huge wrap-around navigation station as well as large settee and extensive storage space in the main salon.

Majestic is solid, low maintenance, and set up to be off the grid in remote locations for months at a time. St. Francis are known for being safe, comfortable, easy, fast, and versatile. Majestic is truly ready to head right out to sea again, ready for a new crew to turn dreams into reality.

S/V Holy Cattitude is a 2020 Lagoon 42 catamaran, for sale by owner. Commissioned April 5, 2020 in Puerto Rico, we feel the Lagoon 42’ was a perfect fit for our transition into retirement. From our Puerto Rico home-base, Holy Cattitude kept us safe throughout the Caribbean, this past 4 years.

Holy Cattitude features new hull polishing and bottom paint in January of 2024, as well as Victron control station and charger in 2023. She also had her engines serviced in June of 2023 and has had her sail drive serviced in January of 2024.

We Explored the Spanish Virgin Islands exclusively, our first year, while honing our catamaran sailing skills and familiarity with our new 42. We hope Holy Cattitude finds her next adventure with as loving and caring caretakers as we have been. It’s been the best ride of our life, and a 4 year Honeymoon. 

S/V Smoke and Roses is a 2005 Leopard 47 catamaran for sale by owner, located in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Leopard 47 is built with thicker hulls for durability and has the reliable shaft drives. Smoke And Roses features redundancy with power and refrigeration. Built by Robertson and Caine this sleek looking catamaran was designed for speed, agility and reliable blue-water performance. 

This yacht is docked at our residence, we use, maintain and upgrade her regularly. She is very clean, shows well and must be seen to appreciate. Delivery to the East Coast of US, most of the Caribbean or Gulf Coast as far as Texas, is available. Temporary dockage may be available. September 2022 survey provided upon request. As the original owners, we have enjoyed over 50,000 cruising miles, including a circumnavigation. Continuous upgrades have been completed, to ensure safety, ease of single handing and cruising comfort.

Smoke And Roses features led lighting and beech wood finishes throughout. Upon entering the salon you will be greeted with panoramic views and 6’7” of headroom as well as seating for 8. The galley is equipped with Corian work surfaces and standard appliances. Below deck Smoke and Roses has four spacious, queen size, air conditioned private staterooms with en suite heads and showers. The head has been removed from one cabin and replaced with a washer and dryer.

Lagoon 500 (Florida)

S/V Wonder is a 2008 Lagoon 500 catamaran, for sale by owner. She has had only TWO owners and has NEVER been chartered. This vessel has barely been used, has been well taken care of and customized for long passages. She is ready for any passage and perfect for liveaboards! Includes Starlink Antenna.

Wonder is fully equipped with everything that you could ask for, from two electrical diving compressors to fixed stainless steel lifelines that are also extended higher up for even more safety. Duplicate and back-up systems, including Raymarine and Garmin navigation equipment, can be found throughout the vessel, as well as a large inventory of extra parts, filters and equipment.

The transom (sugar scoops) have been extended by 1.07m for more stream line sailing, with pull-down ladders on each side. This also makes it easier to get on and off of the boat, particularly when loading and unload groceries or diving equipment. Everything is meticulously labeled and all manuals are still onboard in labeled binders!

M/Y Traveller is a gorgeous 2013 Owner’s version Leopard 39 Powercat catamaran, for sale by owner.  She is powered with the Leopard factory upgraded Yanmar 150hp engines. Currently, engines are running great and Traveller cruises at a spirited 14 knots – with a max speed of 18 knots.

Features of this 2013 Leopard 39 PC include a spacious raised flybridge with helm station and hard top, three cabin interior layout, full galley and saloon, plus a breezy open cockpit that’s covered in luxurious barefoot-friendly Flexi-Teak, that reaches all the way out to the extended sugar scoops. Traveller had new bottom paint in 2022.

Currently, this is the ONLY vessel of it’s kind for sale in the US, (OWNER’s VERSION, 150 HP engines).

Lagoon 400 (Florida)

S/V CurRIJ is a 2011 Lagoon 400 Owner’s Version Catamaran. This is a rare version with only 2 heads. Meaning the guest hull bathroom has a walk in shower and spacious bathroom instead of two wet heads.

She is a dual voltage 230v and 120v vessel with isolation transformer so you are good to go anywhere in the world. The vessel has Northern Lights Generator, AC and Heat in all rooms and salon. Separate fridge and freezer, Upgraded 40HP yanmar engines. CuRIJ received $100,000 worth of upgrades in 2023.

The Lagoon 400 is the largest of 40 foot catamarans available and has the space of a 60 foot monohull. Headroom in the boat is 7 feet. Please click on the link for more photos and full details.

M/Y Side by Side is a 2008 Endeavour Trawlercat 44 catamaran, for sale by owner. She is number 45 of approximately 55 built. Production stopped after the company was sold following owner Bob Vincent’s death.

Side by Side has the upgraded 315 hp 6 cylinder Yanmar 6LPA-STP turbo diesel engines installed in the later models. She has 3 queen staterooms, one with a walk around bed. Two large enclosed heads have separate showers.

