Sint Maarten Neighborhoods Closest to the Marina: A Boater’s Guide to Living Near Your Slip

TL;DR

Simpson Bay, Cole Bay, Point Blanche, and Oyster Bay are Sint Maarten’s most marina-adjacent neighborhoods, each bordering a different part of the island’s boating infrastructure — from Simpson Bay Lagoon, home to roughly 1,200 to 1,400 active berths across the island’s marinas, to the commercial Port of Philipsburg. Marina berths themselves range from $3,500–$8,000 per year for small dockage slips to $1.2M+ for purchased megayacht berths, with mid-sized 40–60 ft berths typically selling for $180,000–$650,000.

Table of Contents

1. Choosing a Neighborhood, Not a Slip
2. Simpson Bay
3. Cole Bay
4. Point Blanche
5. Oyster Bay
6. What a Marina Berth Actually Costs
7. The Sint Maarten Boating Calendar
8. Marina Access Compared
9. Questions to Ask Before You Buy Near a Marina
10. FAQ: Sint Maarten Neighborhoods Closest to the Marina

Choosing a Neighborhood, Not a Slip

Buying a marina berth and choosing where to live are two separate decisions — a slip is a piece of property in its own right, with its own ownership structure, costs, and market. This guide is about the second decision: which neighborhood puts you closest to your boat day to day, whether that means walking from your front door to the dock or a short drive across the lagoon.

Sint Maarten remains the Caribbean’s most active yachting hub, sitting at the center of the regional charter circuit between St. Barth’s, Anguilla, the BVI, and the wider Leeward chain — which is part of why marina proximity carries real weight in a neighborhood decision here in a way it might not on a less boating-centric island.

Simpson Bay

Simpson Bay is home to the island’s largest marina, sitting just inside the Simpson Bay Bridge on the lagoon side. For owners who want to walk from their front door to their boat, Simpson Bay is the most direct option on the island — several condo buildings here are built specifically around private boat slip access, meaning the slip isn’t just nearby, it can be part of the unit itself.

This is also where the bulk of the island’s marina infrastructure concentrates: transient dockage, fuel, haul-out and boatyard services, and the marine trades that support them (rigging, sail lofts, diesel mechanics) are all clustered in and around Simpson Bay Lagoon, which matters for anyone maintaining a boat rather than just docking one.

Cole Bay

Cole Bay lies on the eastern shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon, offering lagoon frontage on parts of the community with calm water suited to kayaking, paddleboarding, and docking smaller boats. It’s the island’s most accessible residential community and already offers the best value for money on the Dutch side, with proximity to schools, supermarkets, and medical facilities on top of its water access.

For boaters specifically, Cole Bay is a more residential, better-value alternative to Simpson Bay — you’re on the same body of water, with the same general access to the lagoon’s marina network, but at meaningfully lower entry pricing and with quieter, more family-oriented streets.

Point Blanche

Point Blanche sits on the south-western hillside above the Port of Philipsburg, giving residents harbor views and proximity to the island’s commercial port rather than the recreational lagoon marinas. It suits buyers whose boating life centers on Philipsburg’s harbor — commercial berthing for yachts up to roughly 130 ft with haul-out facilities serviced by two travelifts — rather than Simpson Bay Lagoon’s recreational marina cluster.

It’s also, notably, a quieter residential option relative to Simpson Bay, appealing to buyers who want harbor-adjacent living without the lagoon’s density.

Oyster Bay

Oyster Bay is a quieter, eastern-coast community known for its ocean views and slower pace compared to the lagoon-side marina hubs, with a growing secondary real estate market and strong long-stay demand according to recent investment data. It’s a fit for boaters whose priority is coastal living generally rather than walking distance to a specific slip — open ocean rather than lagoon, and a different boating profile as a result.

What a Marina Berth Actually Costs

Separate from the neighborhood decision, it’s worth understanding what the slip itself costs, since this is often the bigger line item for a serious boater relocating to Sint Maarten. According to recent market data across the island’s major marinas:

Berth Type	Typical Cost	Notes
Small boat slip (monthly dockage)	$3,500–$8,000 / year	Annual dockage rate, not purchase
Mid-sized 40–60 ft berth (purchased)	$180,000–$650,000	Plus $4,800–$15,000/year maintenance fees
Megayacht slip (purchased)	$1.2M+	E.g. Yacht Club at Port de Plaisance

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, but slip availability has tightened significantly since 2023 — worth factoring into your timeline if you’re planning to buy both a home and a berth. Charter income for a well-managed slip in season can offset 30–60% of carrying costs for owners who choose to charter.

