TL;DR
Marina berths in Sint Maarten range from $3,500–$8,000 per year for monthly dockage at small boat slips to $1.2M+ for purchased megayacht slips at Yacht Club Port de Plaisance. Mid-sized 40–60 ft berths typically sell for $180,000–$650,000 with annual maintenance fees of $4,800–$15,000. Charter income for a well-managed slip in season can offset 30–60% of carrying costs. Sint Maarten remains the Caribbean’s most active yachting hub, but slip availability has tightened significantly since 2023.
Table of Contents
- Why Sint Maarten Is a Yachting Hub
- The Main Marinas Compared
- Purchase Prices for Marina Berths in 2026
- Annual Dockage and Maintenance Costs
- Charter and Rental Income Potential
- ROI Math for a Mid-Sized Slip
- What to Verify Before Buying a Slip
- FAQ: Sint Maarten Marina Berths
Why Sint Maarten Is a Yachting Hub
Sint Maarten sits at the center of the Caribbean charter circuit. Its position between St. Barth’s, Anguilla, the BVI, and the leeward island chain makes it the natural staging point for vessels moving between hurricane-season storage zones, charter routes, and refit yards. The island has roughly 1,200 to 1,400 active berths across its major marinas, supporting everything from 30 ft sailboats to 250+ ft megayachts.
The Heineken Regatta in March, the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Regatta in late February, and the busy December through April charter season keep occupancy high across all major marinas. Slip availability tightens dramatically during peak months, with most premium marinas operating at 90%+ occupancy from mid-December through April.
For investors thinking about buy opportunities tied to the marine industry, marina berths sit alongside vacation rental properties as one of the higher-yield niche assets on the island.
The Main Marinas Compared
| Marina | Location | Berth Sizes | Typical Vessel | Notes |
| Simpson Bay Marina | Simpson Bay Lagoon | 30–200 ft | Sail & motor | Largest, full service yard |
| Yacht Club Port de Plaisance | Cole Bay | 50–280 ft | Megayachts | Premium, casino-adjacent |
| Princess Yacht Club | Cole Bay | 40–230 ft | Megayachts | Newer megayacht facility |
| Isle de Sol | Simpson Bay | 60–340 ft | Superyachts | Deep-water, premium |
| Bobby’s Marina | Philipsburg | 30–80 ft | Sail & charter | Dutch capital location |
| Lagoon Marina | Cole Bay | 30–60 ft | Cruisers | Smaller, value-oriented |
Each marina has a different ownership and dockage model. Some sell berths outright, others offer long-term leases (25–50 years), and most also operate transient dockage by the night, week, or month.
Simpson Bay Lagoon access is via the Simpson Bay Bridge on the Dutch side or the Sandy Ground Bridge on the French side. Bridge schedules are tight in season; serious yacht owners often plan around them.
Purchase Prices for Marina Berths in 2026
Sint Maarten marina berths trade as real property with deeded ownership at most facilities. 2026 purchase pricing varies sharply by marina, berth size, and depth.
| Slip Size | Lower-Tier Marina | Premium Marina |
| 30–40 ft | $90,000–$160,000 | $180,000–$280,000 |
| 40–55 ft | $180,000–$320,000 | $350,000–$550,000 |
| 55–80 ft | $320,000–$580,000 | $550,000–$900,000 |
| 80–120 ft | $580,000–$1.1M | $1.0M–$1.8M |
| 120–180 ft | not common | $1.6M–$3.5M |
| 180+ ft (megayacht) | not common | $3.0M–$6.5M+ |
Prices have firmed since 2023 across all categories, driven by tight supply, increased charter industry activity, and limited new development. Megayacht slips in Yacht Club Port de Plaisance and Isle de Sol have seen the strongest price growth, with some 150+ ft berths appreciating 25–40% over three years.
For buyers looking at Caribbean ROI more broadly, marina berths offer different return mechanics than residential property: lower appreciation but higher annual yield from dockage.
Annual Dockage and Maintenance Costs
Owning a berth does not eliminate monthly costs. Owners pay marina maintenance fees that cover dock infrastructure, security, water, electricity infrastructure, and shared facility upkeep.
Typical 2026 annual marina fees:
- 30–40 ft berth: $3,500–$6,800
- 40–55 ft berth: $4,800–$9,500
- 55–80 ft berth: $7,200–$14,000
- 80–120 ft berth: $11,500–$22,000
- 120+ ft berth: $18,000–$45,000+
Plus utilities (water and electricity) billed separately, typically $200–$800/month depending on vessel size and AC usage when docked.
For owners not using the slip themselves, transient rental rates run roughly $1.50–$4.50 per foot per night during high season, with premium marinas at the top of the range. A 50 ft slip at $2.50/foot earns $125/night, with peak-season occupancy potential of 50–80%.