Side by Side is the perfect boat for the Great Loop, Bahamas, or cruising US waters. We have traveled from Florida to the Chesapeake and back 6.5 times, 3 trips to the Bahamas, twice to the Keys, and twice through Lake Okeechobee. We travel continually at 16 knots but even if you don’t it nice to have the speed for a short weather window. Lake Worth, Fl to West End, Bahamas in 4 hours.

Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 (Florida)

S/V Wicked Lick is a 2015 Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 for sale by owner, and your opportunity to buy a recently updated catamaran.

The present owner has sailed the Caribbean off the grid for the last two years, made possible by the many updates which include 40gal per hour water maker, 1600 amp hr solar panels, 600 amp lithium batteries, three A/C units, fiberglass hard top Bimini for the helm, 9kw generator, newer electronics, new tender, to name a few.

Wicked Lick is outfitted / updated with everything you need for costal sailing, cruising the Caribbean, or crossing the ocean blue. So bring your bags, throw the dock lines and sail away on your dream adventure

Mayotte 47 (Florida)

S/V Swish is a 1996 Mayotte 47 catamaran for sale by owner. The Mayotte 37 is a roomy, well constructed, attractive, well cared for, comfortable, good performing cruising catamaran, the precursor to the Voyage 50. She features 4 queen sized cabins with ensuite baths and a single crew cabin. There is good access in the aft engine rooms and a wide, aft platform stores the dinghy and is very handy at anchor too.

The cockpit is roomy with custom hardtop supporting the solar panels. The main salon and galley up are very spacious. Four Queen berthed cabins with electric heads are comfortable, plenty of lockers, well ventilated with hatches, ports, and fans. Swish had a major refit in 2018, hauled and bottom painted in September 2022. She is well equipped and ready to voyage.

S/V Aireze is a Florida based 1999 Gemini 105M catamaran for sale by owner.  The Gemini 105 was designed to be affordable, compact, relatively easy vessels for sailors new to catamarans.  It is one of the most popular catamaran designs ever built with over 1,200 hulls constructed.

I have owned her since 2016 and maintained her on a regular basis with lots of current updated equipment including new autopilot, electric winch, electric head, 12V refrigeration, standing rigging, and much more in the full equipment list. She has a 2005 Westerbeke engine and new saildrive 2017.

Aireze is an awesome boat, easy to sail with lots of room to enterain your friends.  Aireze has been in the following boat parades: Boca Raton, Pompano Beach and this year for the first time proud to be in the Winterfest in Ft. Lauderdale. Please click on the link for full information and photos.

Bali 4.5 (Florida)

Fresh Bottom Paint March 2023!

S/V Serenity is a 2016 Catana Bali 4.5 catamaran for sale by owner. Built in France by a division of Catana Catamarans, the Bali 4.5 is a revolution. Its central platform entirely free of bulkheads and accessed via a huge glass door which is completely retractable, results in a large living space, with exceptional panoramic views.

The Bali is well-thought-out as a cruising boat. It is clean, modern, functional and airy with easy to maintain surfaces. The “interactive” inside-outside living areas, all on one level, makes this 45ft catamaran feel huge. Immense interior and exterior living spaces with a sleek design, incredibly bright, panoramic views, fully opening forward window, forward and cockpit sunbathing areas, fully equipped and a level of self-sufficiency unique in its class.

Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 (Florida)

S/V “Castalia” is Daytona Beach, FL 2013 Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 catamaran for sale by owner. This is an Owners’ Version with 3 Cabins and 2 heads. Her Saloon is bright and spacious with elegant lines and her 3 cabins are comfortable, as well as well-ventilated and private. 1500W of solar on new smart solar controllers with Bluetooth, and a high Output water maker, make this boat self-sufficient.

Built in France by Fountain Pajot, the Lipari 41 is considered by many to be the best model made in its era. Large exterior living spaces and a bright interior with panoramic views. Maintained with care, and fully equipped for blue water, with a ICW-friendly mast height. This boat is in excellent shape and ready to cruise immediately.

This catamaran has never been chartered. Only two previous private owners. 

Billionaire fights to dock his boat on water behind his house. His 164-foot boat, that is.

The love of the water, and a mega-yacht to enjoy it, is putting one resident at odds with village of north palm beach leaders..

For some people, the ultimate Florida lifestyle is a waterfront house , a private dock and a boat parked next to it. But what if that boat is a mega-yacht , and the mega-yacht stretches 164 feet?

That's the conundrum facing the Village of North Palm Beach.

This tiny community in northern Palm Beach County, with only 13,000 full-time residents, has an identity so tied to the water that a ship's steering wheel is the village's emblem.

But it's that love of the water that is putting one resident at odds with village leaders.

For the past several years, homeowner Michael Bozutto has been battling the village for the right to park his 164-foot Westport, dubbed Honey, behind a home he owns at 932 Shore Drive.

The house, built in 1961, is a one-story, ranch-style property with three bedrooms on a half-acre lot. Bozzuto paid $840,247 for the house in 2014, according to Palm Beach County property records.