The Sint Maarten Boating Calendar

Marina life on Sint Maarten runs on a fairly predictable seasonal rhythm, and it’s worth planning a purchase or a move around it rather than against it:

• November–December: Charter season ramps up as ARC fleet boats arrive after their Atlantic crossing; marinas fill quickly.
• January–February: High season — the most expensive charter rates of the year and constant marina activity.
• Early March: The Heineken Regatta, the island’s single biggest boating event of the year, drives a rental demand spike; hotels and short-term rentals near Simpson Bay routinely sell out 6–9 months ahead.
• Late March–April: Sint Maarten Yacht Club spring season — multiple smaller regattas as charter season winds down.
• May–June: The quiet season, with the lowest marina activity and the best availability for slip transfers, haul-outs, and maintenance work.

If you’re weighing sailing logistics alongside the real estate decision, our Sint Maarten sailing schools guide covers this calendar from the training and licensing side in more depth.

Marina Access Compared

Neighborhood	Water Access	Best For
Simpson Bay	Simpson Bay Lagoon, largest marina	Walking distance to your slip
Cole Bay	Simpson Bay Lagoon, eastern shore	Value-oriented lagoon access
Point Blanche	Port of Philipsburg	Harbor-side, commercial port proximity
Oyster Bay	Open ocean, east coast	Coastal living over marina walkability

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Near a Marina

• Does the property include a deeded slip, or is dockage a separate lease or purchase?
• What are the marina’s bridge or channel restrictions for your boat’s draft and beam?
• Is the marina lagoon-side (Simpson Bay Lagoon) or open-ocean facing, and does that match how you plan to use the boat?
• What are current annual maintenance and HOA fees for the slip, separate from the home?
• How has the marina performed through past hurricane seasons, and what’s the haul-out plan during storm risk periods?
• Is slip availability currently open, or is there a waitlist given the tightened inventory since 2023?

FAQ: Sint Maarten Neighborhoods Closest to the Marina

Which Sint Maarten neighborhood is closest to the marina?

Simpson Bay sits directly on Simpson Bay Lagoon and is home to the island’s largest marina, making it the most direct option for boat-to-door access.

Is Cole Bay a good alternative to Simpson Bay for boaters?

Yes. Cole Bay borders the eastern shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon with calm water access, offering better relative value than Simpson Bay itself.

Does Point Blanche have marina access?

Point Blanche sits above the Port of Philipsburg, giving residents proximity to the commercial harbor — including berthing for yachts up to roughly 130 ft — rather than the recreational lagoon marinas.

Is Oyster Bay near a marina?

Oyster Bay is on the open-ocean east coast rather than the lagoon, better suited to buyers prioritizing coastal living over walking-distance marina access.

How much does a marina berth cost in Sint Maarten?

Small boat slips run $3,500–$8,000 per year in dockage fees; mid-sized 40–60 ft purchased berths typically run $180,000–$650,000 plus $4,800–$15,000 a year in maintenance; megayacht slips can exceed $1.2M.

Do I need to buy a slip separately from my home?

Yes, marina berths in Sint Maarten typically trade as separate real property from residential homes, though some condo buildings in Simpson Bay include private slip access as part of the unit.

When is the busiest time of year for Sint Maarten marinas?

January through early March, peaking around the Heineken Regatta in early March — the island’s biggest boating event of the year, when hotels and rentals near Simpson Bay often sell out 6–9 months ahead.

Is marina slip availability easy to find in Sint Maarten?

Availability has tightened significantly since 2023, so buyers planning to secure both a home and a berth should factor extra lead time into their search.

Who do I contact about buying near the marina in Sint Maarten?

Sacha van den Bosch, broker at Island Dreams Realty.

About Island Dreams Realty

Island Dreams Realty is a Sint Maarten-based brokerage with leadership lineage dating back to 1979, led by Broker Sacha van den Bosch, President and Founding Member of the St. Maarten Real Estate Alliance, and affiliated with Century 21 St. Maarten. The team represents inventory across Sint Maarten, Saint Martin, and a further eleven Caribbean markets.

Ready to buy near the marina? Get current listings and marina access details verified before you commit. Free buyer consultation — no obligation.

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