By Gerry Barker
Photos by Gerry Barker, unless noted
Back in the 1940s, the Town of Palm Beach decided it needed to have a dock where boating enthusiasts could park their yachts. As the need got bigger, so did the docks.
Today, as you cross the Royal Palm Bridge from West Palm to Palm Beach, you get a bird’s eye view of the state-of-the-art Palm Beach Marina, whose four docks can accommodate boats up to 295 feet long. Like the Town of Palm Beach itself, the marina, located in a residential neighborhood, places a premium on privacy and anonymity, which boat and yacht owners appreciate.
Freshly updated and still gleaming from a $40 million renovation three years ago, Marina Manager Mike Horn took me on a guided tour of the improvements.
“We closed the marina in May, 2020, and re-opened it in November, 2021,” he said, after a complete overhaul. “The old marina was ripped out and dredged to a 12-foot depth.” Additionally, the seawall was rebuilt, the shore power was upgraded and concrete floating docks from Bellingham Marine in Jacksonville, FL. installed.
Horn said one of the new features his customers really like is the addition of fast Wi-Fi. “That’s been a big improvement,” he said.
Horn is particularly proud of the upgraded shore power stations that line the docks. “The newer boats have so many systems running,” Horn said, “access to power is critical, and what we have in place now can meet boaters’ needs for the next 30 years.” Of course, power isn’t free, and boat owners are billed at cost — 11 cents per kilowatt hour, which can easily run into the thousands of dollars monthly depending on the boat’s needs.
The four docks are named for the streets they are adjacent to: Brazilian, Australian, Peruvian and Royal Palm. There are officially 84 slips, although Horn noted they could accommodate up to 88 boats. Winter season (although you can’t tell it from how most days are warm, sunny and glorious) runs from Oct. 1 to May 31, and it’s when they are at their busiest. “During the boat show, for example, we’re totally full,” said Horn.
Size-wise, the docks handle boats from 60 to 295 feet. On this day, super yacht Skyfall, 190 feet long, is getting serviced. Horn said the biggest boat that has used the marina measured 265 feet, although they do have a boat coming in for Christmas at 268 feet.
As you might expect, a number of boat owners have homes in Palm Beach or the surrounding area. And while they may own a large house with water frontage, Horn said it’s not possible to park the bigger boats there.
Over 76 percent of the slips are leased on an annual basis, Horn said, and there’s a waiting list for boats not on an annual lease. Rates vary from low season to high, with annual rates that go from $58,000 for 60-foot boats to $565,000 for 295-foot boats.
During hurricane season, which runs from June to November, Horn said many of the boat owners relocate, with some sailing to Europe and while others head for New England, Nantucket and the Hamptons. Since the marina is wide open, they require boats that stay to file a hurricane plan in the event of a storm.
Another priority for the marina is security. Horn said getting in and out is automated through credentials, with “cameras everywhere.” They also employ private security during the overnight hours.
Interesting fact: While the Town of Palm Beach owns the marina, they don’t own the water. “The water belongs to the state of Florida,” Horn said. “We have a submerged land lease, and the state gets six percent of the gross revenue.” Who knew?
Staffing-wise, the marina has three full-time employees besides Horn: A dockmaster, office manager and facilities/maintenance manager. There are also some part-timers, including retirees from successful careers in business. On my visit I met Wally, a former mortgage banker who helps keep the grounds clean. “You can only fish and play golf so much,” he said with a smile.
Like the town, the marina strives to create a harmonious environment for its tenants. While boats have to be serviced, Horn said they try to limit the noise and require dust collectors when sanding surfaces is going on. And while they provide “white glove service” helping owners with provisions, you won’t find any retail, alcohol, bait or fuel sales. That’s part of running a business in a residential neighborhood, Horn noted.
As for Horn, a Florida native, next April will be his 12th year with the marina. “I’ve always worked around boats,” he said. He started as dock attendant in Ft. Lauderdale, and “suddenly it’s 30 years later.”
Palm Beach Marina is open to the general public and more information can be found here.
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