Lawsuit rooted in dispute over where to dock mega-yacht

What makes this plain house special is its location. It's on a rare corner bordered on the north and east by navigable waters that provide access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Lake Worth Inlet. The east-facing dock is large enough to accommodate Bozzuto's motor yacht.

Since Bozutto bought Honey for an undisclosed sum a decade ago, he mostly has parked it at the Old Port Cove Marina, near Tiger Woods' 155-foot showy mega-yacht, ironically dubbed Privacy.

More recently, Bozzuto has wanted to park Honey alongside his Shore Drive house, one of four houses he owns in the village. While Bozzuto keeps some personal property at the Shore Drive house, he lives at a house he owns at Harbour Isles Court.

Village officials warned Bozzuto he can't park Honey at 932 Shore Drive because boats can only be parked on docks behind houses that are occupied by the homeowner.

But village rules do not define the word "occupied." For instance, the rules do not state that occupied means the house is a residence where the owner lives. Village rules also contain no restrictions on the size of boats that can be kept at private docks.

After years of pushing back against what he believes are fuzzy rules, Bozzuto in March filed a lawsuit against the village.

More: Cannonsport Marina sells for $58.5 million in big deal for tiny Palm Beach Shores

He alleged the municipality is illegally depriving him of his property rights because nothing in the village code prevents him from mooring Honey at his house. He is asking a Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge to rule that he has a constitutional right to dock Honey there.

Gregory Coleman, Bozzuto's West Palm Beach attorney, said the village has plenty of waterfront homes with yachts parked behind them. But Coleman said the village is illegally blocking Bozzuto from docking Honey at his house because the village is bending to pressure from a handful of neighbors who think the boat is too big.

The selective enforcement is wrong, said Coleman, a former president of the Florida Bar.

"He's a very under-the-radar guy who doesn't cause anybody any problems," Coleman said of Bozzuto. "He pays his property taxes, and he wants to be left alone by the village of North Palm Beach. Unfortunately, they are singling Mike out."

Neither Leonard Rubin, the village's longtime attorney, nor Village Manager Chuck Huff responded to requests for comment.

Eric Stettin, a Fort Lauderdale-based attorney who is representing the village in the Bozzuto lawsuit, said he could not comment on pending litigation.

What good is a man's castle if he can't have a boat in his moat?

Coleman's lawsuit describes the conflict as a battle over property rights, but real estate and yachting experts say it's also a sign of the times.

As wealthy new residents pour into the county wanting all the perks of the Sunshine State, they want a boat to go along with their waterfront homes and golf club memberships. Some longtime residents fear Palm Beach County is turning into a playground for billionaires, to the detriment of everyday people who also want to live in sunshine and peace.

This conflict between Old Florida and new money is an ever-present tension, but even seasoned yacht brokers say they've never seen interest in luxury yachts quite as strong as it is now.

More: Illegal boat slips are popping near Palm Beach Gardens. Residents want regulators to act

"What we've seen in the marketplace right after COVID in the yachting industry, and especially the superyacht segment, is the most incredible growth ever seen in the history of yachting to date," said Shannon McCoy, a luxury yacht advisor and broker with Worth Avenue Yachts in Palm Beach.

"A lot of people are moving here with serious money," added Pascal Savoy, U.S. managing director of Camper & Nicholsons International yacht brokers in Fort Lauderdale.

While in the past Palm Beach County was not considered lively enough for some buyers, Savoy said the county's growing sophistication is putting it on the map in a way never seen before.

"It's a mini-Monaco for us," Savoy said.

Prices for mega-yachts can range from $18 million to $60 million, or many times that, for the largest and most decked-out mega-yachts, Savoy said.

While some yachts can be glitzy, a 164-foot Westport is considered a more low-profile boat, Savoy added.

Michael Bozzuto's interests: Houses, boats and philanthropy

Bozzuto is no newcomer to North Palm Beach. He's been a resident of the village for 20 years.

He is the billionaire owner of a family-owned supermarket wholesaler in Connecticut, and an investor and philanthropist who likes to collect houses and yachts, Coleman said.

In addition to the four North Palm Beach houses and several yachts he owns, Bozzuto in February paid a whopping $31.1 million for a house in the Town of Palm Beach Shores. The house, which has two docks, sits just north of the Palm Beach/Lake Worth Inlet.

Twin City Mall: North Palm clears way for redevelopment, taller buildings at landmark site

Coleman said there is plenty of room for other boaters to navigate the waterway when Honey is parked at the Shore Drive house in North Palm Beach. And while other people may not have as large a yacht, there are other sizeable yachts parked on docks behind other North Palm Beach homes, too, he added.

At a 2017 village council meeting, then-Mayor Darryl Aubrey commented on the issue, according to the complaint.

"When I didn't live here full time, I had a boat sitting in my dock, I was gone nine months of the year. I don't see how you can say that someone has to be in a residence year-round, seems to be some interpretation of occupant, there would be an enormous number of violations," Aubrey said.

Another member of the village council asked if the village had a definition now, the complaint said.

Rubin, the village attorney, replied: "No, we don't," according to the lawsuit.

