Yachting in Miami: How the City Became a Boating Hub |

Fort Lauderdale might often get called “The Yachting Capital of the World,” but with its sun-kissed turquoise waters and culture-rich neighborhoods that offer just as much to do at night as they do during the day—nearby Miami is on track to steal that “yacht capital” crown.

Yachting in Miami has long been a favored pastime for visitors who want to explore all that the city streets have to offer before chartering a yacht to experience adventures offshore.

And for good reason.

The city boasts beautiful boating weather all year round, along with pristine-sand island beaches and plenty of dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife to be seen riding beneath the waves.

My wife Paula and I spend at least 200 days a year traveling the world to meet clients and racking up over 150,000 flight miles. And we’ve seen our fair share of spectacular sunsets while doing it.

But the Miami sky often has them beat.

Beyond those can’t-miss sunsets, there are plenty of other reasons why Miami is considered one of the prime boating locations in the world.

Here are 3 things that helped it grow into a much-loved hub that attracts local and international boaters alike—and makes it the perfect destination for chartering a yacht.

The Prime Location for Chartering a Yacht, Buying a Yacht, or Selling a Yacht

Florida’s 3,340 miles of sun-drenched Atlantic coastline and 11,000 miles of waterways have long attracted boaters.

Pair that with an easy-launch to farther destinations in the Bahamas, Caribbean, and South America (the nearest island in the Bahamas, Bimini, is only about 50 miles off Miami) and you have the perfect location for big players in the yacht industry to set up shop.

And set up shop they did.

Florida—specifically Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and other cities across Southern Florida—has become home to forward-thinking luxury yacht builders like Lazzara Yachts (based in Tampa) and Horizon Yachts (North Palm Beach), with top international builders like Ferretti Group setting up showrooms as well. (Ferretti Group’s flagship Fort Lauderdale showroom takes the title of largest covered in-water showroom in the Americas.)

Yacht owners also have easy access to yacht services that cover refinishing, repairs and maintenance, crew staffing, and everything in between, making Southern Florida a prime location for anyone buying a yacht or selling a yacht.

The Miami International Boat Show

The Miami International Boat Show has been a Miami fixture since 1969, and floods the economy with over $1.3 billion annually. The show features over 1,000 exhibitors and boats ranging from 15 meters to upwards of 55 meters, with a crowd that tops out above 100,000.

US builders and European builders launch or re-introduce models that push the boundaries of luxury, power, and customization.

One highlight of the 2022 Miami International Boat Show included Damen Yachting’s unveiling of the GENE MACHINE and GENE CHASER duo, the latter of which had a main salon converted into a working wet and dry laboratory to service her owner’s ongoing scientific projects.

What to Do In Miami: From High-End Art Galleries to World-Class Nightlife and Everything In Between

Just because you’re yachting in Miami doesn’t mean you have to spend all your time on the water.

Coming ashore while chartering a yacht in Miami means getting access to miles of city streets filled with 5-star restaurants (as well as plenty of restaurants with no stars that are well worth your visit), lively festivals, and galleries that will leave you wanting more time to explore.

The Miami Open draws yearly crowds, as does Art Basel, an international art fair held annually in Miami Beach. The neighborhood of Little Havana offers vibrant food and cuisine, while Coral Gables boasts canopied streets and old architecture.

And if you’re looking for what to do in Miami and none of that appeals, you always have the option to choose a yacht charter in Miami and fully customize your trip.