TL;DR
Sint Maarten yacht slip ownership in 2026 runs $35,000 for a 35-foot Simpson Bay slip up to $850,000 for a 150-foot superyacht berth in Isle de Sol. Annual carrying costs (HOA, electricity, water, insurance) typically run 4–7% of purchase price. Rental income on transient charter slips ranges from $4,000 to $90,000+ per year depending on size and location. Most owners use slips for personal lifestyle first, rental income second. The math works as an investment only for slips over 60 feet in premium marinas with consistent year-round demand.
Table of Contents
- What Sint Maarten Yacht Slip Ownership Actually Means
- The Major Marinas: Where Slips Are Sold
- Slip Prices, Sizes, and Ownership Structures
- Carrying Costs and Annual Math
- Rental Income and ROI Realities
- Lifestyle Value: The Other Half of the Equation
- How to Buy a Sint Maarten Yacht Slip
What Sint Maarten Yacht Slip Ownership Actually Means
A Sint Maarten yacht slip is a designated berth in a marina, sold as a titled or long-leasehold asset rather than rented monthly. Ownership generally takes one of three forms:
- Freehold or long-lease title to a specific slip, usually 99-year arrangements
- Marina condominium ownership, with a share in the marina HOA covering common areas, dredging, security, and utilities
- Membership-style ownership, where you hold a right to use a slip of a certain size within a defined marina
Most premium Sint Maarten marinas use a hybrid of options 1 and 2. You hold the slip, you share in HOA responsibilities, and you can typically sell, lease, or transfer it.
Slips are not just a piece of water. They include:
- Shore power (typically 50A or 100A 220V, sometimes higher for superyachts)
- Fresh water
- Wastewater pump-out connections
- Wi-Fi
- 24-hour marina security and gate access
- Use of common amenities (showers, laundry, dock master service, fuel access)
The Major Marinas: Where Slips Are Sold
Sint Maarten’s reputation as a Caribbean yachting capital is built on a small set of well-known marinas, each with its own character.
Simpson Bay Marina
- Mid-sized vessels (30–80 feet)
- Central Dutch-side location, walking distance to restaurants and bars
- Slip pricing: $35,000–$180,000
- High utilization during Heineken Regatta and St. Maarten Yacht Club events
Isle de Sol
- Premium superyacht marina (vessels up to 320+ feet)
- Inside the lagoon, secure and quiet
- Slip pricing: $250,000–$850,000+ for slips, with some larger berths privately negotiated
- Dedicated to high-end charter operations and superyacht owners
Yacht Club Port de Plaisance
- Mid-to-large vessels (40–150 feet)
- Casino, hotel, and restaurant complex adjacent
- Slip pricing: $85,000–$420,000
Bobby’s Marina (Philipsburg)
- Smaller boats, more transient traffic
- Cruise ship corridor location
- Mostly rental rather than ownership
Anse Marcel and French-side options
- French side governance, slightly different legal framework
- Mid-size vessels primarily
- Less common ownership market
Slip Prices, Sizes, and Ownership Structures
Pricing varies significantly by location, depth, and amenity level. Realistic ranges in 2026:
| Slip Size | Simpson Bay | Port de Plaisance | Isle de Sol |
| 30–40 feet | $35,000–$70,000 | $85,000–$130,000 | n/a (size mismatch) |
| 40–60 feet | $70,000–$140,000 | $130,000–$220,000 | $250,000–$340,000 |
| 60–90 feet | $140,000–$240,000 | $220,000–$320,000 | $340,000–$520,000 |
| 90–120 feet | $200,000–$300,000 | $320,000–$420,000 | $520,000–$700,000 |
| 120–150+ feet | Limited availability | $400,000–$500,000 | $700,000–$850,000+ |
Foreign buyers (US, Canadian, European) can hold slips on the Dutch side under the same framework as residential real estate. The transaction goes through a civil-law notary. Buyers comparing Caribbean markets often find Sint Maarten more buyer-friendly than St. Barths or Antigua.
Carrying Costs and Annual Math
Owning a slip is not just the purchase price. Annual carrying costs typically include:
- HOA / marina dues: $3,500–$28,000/year depending on slip size
- Electricity (passed through): $1,500–$12,000/year for active vessels
- Water: $400–$1,800/year
- Insurance (slip itself, not vessel): $600–$2,500/year
- Property tax / leasehold fees: roughly 0.3–0.6% of value
- Hurricane preparation and storage: $1,500–$8,000/year depending on protocol
- Wi-Fi and ancillary services: $300–$900/year
For a 60-foot slip in Port de Plaisance purchased at $260,000, expect annual carrying costs of roughly $10,000–$17,000 before any maintenance reserves. That works out to 4–7% of purchase price annually.