Show me the money? Here it is: West Palm and Palm Beach rank in top 5 as cities with fastest growth in millionaires

Palm Beach County's waterways run deep, and they are popular

The yacht docking dispute is particularly timely, given the scarcity of dock space for boats of all sizes.

The most convenient place to park a boat is on the water behind a house, brokers say. But not every waterway or channel can accommodate the draft, or depth, of a mega-yacht.

However, the dock behind Bozzuto's Shore Drive house can.

Not only is the Westport not known for its deep hulls, but the waterway also is typical of northern Palm Beach County, which boasts deep water and easy access to the ocean via the Lake Worth Inlet, said Coleman, a lifelong boater.

"In Palm Beach County, they have deeper water, and it allows people to have larger yachts," Savoy agreed.

But not every waterway is deep enough for every boat.

McCoy said she specializes in helping advise potential yacht owners about the county's varied water depths before they buy a house, if they plan to dock their yacht behind it.

If yacht owners don't have a private dock, the other option is a marina. But marina space is hard to find, with many dock berths reserved for months in advance, McCoy said.

Despite the challenges of owning a boat and finding a place to dock it, yacht brokers say demand continues.

They see interest continuing from business executives moving here with their families as they relocate their companies to Palm Beach County. There's also a growing demand for yachts among female buyers, McCoy added.

They also see younger mega-yacht buyers, some even in their early 30s. This is in sharp contrast to the mostly older buyers in the past, Savoy said.

Palm Beach County may not be as go-go as Miami-Dade County when it comes to showy ships, but if interest continues, "it's coming," Savoy said. "You're going to attract bigger yachts."

Put another way: "No one needs a boat, but everyone needs a boat," McCoy said. "It's the ultimate lifestyle."

Alexandra Clough is a business writer and columnist at  The Palm Beach Post . You can reach her at  [email protected] . Twitter:  @acloughpbp .  Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

Rent the best Florida sailboats

• Sailboat Rentals
• Florida Sailboat Rentals

Our top sailboat rentals

Key West, FL

Luxury 44-ft sailing catamaran

Fort Lauderdale, FL

DAFFY SAILBOAT 39 ft Catalina 387 Fort Lauderdale

Sailing Cataraman 48ft "Bubble" | Sound-bath, Yoga and Meditation

Treasure Island, FL

Luxurious Leopard 40 Catamaran with Water Toys/Paddle Boards Included

Beautiful Leopard 40 sailing catamaran

St. Petersburg, FL

Luxury 51' Catamaran Sailing Charter in St Petersburg!

Clean and Sporty O'Day 280 - up to 6 passengers

Luxury 47 feet Beneteau Yacht - Miami

55'Catamaran Party: Sailing, Snorkeling, Paddle-boarding, Sightseeing!

Sailing Catamaran Sightseeing / Sunset Excursions

Jacksonville, FL

Delivery Available - Sunset, Day Sail, Booze Cruise, St Johns River

48' SAILING CATAMARAN! Offering 4 hr, 8 hr, & 10 hr charters

Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

Sailing Adventures and Relaxing Cruises

Juno Beach, FL

39' Beautiful Jeanneau for sailing in Palm Beach!

West Palm Beach, FL

Cruise the waterways of Fort Lauderdale - WPB - $220/Hr -$37/Person

Miami Beach, FL

Explore the waters of Miami aboard 60' Leopard 2021

Intracoastal Cruises and Ocean Sails to St Augustine & Amelia Island

How to rent a sailboat in florida, find the perfect boat.

Enter your desired location and date to explore our fleet of sailboats.

Select a captain

Choose to drive yourself or select a USCG licensed captain.

Book with ease

Connect with your boat owner and complete your booking online.

Enjoy your day on the water with friends and family!

Why Boatsetter?

As the global leader in peer-to-peer boat rentals, Boatsetter offers an easy, safe and accessible way to experience on-the-water adventure. With boat rentals in 600+ locations, finding a boat is easy and with the option to tap into the largest network of USCG licensed captains, boating experience is not required.

Get out on the water worry-free, knowing our insurance covers every boating trip

Choosing the right boat rental platform is essential to your peace of mind while on the water. That's why we've gone the extra mile to focus on safety through our exclusive partnership with GEICO Marine and BoatUS. As the first and only boat rental marketplace to offer insurance on every peer-to-peer rental, you are protected during all rentals with insurance coverage and on-water assistance through TowBoatUS.

Got questions?

Frequently asked questions

What makes Boatsetter different from other boat rental platforms?

What makes Boatsetter different is peace of mind. Boatsetter is the first and only boat rental marketplace to offer insurance on every peer-to-peer boat rental. We know choosing the right boat rental platform is essential to your experience while on the water. That's why we've gone the extra mile to focus on safety through our exclusive partnership with GEICO Marine and BoatUS. As the first and only boat rental marketplace to offer insurance on every peer-to-peer rental, you are protected during all rentals with insurance coverage and on-water assistance through TowBoatUS.

How to rent a boat on Boatsetter?

At Boatsetter, our mission is to make getting out on the water as easy as possible. With our intuitive booking system, you can rent a boat as soon as today. -First, you must determine your budget and the type of boat you want to rent. -Next, decide where you would like to boat and the kind of boat you would like to spend the day on. -Finally, determine if you will be needing a boat captain and reach out to the boat owner. That’s it! You’re officially on your way to a fantastic day out on the water.

