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South Florida Marinas Adapt With Demand

The days when a marina was defined as a place to "dock a boat" are gone. In this new age of high class service facilities, marinas are upgrading their properties to keep up with the demands of the discerning yacht owner. South Florida is one of the worlds top yachting destinations for many reasons. World class marinas and service facilities are just two reasons why yacht owners from around the world call on Port Everglades regularly. Answering the call for top notch facilities and service; many of the marinas and boatyards throughout South Florida are making improvements to better serve their clientele.

Roscioli Yachting center is in the middle of expanding their already large 8 acre facility to 12 acres, making room for such amenities as state of the art offices for their customers, a captain's lounge, commissary, fitness room, laundry facilities, restrooms with showers and a conference center.

Roscioli is not the only facility to recognize the demand. Lauderdale Marine Center is expanding into the formerly vacant property to the East of their original facility. Upon completion, they will have 18 acres of property, 1700 feet of bulkhead and will have in water covered and uncovered slips for vessels up to 180 feet. The project will have a fresh, modern design and amenities which will include a captain's lounge with internet access, a lending library along with 29 new berths and 6 new tenant spaces.

Rybovich is also expanding and renovating to ensure that it is continued to be viewed as one of the leaders in the industry. It is currently expanding to a 40,000 square foot Mega-Yacht Service Center. Upon completion the facility will boast a 660-ton TravelLift to compliment their 330-ton lift and space on the hard for nine yachts up to 200 feet as well as seven in-water slips for yachts to 275 feet. In an effort to give the customers a resort feel, Rybovich will add a fitness center, pool, basketball court, and a lounge.

Vertical Yacht Club has answered to the demand for first class safe boat storage. It will offer a computer controlled lifting system to put a yacht up to 90' in a storage rack. This rack will be inside a facility that can withstand up to category 5 hurricane-force winds.

Pier 17 will be offering covered dockage for 26 mega yachts. These slips will be offered for sale in a "dockominium" arrangement and transient dockage will also be offered.

These are just a few of the exciting things happening throughout South Florida to meet the demands of the mega yacht fleet that is approaching 4000 vessels worldwide. The following is a list of Marinas and Boatyards with facilities to meet the needs of mega yacht owners, captains and crew.