Charter and Rental Income Potential
Most owners of Sint Maarten marina berths fall into three groups:
- Yacht owners who use the slip themselves and view dockage costs as part of vessel ownership.
- Investors who rent the slip transiently to charter yachts and visiting vessels.
- Hybrid owners who use the slip part of the year and rent it the rest.
For investor-only owners, professionally managed transient rental can generate:
- 30–40 ft berth: $8,000–$18,000/year
- 40–55 ft berth: $14,000–$32,000/year
- 55–80 ft berth: $24,000–$58,000/year
- 80–120 ft berth: $42,000–$95,000/year
Management fees for slip rental typically run 15–25% of gross revenue. Some marinas have in-house programs; independent slip managers also operate at most major facilities.
For buyers exploring the broader investment picture, our FAQ page covers questions frequently raised by North American buyers considering Caribbean marine assets for the first time.
ROI Math for a Mid-Sized Slip
A realistic 2026 example for a 50 ft slip at a premium Sint Maarten marina:
- Purchase price: $475,000
- Annual marina fees: $8,200
- Utilities (when rented): $2,400/year
- Insurance: $1,800/year
- Management fee at 20%: $5,400/year
- Gross rental income (60% peak occupancy): $27,000/year
- Net rental income: $9,200/year
- Net yield on purchase: 1.94%
That is not the full picture. Two additional factors meaningfully change the math:
- Owner self-use offsets. If the owner uses the slip 4 months/year (typical for North American snowbird yacht owners), they save approximately $12,000–$18,000/year in transient dockage they would otherwise pay elsewhere. That bumps effective yield significantly.
- Appreciation. Premium berths have appreciated 4–8% annually over the past five years. Combined with rental income, total annualized return reaches 6–10%.
For investors comparing this to traditional real estate, marina berths typically deliver lower price appreciation but higher cash-on-cash yield, with the appeal increasing for owners who use the asset themselves.
Investors weighing this against vacation rental property should also look at our Platinum Dreams inventory for luxury villa comparisons.
What to Verify Before Buying a Slip
Marina berth purchases have unique due diligence requirements beyond traditional real estate.
- Deed structure. Confirm the slip is fee-simple deeded ownership versus a long-term lease. Both exist on Sint Maarten and have different exit liquidity.
- Marina governance. Marinas are owned by various entities. Confirm the operator’s financial health, recent capital improvements, and any pending litigation.
- Depth at low tide. Critical for larger vessels. Some Cole Bay marinas have draft restrictions that change with hurricane sediment shifts.
- Hurricane policy. Most marinas require vessels to be moved or specially secured during named storms. Verify the marina’s hurricane plan and your insurance compliance.
- HOA / maintenance fee history. Request 3 years of fee history. Sharp recent increases signal upcoming capital assessments.
- Charter and commercial use rules. Some marinas restrict commercial charter operations from owned slips. Verify before assuming rental income.
- Transfer fees. Marinas often charge 1–4% transfer fees on resale. Factor into exit math.
A qualified Sint Maarten attorney experienced in marine transactions is essential. Closing costs typically run 5–7% of purchase price, including transfer tax, notary, and legal fees. Buyers using mortgage financing should plan for a 60–90 day timeline; cash transactions can close in 30–45 days.
For buyers also evaluating a mortgage calculator for residential property alongside a marina berth purchase, the math works differently for each.
FAQ: Sint Maarten Marina Berths
Can foreigners buy marina berths in Sint Maarten?
Yes. Foreign ownership of marina berths is permitted with no restrictions on nationality. Most premium marinas have a majority foreign owner base.
Do I need a Sint Maarten residency to own a berth?
No. Berth ownership does not require residency. Many owners visit only seasonally.
What is the typical hold period for a marina berth investment?
5–15 years is most common. Shorter holds work for trading owners who upgrade vessel size; longer holds benefit from appreciation compounding.
Are charter berths more profitable than transient berths?
Long-term charter contracts typically offer 30–50% of nightly transient rates but with guaranteed occupancy. The math favors transient for high-demand peak-season slips and charter contracts for shoulder seasons.
What happens to my berth in a major hurricane?
Marinas have established hurricane protocols. Your insurance must comply with marina rules. Storm damage to dock infrastructure is the marina’s responsibility; vessel damage is yours.
Sint Maarten marina berths sit at the intersection of marine industry investment and lifestyle ownership. The numbers are real, the supply is tight, and the right slip can deliver both meaningful annual yield and durable appreciation. To see current marina berth and waterfront buy opportunities or to talk through the math for your situation, contact our team or browse client testimonials from buyers who navigated the same questions.