How much does it cost to rent a boat?

The cost to rent a boat depends on whether you are renting for a half-day or a full day, the boat features and the boat size can impact your boat rental price. Rental prices can range from $200 to $1,000 plus depending on the boat rental itself and the length of time of the rental.

How many people can fit on the boat rental?

The number of people who can fit on boat rental largely depends on the boat’s size and how many life jackets are on board. Currently the coast guard allows a maximum of 10-12 people on a Boatsetter boat rental.

How much does it cost to rent a yacht?

The cost of renting a yacht depends on the boat’s size and the amount of time you’ll use the yacht. The onboard amenities and luxurious accommodations also dictate the price. You can contact our yacht specialists for a custom quote by visiting https://www.boatsetter.com/luxury-yacht-charters .

How old do you have to be to rent a boat?

You must be 18 years old to rent a captained boat and 25 years old if you would like to rent a bareboat charter.

Do I need a boating license to rent a boat?

Boating license requirements vary from state to state. As a renter, you are responsible for understanding local state requirements.

Can you rent a yacht for the day?

Boatsetter allows you to rent a yacht for the day. Single-day yacht rentals are available for a select number of yachts. To chat with a yacht specialist please visit https://www.boatsetter.com/luxury-yacht-charters .

Can you rent a yacht for the week?

Boatsetter allows its customers to rent a yacht for the week. Renting a yacht for a week gives you more access to the wide range of yachts available on our platform. You can either book a rental directly through the site or connect with one of our charter specialists to plan your trip here: https://www.boatsetter.com/luxury-yacht-charters .

Can you rent a yacht for the month?

Booking a month-long yacht rental is a detailed and hands-off process when working with our team of yacht charter specialists. We tailor each yacht charter to our client's specific wants and needs. Our luxury yacht charter specialists can be reached at (954) 715-4114 or by visiting https://www.boatsetter.com/luxury-yacht-charters .

How to rent a private yacht?

Renting a private yacht is a very detailed experience that caters to your exact needs while onboard one of our luxury yachts. To plan your private yacht rentals experience please visit https://www.boatsetter.com/luxury-yacht-charters .

How much does it cost to rent a pontoon boat?

The cost of renting a pontoon boat depends on the size, location, and rental time of the boat. Prices can range anywhere from $200 for a half-day rental or just under a $1,000 for longer rentals.

How much does it cost to charter a yacht?

The cost to charter a yacht varies depending on the boat size and the length of the charter. Prices typically range from less than $1,000 to $5,000 plus if you’re wanting to charter the yacht overnight.

How much does it cost to rent a boat for the day?

The cost of renting a boat for the day on average ranges from $200 to $1200. The cost to rent a boat varies depending on the size of the boat and the length of time that you will be using the boat.

How does the boat insurance work?

Boat insurance typically covers loss caused by things such as fire, sinking, storms, and collisions. The extent of the coverage varies depending on the policy.

Do I need my own insurance to rent a boat?

You do not need boat insurance when renting with Boatsetter. Coverage is provided under the Peer-to-Peer Boat Rental Policy, which is underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. The policy was written from the ground up as a stand-alone recreational boat rental insurance policy covering the period of time that the boat is being rented and is available for all non-commercially insured boats.

Does Boatsetter screen renters?

Yes. We use a system called Cognito to ensure that payment information matches the renter's identity. We also require renters taking out a captained boat to be at least 18 years old and on a bareboat to be at least 25 years old.

Is listing my boat on Boatsetter free?

Yes! Listing a boat is completely free. We only take a commission when your boat is rented. We only make money when you do!

What if I'm not comfortable having a renter drive my boat?

If you are not comfortable having a renter drive your boat, we have an expansive network of licensed and experienced captains. Once your boat is listed, you can filter through our network of captains and favorite captains in your area that you would like to operate your boat.

Top destinations for sailboat rentals

Top sailboat rentals reviews in Florida

Clean and Sporty...

Matthew was great accommodating all of our needs and easy to communicate with. The boat was fantastic and everything...

55'Catamaran...

DAFFY SAILBOAT ...

My four year old, six-year-old and two parents went out with me. Captain Charlie was a true character and kind and...

Beautiful Leopard...

Just got back from a relaxing and wonderful sailing experience! Erinn and Capt Matty are just amazing. Cannot say...

Explore the...

Luxurious Leopard...

Couldn’t have asked for a better experience, our captain and crew was exceptional. From the minute we booked the...

Matt is an amazing captain. Also the boat was perfect for the family, perfect size and clean. St. Pete’s is a great...

Intracoastal...

My husband and I had a great time cruising around the intercostal! Such a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. We...

Cruise the...

39' Beautiful...

We had an amazing time with my family onboard the Lorikeet. The boat was beautiful, extremely fun to sail on and...

Sailing Catamaran...

Sailboat Rentals in Florida

Browse by make.

Browse by experience

Own a sailboat?

