Skip to content
Aspire Yacht Sales
Turquoise shallows and a sandbar in the Bahamas

Bahamas Yacht Sales & Brokerage

Buying or selling a yacht in the Bahamas? Aspire Yacht Sales brokers yachts across Nassau, the Abacos, the Exumas and Bimini, from a broker in the islands and our Fort Lauderdale office.

For a great many South Florida owners, the Bahamas is the reason to own a yacht at all. Bimini lies about 50 miles across the Gulf Stream from Fort Lauderdale, and beyond it are the Berry Islands, Nassau, the Abacos and the long chain of the Exumas. Some of the clearest cruising water in the world. Aspire Yacht Sales brokers yachts throughout the islands, with a broker based in the Bahamas and our office in Fort Lauderdale, a day's run away.

Buying a Yacht in the Bahamas

Yachts that cruise the Bahamas are listed on both sides of the Gulf Stream: some lie in Florida between seasons, others in Nassau, Marsh Harbour or the Exumas year-round. We search the whole IYBA MLS for the right boat, wherever she is, and show her where she lies.

A purchase in the islands follows the same steps as one in Fort Lauderdale, offer, survey, sea trial, closing, with a little more logistics. We line up a surveyor who will travel to the boat, arrange the sea trial in Bahamian waters or plan a haul-out in Florida if that is the better option, and bring in local specialists where the paperwork calls for them.

Where she will be registered and how she will be used matter more here than anywhere else. A yacht bought by a visitor usually keeps her existing flag and cruises the islands under a cruising permit, while a yacht imported for use by a Bahamas resident is subject to duty and VAT. We bring in a Bahamas customs broker to confirm exactly what applies to your boat before you commit.

Selling a Yacht in the Bahamas

A yacht lying in the Bahamas does not have to come back to Florida to sell. We photograph and film her where she is, list her on the IYBA MLS, YachtWorld and our own buyer list, and coordinate showings and sea trials in the islands. Many of the buyers for a boat in Nassau or the Abacos live in Florida or the northeast, so we handle the travel and the introductions on both sides.

When bringing her across is the stronger play, a boat shown at a Fort Lauderdale dock can see far more buyers in a week, we will say so, and plan the crossing and the paperwork with you. We like our listings close to home, but we will travel anywhere to sell a yacht.

Where We Work in the Bahamas

  • Bimini and the Berry Islands. The first landfall from South Florida, and famous sportfishing water.
  • Nassau and Paradise Island. The capital, the main airport and the largest marinas in the country.
  • The Abacos. Marsh Harbour, Hope Town and the Sea of Abaco, a favorite of cruising owners.
  • The Exumas. More than 300 cays and some of the most photographed water anywhere.
  • Eleuthera and Harbour Island. Quieter anchorages and a long, sheltered lee.

Crossing from Florida

From Fort Lauderdale or Miami, Bimini is a morning's run for most motor yachts when the Gulf Stream is kind, and a crossing to put off when a north wind is blowing against it. On arrival you clear in with Bahamas Customs and Immigration at a port of entry, where a visiting yacht receives a cruising permit for her stay. Requirements and fees change, so check the current rules before each trip.

Frequently Asked Questions, Bahamas Yacht Brokerage

Can I buy a yacht that is lying in the Bahamas?

Yes. We show, survey and sea-trial yachts where they lie in the islands, and handle the closing from Fort Lauderdale. If a haul-out in Florida makes the survey easier, we will arrange the crossing.

Do I need to bring my yacht back to Florida to sell her?

No. We can list and show her in the Bahamas. Sometimes bringing her to Fort Lauderdale for a few weeks puts her in front of more buyers, and we will tell you honestly when that is worth doing.

What does a US-flagged yacht need to cruise the Bahamas?

She clears in with Bahamas Customs and Immigration at a port of entry and receives a cruising permit for the visit. The fee depends on her length, and the rules are updated from time to time, so check the current requirements before you go.

Does Aspire have a broker in the Bahamas?

Yes. We have a broker based in the islands, working alongside our Fort Lauderdale office, so you can deal with someone local and still reach the Florida market.

Explore Our Other Service Areas