Step 1: Source the boat
Tell Sean the boat you want: make, model, length, year range, engine hours, budget and timing. He works his broker book in Florida, the Carolinas, Long Island, Canada and Europe to find the right hull. Most Bermuda imports come from Florida because shipping is cheapest and the used market is enormous. New boats come from manufacturer dealers across all those regions.
Sean sends you a shortlist within 24 hours, with photos, listing prices, hours and any history he knows. You pick the one you want and he opens negotiation on the buy price. Because we're a known buyer who closes, brokers often shave the asking price for us.
Step 2: Survey on the seller's dock
Before money changes hands, a licensed marine surveyor inspects the boat at the seller's dock. We coordinate a US surveyor or fly one in for larger purchases. The surveyor produces a written report covering hull condition, engine and drive train, electrics, plumbing, rigging, safety gear and recommended repairs.
We've walked away from boats based on survey findings more than once. The report also gives you negotiating leverage: if the survey flags $5K of needed work, that comes off the price. More on what a survey covers.
Step 3: Ship to Bermuda
Once the price is agreed and the survey passes, we book the shipping. Most boats travel as deck cargo on container ships running Florida-to-Bermuda routes. Larger sport fishers and motor yachts can be delivered under their own power with a hired captain. We pick the route and quote that gets your boat to Hamilton fastest and safest.
You get a written shipping timeline and weekly progress updates while the boat is in transit. The freight cost is itemized on your final invoice, with no markup hidden in the shipping line.
Step 4: Customs clearance and the 22.25% import duty
When the boat arrives at the port of entry, Bermuda Customs assesses the import duty. The current rate is 22.25% of CIF, the cost of the boat plus insurance and freight to Bermuda. We file the customs declaration, pay the duty on your behalf and bill it to you transparently (no markup). The boat clears customs once duty is paid.
See our full breakdown of the Bermuda boat import duty, including worked examples and how it interacts with new-vs-used pricing.
Step 5: BMA registration and delivery
Every motorized vessel in Bermuda needs Maritime Authority registration. We file the application in your name, arrange the BMA inspection, source the registration number and hand you the registration card. We can also refer you to a marine-specialist insurance broker for hull and liability coverage.
From there it's delivery to your dock. Hamilton Harbour, Castle Harbour, Dockyard, St. George's, Spanish Point or wherever you keep her. Full BMA registration walkthrough.
Why use BDA Boats vs DIY
You can technically run all of this yourself. Most people don't because (1) the broker network in the US doesn't take Bermuda buyers seriously unless they know you'll close, (2) marine shipping quotes vary wildly depending on who's asking, and (3) the customs and BMA paperwork has been known to take a first-timer six weeks to sort through alone.
Sean has done this hundreds of times. The fee we charge for end-to-end handling typically saves you more than it costs by getting better deal pricing and avoiding the easy mistakes that delay delivery.