This is comparable to condo ownership in the Caribbean but with one key difference: slips do not require structural maintenance, roof repair, or hurricane window replacement. The asset itself is water, dock infrastructure, and shore connections.
Buyers exploring how slip ownership fits within a broader Caribbean portfolio often look at our buy inventory and the wider regional comparison set.
Rental Income and ROI Realities
Rental income depends on three things: slip size, marina demand, and how much you make the slip available.
Daily Rental Rates (Transient)
- 40–60 feet: $80–$160/day
- 60–90 feet: $160–$320/day
- 90–120 feet: $320–$650/day
- 120+ feet: $650–$1,800+/day
Annual Rental Realities
For a 60-foot slip in Simpson Bay Marina, if you rent it out 200 days per year at an average of $130/day, gross income is roughly $26,000. After marina management fees (15–25%), HOA pass-through, and taxes, net is typically $12,000–$16,000.
Compare to the purchase price of $130,000 plus $10,000 in carrying costs, and net yield works out to around 5–7%. That is reasonable but not extraordinary.
For superyacht slips in Isle de Sol, the math improves significantly. A 120-foot slip at $650/day rented 220 days a year grosses $143,000. Net after fees and dues lands closer to $90,000–$110,000 on a slip purchased for $700,000, working out to 13–15% gross yield.
Where the ROI Story Falls Apart
- Hurricane season (June–November) cuts demand. Some marinas restrict large-vessel occupancy during peak storm risk.
- Yacht charter cycles vary year to year. Strong charter seasons lift slip demand; soft seasons leave berths empty.
- Slip management matters. Owner-managed slips usually underperform professionally managed ones.
A slip is a more passive asset than a vacation rental, but it is not zero-touch.
Lifestyle Value: The Other Half of the Equation
For many owners, slip ownership is primarily about lifestyle:
- Predictable berthing. No competing for transient space during regatta season.
- Hurricane planning. Established storm protocols and reliable haul-out access.
- Community. Sint Maarten’s yachting community is tight, social, and welcoming.
- Convenience. Walking distance to provisioning, restaurants, customs and immigration.
- Year-round use. Sint Maarten’s central Caribbean position makes it a hub for trips to St. Barths, Anguilla, Saba, and the BVI.
Owners who treat slip ownership as 60% lifestyle, 40% asset are usually the most satisfied. Owners who treat it as a pure investment often run into the gap between transient pricing and actual occupancy. Investors interested in regional comparisons should look at our Anguilla investment and Eastern Caribbean inventory.
How to Buy a Sint Maarten Yacht Slip
The process for foreign buyers in 2026:
- Verify ownership structure. Confirm whether the slip is sold freehold, long-lease, or membership-based.
- Engage a civil-law notary. Required for Dutch-side transactions.
- Review marina HOA financials. Reserve fund health, dredging schedule, dock replacement history.
- Confirm slip dimensions and depth. Some slips are restricted to specific boat sizes.
- Review utilities pass-through history. Some marinas pass volatile costs directly; others bundle.
- Title transfer and registration. Typical timeline from offer to close is 30–60 days.
Closing costs run roughly 5–8% of purchase price, including transfer tax, notary, and legal review. Financing options are limited; most slip purchases close on cash or private finance. For broader buyer questions, our FAQ and mortgage calculator cover related topics.
FAQ: Sint Maarten Yacht Slip
Can a US or Canadian citizen own a yacht slip in Sint Maarten?
Yes. Sint Maarten’s Dutch side allows foreign ownership of marina slips with full legal title, the same framework that applies to residential real estate.
Is buying a slip cheaper than long-term renting?
Over a 5–10 year horizon, owning a slip is usually cheaper than renting an equivalent berth, particularly for vessels over 60 feet. Short-term, renting offers more flexibility.
Can I rent out my slip when I’m not using it?
Yes, and most marinas have established transient management programs. Confirm rental rules with the specific marina HOA before purchase.
How does hurricane season affect slip ownership?
Sint Maarten marinas have established storm protocols, including haul-out partnerships and hurricane mooring. Insurance and a clear hurricane plan are essential.
Is a Sint Maarten yacht slip a good investment?
For slips over 60 feet in premium marinas with active rental management, yes, with realistic 5–10% net yields. For smaller slips, the financial case is weaker, but the lifestyle case can still justify ownership.
If you are evaluating slip ownership in Simpson Bay, Port de Plaisance, or Isle de Sol, our team has handled cross-border buyer transactions for over two decades. Read more on our testimonials page, and reach out through contact when you are ready to walk through specifics.