Boatsetter lets you make money renting out your sailboat. Peace of mind and insurance is included in every rental, and you choose who rents your sailboat.

Ready to set sail?

Search and find the perfect boat.

Need assistance?

Get in touch with one of our success experts.

Surge in Haitian migrants hasn’t hit Florida shores, so far. What happened?

F ORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The predictions were dire: Florida was on the verge of experiencing an onslaught of refugees from Haiti, driven by widespread gang-fueled lawlessness to make the perilous overwater voyage of hundreds of miles seeking safety in the U.S.

Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the mobilization of Florida personnel and equipment to supplement the federal response from the Coast Guard and other agencies.

“Given the situation in Haiti,” the governor declared in his mid-March announcement, he ordered more than 250 law enforcement officers, National Guardsmen and soldiers from several state agencies to South Florida and the Keys. Such actions are necessary, his office said, “when a state faces the possibility of invasion.”

A month later, it turns out there hasn’t been an invasion — or a noticeable change in Haitians arriving in Florida by boat. There isn’t agreement about why it didn’t come to pass.

In March, DeSantis reiterated the warning about what could be on the way to Florida in a Fox News appearance and told a conservative podcast host he might send Haitian refugees arriving in Florida to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, the way he did with Venezuelan asylum seekers in 2022.

Democratic elected officials were also concerned. A week after DeSantis’ move all the Democrats in the Florida congressional delegation warned about “the potential mass migration from Haiti to Florida.”

Their priority — advancing funding for a multinational security force for Haiti — was different, but they said action was needed to “help keep the Haitian people safe and Florida secure.”

The surge never happened.

“There’s no mass exodus,” said Ronald Surin, a former vice president of the Haitian Lawyers Association, an assessment shared in interviews with other Haitian American community leaders and elected officials in South Florida.

“We have not seen any Haitians coming over here,” said state Rep. Marie Woodson, a Hollywood Democrat.

MarieGuerda Nicolas , a psychologist and professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami, is co-founder and president of the Ayiti Community Trust, a community foundation in Haiti.

“People in Haiti right now are not necessarily saying, ‘How do I get a boat to come to Miami?’ That’s not what people in Haiti are thinking about at all,” Nicolas said.

That does not mean the situation in Haiti has improved in the last month.

“Nothing has really changed. There has not been any peace,” said Surin, a Fort Lauderdale immigration lawyer and president of the Haitian American Democratic Club of Broward County. “People are still being kidnapped and women raped, housing destroyed, police stations and medical facilities, banks and all of those are still under control of gang violence.”

“The gangs remain very powerful,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose agencies include the Coast Guard, said via a spokesperson it is monitoring the situation.

“At this time, irregular migration flows through the Caribbean remain low. All irregular migration journeys, especially maritime routes, are extremely dangerous, unforgiving, and often result in loss of life,” an agency spokesperson said via email.

DeSantis himself acknowledged the absence of a surge.

“We have not seen a real strong, really any, uptick in vessels trying to come from Haiti to Florida,” he said on April 8 during one of his regular soliloquies criticizing President Joe Biden’s immigration and border policies.

DeSantis credit?

DeSantis took some credit for the surge that didn’t materialize. The governor said his deployment of personnel and more than a dozen watercraft and aircraft, played a deterrent role when combined with the Coast Guard.

“It’s not like you’re gonna be able to get through that,” he said.

DeSantis said the state has “worked well with the Coast Guard,” but said it is understaffed, asserting the Biden administration “hasn’t provided enough resources.”

Overall, though, DeSantis said Haitians have gotten a message: Don’t try to make the voyage to Florida, because you’ll be stopped.

”When you know that’s gonna happen, it makes it much less likely that people are gonna want to go in and try to make that trip. That’s a pretty long trip from Haiti to Florida,” he said.

Haitian American Democrats said DeSantis’ moves had no effect on anyone who might have contemplated the 700-mile trip to Florida.

“The people on the coast do not pay any attention to what the governor of Florida does before they leave on a boat,” Surin said, dismissing the deployment of state forces offshore as meaningless.

Other Haitian American Democrats excoriated DeSantis.

“Despite the Governor’s anti-immigrant grandstanding, there has not been a significant surge of Haitians fleeing the island. The assertion that there would be a surge was either politically motivated fear mongering, or miscalculated conjecture,” state Rep. Dotie Joseph, a North Miami Democrat, said via text. “Many Haitians impacted by the violence in the capital are internally displaced to other areas within the country which are not currently dominated by the so-called gangs.”

Tessa Petit, executive director of Florida Immigrant Coalition, was critical of DeSantis — and of the Biden administration for not denouncing DeSantis and doing more federally to help Haitians.

“Florida’s response to what is happening is a shameless attack on Haitians by Governor DeSantis stating the need to protect Florida against an invasion of Haitians,” she said April 11 in a telephone news conference.

Returned to Haiti

The U.S. Coast Guard, part of the Homeland Security Department, has reported encountering some, but not many, people attempting to leave Haiti by boat.

When its ships encounter boats carrying people from Haiti or other countries it intercepts them — and repatriates the people on board back to the countries from where they came, including Haiti.

