The Great Yacht Migration: An Annual Day Boat Tradition
A VanDutch sits wrapped and ready for highway transport.
How Top Boaters Trade Off Between the Northeast & Florida, Plus 15 Boat Transport Tips
As the day boating world's annual migration from Florida to the Northeast concludes, the summer season officially begins.
Memorial Day weekend has arrived, and with it, the conclusion of one of the most fascinating rituals in American boating. From Miami to Fort Lauderdale, Naples to Palm Beach, every year hundreds of yachts set off on their annual pilgrimage north targeting more tempered climates. Destination: The Hamptons, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and countless other northeastern summer playgrounds. Regardless of the destination, relocations take significant money and professional planning, decisions only for those committed to the year-round day boating lifestyle. Here’s how it works.
The Most Popular Route
The most popular route for year-round boaters follows a reliable rhythm. Cruise the Hamptons from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and venture to Miami from October to April. Essentially the day boating version of retired “snowbirds” who travel to Florida to escape the northern winters. In our scenario, Floridian boaters travel north to escape the insanely hot summers. Whether you relocate by transport trailer or your boat is big enough to go on its own by ocean, you better have a plan. Relocations are not cheap, especially if you make the decision last minute.
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association's 2024 report, New York accounts for 427,000 U.S. boat registrations, but the state is swamped by imports filling up moorings during the peak summer months year after year. This can make it difficult to find trustworthy road transport, book shipyard periods, and find that perfect slip to enjoy for the short summer. Most of those imports come from Florida, which leads the nation with over 944,000 registrations. The demand for boating services in the Hamptons is, well… insane.
Combine the exclusively of the area with the over supply of boats, and the summer migration certainly has a hand in the area’s high pricing. My advice? If you’re ever looking to take part in the Great Migration, start planning in February.
The Cost & Time
Professional yacht transport companies report their busiest season runs from mid-April through early June, with Memorial Day weekend serving as the popular “hard deadline”. Miss that window, and you're starting a short season already behind schedule.
The economics are substantial. A Miami-to-Montauk journey on a trailer can take between 3-5 days and cover more than 1,200 miles. Transport costs alone can range from $10,000 (for 40 feet) to $30,000 each way (for 60 feet), depending on the size of of the haul. Add insurance, preparation and shipyard costs, and owners can spend significant money to position themselves for year-round boating. Choose to go by water, and your trip can take a few weeks, with cost metrics depending heavily on your fuel consumption, cost of crew, and moorings along the way. This trip was recently highlighted in Netflix’s new show Sirens, where the Captain of a brand new Princess X95 invites his new ladyfriend to join him from New England to Palm Beach, where he spends a month relocating his boss’ boat over the course of a leisurely month.
Working with the Best vs. Penny Pinching
As someone who's facilitated dozens of these seasonal transitions, I can tell you the migration reveals a lot about an owner's commitment to their boat. Doing it the right way is not cheap, nor should it be accompanied by stress and question marks. I have seen horror stories of boats getting “lost”, damaged and delayed in transit, all to save a few thousand dollars for a company no one’s heard of. If you are a hands-on owner and you want to organize your own logistics—whether for cost savings or for the love of the game— find your teams through referrals. Relocation jobs come with high price tags, which draws just about anyone to claim they are an expert and can move your boat without a problem. That’s simply not true. The guy who stands by his price is most likely the one who can get the job done as you expect it done.
Be smart. Be cautious. And don’t be shy to ask for referrals.
DID YOU KNOW? If you’re really not in a rush, you may think shipping your boat from Florida to New York on a cargo ship is an option. But did you know the Jones Act prevents shipment of goods (and passengers) from US port to US port, except if loaded on a US built, owned, flagged and crewed vessel. Since a majority of shipping vessels are not US-owned, these domestic transport options are not available. The only option you have is if the cargo ship stops in an international destination before landing back in the US with your goods on a subsequent stop.
Why the Northeast Summer is Worth The Cost
For many owners who partake in the Great Migration, it’s not about the cost, which is how it should be. If you’re worried about the cost of it all and finding things for half price, then boating isn’t really for you. Especially the Great Migration.
