Most of the best deals on boats heading to Bermuda are sitting on a Florida dock right now. Lauderdale, Stuart, Naples, Sarasota. The inventory is deep, prices are right, and the boats are well kept because Floridians actually use them year round. Here's exactly how we move one from a Florida dock to your Bermuda dock.
Week 1: Sourcing
You tell us what you want. Size, type, budget, how you'll use it. We pull a shortlist from YachtWorld, Boat Trader, dealer relationships and broker networks. Usually 6 to 10 candidates inside budget. We rank them by condition, hours, service history, refit status and how motivated the seller is. You see photos, video walk throughs and full listing details for the top three to five before we go further.
Week 2: Survey and sea trial
Once you pick a top candidate, we line up a licensed marine surveyor in the boat's location, usually a SAMS or NAMS surveyor in Florida. The survey runs about US$300 to US$700 and covers hull, engines, electrical, plumbing, safety gear and a sea trial. You attend by video. Most surveyors walk you through findings in real time. Report lands in writing with photos inside 48 to 72 hours. Bad survey, you walk with your deposit. Good survey, we go to negotiation.
Week 3: Purchase and US side paperwork
We negotiate the price down based on survey findings (almost always a few thousand). You wire the seller (or our escrow if you'd rather), we get the bill of sale, US Coast Guard documentation if it applies, state title or registration, and a release of any liens. Boat is yours. It's sitting on a Florida dock waiting for the next leg.
Week 4 to 5: Shipping
Two main options here.
- ●Container shipping (boat dismantled and crated): US$5,000 to US$9,000 for a typical 22 to 28ft boat. Slowest but kindest to delicate finishes.
- ●Cradle or deck shipping (boat on a cradle on a cargo ship): US$6,000 to US$12,000 for the same size range. Faster and simpler. No dismantling.
Most weekly Bermuda freight leaves out of Jacksonville or Port Everglades. We book the next slot. Marine insurance covers the boat in transit for US$800 to US$1,500.
Week 5 to 6: Bermuda customs and BMA
Boat lands at Hamilton or Dockyard. We file the Customs entry, declare CIF value (cost, insurance, freight), pay the 22.25% duty on your behalf. Then BMA. Inspection, registration, naming, hull marking. From dock arrival to fully registered and in the water: typically 5 to 10 working days.
Week 6 to 12: Delivery
We launch the boat, fuel it, test it. Then we deliver to your home dock, your marina slip or your assigned mooring. You get the keys. Total elapsed from your first WhatsApp to you driving the boat: typically 6 to 12 weeks depending on shipping slot availability and BMA scheduling.
Where buyers usually trip up doing it alone
- Skipping the US side survey to save US$500, then inheriting US$15,000 of hidden problems.
- Forgetting that duty is 22.25% of the COMBINED cost, insurance and freight figure, not just the purchase price. People budget the boat plus shipping and get surprised at the customs counter.
- Booking shipping before clearing the BMA name reservation, then finding out their dream boat name is already taken in Bermuda waters. Repainting the hull on arrival is not a vibe.
We've moved dozens of boats from Florida to Bermuda. Each one is a little different, but the timeline is reliable, the costs are predictable, and the boats arrive in Bermuda in better shape than most owners expect. WhatsApp Sean at +1 (441) 518-7077 to talk through what you want. Most buyers are surprised at how affordable the right boat can be once you go US sourced.