“U.S. policy is to return noncitizens who do not have a fear of persecution or torture or a legal basis to enter the United States. Those interdicted at sea are subject to immediate repatriation pursuant to our longstanding policy and procedures. The United States returns or repatriates migrants interdicted at sea to the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti,” the homeland security spokesperson said.

The Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies such as the Coast Guard regularly warn people not to set out on the dangerous voyage, and publicizes cases in which it interdicts boats and repatriates those on board.

In March, for example, the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous repatriated 65 migrants to Haiti. They’d been found near the Bahamas.

Petit and representatives of other immigration advocacy groups, who joined several leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives Haiti Caucus in the telephone news conference, sharply criticized repatriation.

Deportations of Haitians who aren’t legally in the U.S. have been paused for now, but Petit said that policy should be expanded to include people interdicted at sea. Paul Namphy, lead organizer of Family Action Network Movement, said the U.S. should “not return Haitians to a country that is extremely fragile.”

Welcome refugees

As the situation was getting lots of attention, most American voters surveyed in a March 27 Quinnipiac University poll said they would welcome Haitian refugees.

The question was stark: “As you may know, Haiti is in the midst of a violent takeover by gangs. If Haitians flee to seek safety and attempt to reach U.S. shores, should the United States provide safe haven for Haitian refugees, or not?”

Among all voters surveyed, 55% said “yes” and 36% said “no.”

As with virtually all issues today, people are highly polarized.

Democrats, independents, people with four-year college degrees and those under age 50 heavily favored the U.S. granting safe haven for Haitian refugees.

Republicans were overwhelmingly opposed, and fewer than 50% of people 50 and older and people without four-year degrees said yes.

Among Democrats, 79% favored providing a safe haven and 14% were opposed. Independents were also supportive, 61-28%.

Among Republicans, 29% favored offering a safe haven for Haitian refugees and 65% were opposed.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick , a Broward-Palm Beach county Democrat and the only Haitian American member of Congress, said she was troubled by the politicization. “As we keep going back and forth with these political games, we see that Haitian lives are at stake.”

‘Haiti fatigue’

The March warnings about a possible surge of migrants came about two weeks after gang violence sharply escalated on Feb. 29.

News coverage was flush with pictures and videos of heavily armed young gang members controlling the streets in much of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, and home to a third of Haiti’s population.

With the main airport closed, government and private flights were organized to get Americans out of the country, also generating lots of attention.

(DeSantis, who faulted the federal air evacuation efforts, also ordered evacuations by the state of Florida. From March 20 through April 2, the state Division of Emergency Management reported it had evacuated 220 Americans from Haiti to Florida. The effort reprised what the state did after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.)

In recent weeks, though, news coverage has dramatically decreased, as attention has turned to domestic stories, such as abortion rights, the presidential campaign and billion-dollar lottery jackpots.

It is still dominant for Haitian Americans, Woodson said, but more broadly there was “a lot of hype, and then the next thing you know everything dies out.”

Surin lamented what he said was probably “Haiti fatigue.”

“The Haitian people feel they are abandoned by the U.S., by the international community, by those nations who have claimed to be their friends,” Surin said. “They feel like attention is given to Ukraine and Gaza, rightfully so, but they are in kind of a similar predicament. But nobody is paying attention. There is no rescue.”

©2024 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

• Entertainment
• Newsletters

WEATHER ALERT

A rip current statement in effect for Coastal Broward and Coastal Miami Dade Regions

Man dies after being knocked off boat, into propeller while fishing off key west.

Chris Gothner , Digital Journalist

KEY WEST, Fla. – A Pennsylvania boater died Sunday after going overboard in the waters south of Key West, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC investigators said Timothy Adam Christianson, 35, was operating the 24-foot Sea Fox with another man on board. The two were fishing at the time, about a half-mile off the coast.

Recommended Videos

An FWC spokesperson said the boat hit a wave just before 10 a.m., knocking Christianson overboard and into the boat’s propeller, killing him.

“The vessel was in gear, at trolling speed, with no one at the helm,” an FWC investigator wrote in the report.

The incident remained under investigation as of Monday, authorities said.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Chris gothner.

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

Local 10 News @ 6AM : Apr 17, 2024

Local 10 news @ 5am : apr 17, 2024, local 10 news @ 4:30am : apr 17, 2024, local 10 news @ 11pm : apr 16, 2024, local 10 news @ 6pm : apr 16, 2024.

Retrieval of boats sunk by Hurricane Ian near Fort Myers Beach: messy and mind-boggling

The sunk boats now being retrieved from the Matanzas Pass don't look like they have been under water for a year and a half.

More like decades.

This has been a different kind of boat parade. Muddy, rusty, bruised and battered. No. You can't call them boats now. They are disfigured, hideous, unrecognizable hunks of junk. What they really are is a hellish reminder of the fiercest and deadliest hurricane to ever cross over Southwest Florida.

And that once in a lifetime Category 4 storm called Hurricane Ian has presented a once in a lifetime opportunity to see what a sailboat or a tugboat or a pontoon boat would look like after spending more than 500 days in a watery grave, resting on the floor of the busy waterway near to Fort Myers Beach .

