If you have come to Fort Lauderdale to find a job on a yacht, the good news is that Fort Lauderdale Marinas are in abundance.
To increase your chances of finding work, you are going to want to dock walk. Get yourself out to the marinas, offer daywork, and hand out your well-written and professional CV.
As we are dealing with multi-million-dollar assets, security at marinas will be tight, so you may not always gain access to the docks. However, it is always worth trying. Walk in with confidence and look the part.
If you look like a Yachtie heading to work for the day, they may just let you walk on by. Please also remember that if you are not a U.S. Citizen or green card holder, it is illegal to dock walk in America.
Below is a list of some of the top Fort Lauderdale marinas. They are broken down into 2 categories based on location so that you can spend less money on Uber rides.
Inland Shipyards: Fort Lauderdale Marinas primarily for Repair and Refit works
Below are 3 popular shipyards, all within 5 minutes of each other. This means you can access all 3 in a day without having to cover too far a distance.
These shipyards are, in fact, marinas in Fort Lauderdale. They are home primarily to yachts doing repair and maintenance work which means they will regularly need extra assistance.
On my previous vessels, we would hire up to 4 day workers to assist during our yard periods.
Safe Harbor Marine Centre: The Biggest of the Fort Lauderdale Marinas
Location: 2029 SW 20th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Website: Safe Harbor Marine Centre
Formally known as Lauderdale Marine Centre, this is the largest yacht building and repair facility in the country, accommodating over 100 yachts.
This is a great opportunity for day working as most yachts will need extra assistance onboard during the busy and messy yard periods. This is also a place where yachts come during downtime. Therefore boats may see crew changes and have positions to fill, so get your CV’s ready!
Additionally, you are only a 20-minute Uber ride from 17th Street, which is home to most of the top crew agencies in Fort Lauderdale.
Universal Marine Centre
Location: 2700 SW 25th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Website: Universal Marine Centre
With 40 slips, UMC is another excellent repair and refit marina located in the prime marine area of Fort Lauderdale. A slightly smaller marina means less crew are likely to go there to seek work, so you will have less competition.
Bradford Marine Centre
Location: 3051 W State Rd 84, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Website: Bradford Marine Centre
Bradford Marine is another well-established refit and repair marina. As mentioned before, approaching Yachts in these slightly smaller marinas is a great opportunity to find day work.
Fort Lauderdale Marinas located along the Beachfront
The below marinas in Fort Lauderdale are located within 5 minutes of each other and can be found along Fort Lauderdale’s main beachfront.
Here you will find hundreds of Yachts coming and going as they navigate through their busy charter seasons. This, of course, leads to many opportunities for day work and possibly even full-time employment.
Bahia Mar
Location: 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Website: Bahia Mar
Bahia Mar is a luxury resort and yachting centre, offering space for up to 250 yachts. It’s home to the world-renowned Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
This Fort Lauderdale marina is likely to see a plethora of busy yachts coming and going as they operate through their busy yachting season. Most of the docks are gated, but there are some areas you can access.
Hall of Fame
Location: 435 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Website: Hall of Fame
This marina in Fort Lauderdale can accommodate up to 40 yachts of varying sizes. The docks are gated, so access can be tricky, but worth a try.
Being a smaller marina, you may find fewer Yachties attempting to find work which would be to your advantage.
Pier 66
Location: 2301 SE 17th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Website: Pier 66
Ideally located right by the 17th Street bridge, this marina is fantastic for dock walking. Although there is security, the docks are not gated, so walk in with confidence, and you will gain access.
Additionally, a 10-minute walk over the bridge gets you onto 17th Street right by some of the top Yacht Crew Agencies.
Final Thoughts on Fort Lauderdale Marinas
There are over 50 Fort Lauderdale Marinas to choose from when it comes to dock walking and day work. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try some wild card marinas, no matter how big or small. You will need to see what the security situation is like to see if you are allowed to access the docks.
A Yacht’s needs will change regularly, so without being annoying, remain persistent in dock walking the marinas and offering your help. For more advice on dock walking, please check out my post on 9 Tips for Dock Walking, to increase your chances of securing a job.
Good luck out there!