The northeast summer season represents peak social boating. Gurney’s and Navy Beach in the Hamptons, Newport regattas, and Nantucket yacht club events create a concentrated calendar of "see and be seen" opportunities that simply don't exist in Florida's year-round boating culture. And when you’ve only got three months to enjoy the season, the energy is an intangible. Every outing is special, and it brings a magnetic positivity to the whole area.
But beyond the parties and the energy, don’t forget the weather. Northern summers are crisp, dry and breezy, a combination we don’t exactly revel in during Florida’s humid, ghastly summers.
The Post-Migration Buying Opportunity
From our vantage point in Fort Lauderdale, where boating occurs year-round, the completed spring exodus creates interesting market dynamics. We go an entire winter season with packed waterways and marinas. At the tail end of the Winter season, Northern buyers start snatching up their summer toys around March and April. Then summer thins out and demand eases for a few months. Experienced brokers understand this timing—relocating boats evacuate the region, and what’s left may hit the market at good value.
Owners who decide against the expense and logistics of seasonal relocation may choose to sell instead. An aggressive price and successful sale would save them a summer of expenses (usually much greater than the discount offered in the sale) and leave them in a prime position to buy something new for the upcoming Florida winter season, without having to expense the Great Migration. These buyers should target a purchase in September, when the market is still soft from the summer and November’s winter demand has yet to impact pricing.
These annual sales cycle factors also reflects the boat show calendar's influence. February’s Miami Boat Show and March’s Palm Beach Show in March are specifically scheduled to trigger sales before the North's summer season, while November’s Fort Lauderdale Show predicates the Winter high season in South Florida.
The Return Journey & Hurricane Impact
What went north will come south, and the Great Migration continues on. Labor Day weekend will mark the beginning of the return journey, though some boats will linger through October to catch the northeast's spectacular fall weather. The timing of the southbound journey often depends on hurricane season activity. Many owners will choose to keep their vessels out of hurricane zones during season in order to yield a cheaper annual premium. In this case, boats must be north of Cape Hattaras, North Carolina from June 1st to November 30th to earn—what is usually—a substantial policy discount.
When Hurricane season comes to a close, the Southern season heats up. The Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, held at the beginning of November, is the soft opening to Florida’s golden season.
THE GREAT MIGRATION: 15 REMINDERS FOR SUCCESS
Whether you're planning to relocate north for the summer, or headed south for the winter, here’s a comprehensive list of reminders to get the job done right:
GENERAL SEASONAL RELOCATION CHECKLIST:
Alert your insurance company of the relocation and new mooring location
See whether your relocation triggers a use tax
Order annual engine/generator services and preemptive maintenance before you relocate to a less populated area
Stock seasonal consumable parts on board, in case your new location cannot supply
Lock into 6-month mooring contracts (when able) vs. annual
*IF MOVING BY TRANSPORT TRUCK:
Get a copy of your transport company’s insurance coverage (covering your hull value) before paying a deposit
Factor in costs for shrink wrap, haul out, truck loading, and washing post-transport
Make sure trucks can easily access your pickup and drop off marinas (important for larger boats)
Give an accurate height measurement to your driver (keel to top of vessel) to prevent issues with bridges
Load to your trailer with limited fuel to limit the stress to the trailer
*IF MOVING BY WATER:
Purchase sea tow and/or other distress services
Commission an mechanical and electrical survey prior to departure, to preemptively diagnose issues
Ask your mechanical technicians/crew to compile a bin of must-have consumable parts for the trip
Pre-plan fuel and mooring stops
Have a plan for bad weather, mechanical failure and crew medical needs
The Bottom Line
With Memorial Day Weekend here, the Great Migration to the northeast has concluded, and summer has begun. The process of relocating a boat might be complex and costly, but the payoff for the committed bunch is worth the squeeze. We gave you select insight into the process of relocating, the market dynamics the movements leave behind and best practices when preparing and executing your relocation. Now its up to you.
Have questions about seasonal boating strategies or considering a boat that can easily take part in the Great Migration? Book a private session to discuss how seasonal patterns might influence your next purchase.
About the Author
Reed Nicol is a licensed yacht broker with experience in all corners of the marine industry. He’s worked as an executive and sales director in yacht manufacturing and distribution, has structured commercial charter operations, and designed and executed notable refits. Read more about Reed’s marine journey, his love of helping 1st time boaters and his entrepreneurial spirit here.
Reed Nicol [Licensed FL Yacht Broker #11926]
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