Photo gallery: Boats sunk but Hurricane Ian near Fort Myers Beach

At times, it can feel like all of the boxes on the post-Hurricane Ian "to-do" list will never be checked . And while significant strides have been made from Fort Myers Beach to Sanibel , the removal of the boats that at one time were tied to the docks at the popular Bonita Bill's restaurants and bar, has been a particularly lengthy process.

Katie Semmer is co-owner of Bonita Bill's along with her brother and sister. Back in March she said the goal was to have the remaining boats removed by the end of this month. Semmer said one boat was removed last September. What was left were 11 unclaimed boats (uninsured) and one (insured) boat stuck under a pile of abandon boats, Semmer said.

More: Fort Myers Beach buzzing about huge boat stuck on restaurant dock since Hurricane Ian

At the time of being interviewed for this story in March, Semmer said there were three or four boats left to be fished out of the water in front of her business. This did not include the massive Bertram yacht called the Batchelor Pad that was tossed around by Hurricane Ian's historic 15-foot storm surge. It was spared from sinking like the other boats, but it ended up impaled on a couple of dock posts right next to the main dining area at Bonita Bill's.

Eighteen months later the 42-foot-long Batchelor Pad , weighing 20 tons (40,000 pounds), has been embraced by the Fort Myers Beach community and tourists, serving as an oddly entertaining reminder of a horrible catastrophe that took place. Writing a message, or just simply signing the boat's hull has become as popular as ordering fried the Grouper sandwich.

Semmer had a plaque made to commemorate the behemoth boat's arrival on Sept. 28, 2022. She said the boat is on the list to be removed soon despite the swell of support for keeping the Batchelor Pad right where it is .

"We will try to salvage a piece of the Batchelor Pad to incorporate back into the bar," Semmer said. "It’s a tricky removal and the priority will be safety of everyone involved and then the rest of the docks and equipment over salvaging the boat. We are looking forward to rebuilding back to what we had before. Removing the Batchelor Pad will restore more dining space and the dinghy dock."

Semmer said other items have been found underwater during the boat removal process, including: couches, a 7-11 cooler, a roof with solar panels, refrigerators and "lots of broken pilings, rope."

• River City Live
• Newsletters

WEATHER ALERT

2 warnings and an advisory in effect for 13 regions in the area

9 bodies found adrift in a boat off brazil were likely migrants from mauritania and mali, police say.

Renata Brito

Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

A boat that was carrying decomposing corpses is lifted to shore by authorities at the Vila do Castelo port in Braganca, Brazil, early Monday, April 15, 2024. Security forces and forensics were dispatched to the area after fishermen reported on Saturday spotting the boat off the coast of Para state. (AP Photo/Raimundo Pacco)

BARCELONA – Brazilian police investigating the grim discovery of a boat with several decomposing bodies say they were likely African migrants from Mali and Mauritania.

Fishermen off Brazil's northern coastal state of Pará found the boat adrift Saturday in the Atlantic Ocean . Brazil's Federal Police said in a statement late on Monday they had recovered nine dead in all.

Recommended Videos

On Tuesday afternoon, officials said the boat is believed to have been carrying at least 25 people, based on the number of raincoats found inside the vessel.

“Documents and objects found near the bodies indicate that the victims were migrants from the African continent, from the region of Mauritania and Mali,” the earlier statement read. Police added that other nationalities could be among the deceased.

The roughly 12-meter (39-foot) white and blue canoe-shaped boat shares the same characteristics of Mauritanian fishing boats known as pirogues, frequently used by West African migrants and refugees fleeing to Spain’s Canary Islands, suggesting Brazil was probably not their destination.

The bodies were found in an advanced state of decomposition, authorities had said.

The Atlantic route from West Africa to the European Union territory is one of the most dangerous in the world. Boats that miss their destination can be swept away by Atlantic trade winds and currents from east to west, drifting for months. Migrants aboard often die of dehydration and malnutrition. Others have also been known to jump into the ocean out of desperation.

An Associated Press investigation published last year revealed that in 2021, at least seven boats from northwest Africa had been found in the Caribbean and Brazil, all carrying dead bodies.

On Tuesday, Brazilian authorities said that a preliminary analysis of documents found aboard indicated the boat departed Mauritania after Jan. 17.

José Roberto Peres, the Federal Police chief in Para state, told a local TV network that the estimated distance from where its passengers may have lost their way is some 4,800 kilometers (nearly 3,000 miles) from Para's coast. Forensic examination of both the bodies and the vessel are still underway, he said.

A 500% spike in migration from the northwest coast of Africa to Spain this year has alarmed European authorities. Despite a 210 million euro deal signed in February between the European Union and Mauritania, the majority of departures have taken place from the West African nation.

While more than 13,000 migrants have reached the Canaries so far in 2024, according to Spain's interior ministry, hundreds others have been reported missing. In Mauritania, families have even set up a “national commission” charged with looking for the disappeared migrants. They have been following news of the boat found in Brazil anxiously, according to families who contacted AP.

Associated Press writer Gabriela Sá Pessoa in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines.