How much does a boat slip cost in the Florida Keys?

Deeded deep-water slips at Marlin Bay Yacht Club in Marathon are priced at $8,200 per linear foot in 2026 — $328,000 for a 40-ft slip, $574,000 for 70 ft — with Wi-Fi, power, water, and sewer pump-out included in the marina infrastructure. Rental dockage at private Keys marinas is commonly listed in the $20–$40 per foot per month range, varying by marina, season, and availability.

Is it better to buy or rent a boat slip in the Keys?

At typical listed rental rates, a 40-ft boat pays roughly $10,000–$19,000 per year in dockage. Buying a deeded slip converts that permanent expense into an owned asset in a market where ROGO makes new marina construction close to impossible — the same scarcity math as Keys homes. Owners also control their slip's availability instead of renewing against waitlists.

What size boats can Marlin Bay's marina take?

The marina holds 99 deep-water slips from 24 to 70 feet, with no fixed bridges between the basin and Florida Bay — sailboats and sportfish towers clear without stepping masts. Slips 1–79 are held under a Submerged Land Lease from the State of Florida.

Do you have to own a home at Marlin Bay to buy a slip?

Homebuyers select slips first — 97 of 99 remain as of mid-2026. Contact the sales gallery for current slip availability and the pairing rules with the Founders' 13 residences.

Sportfishing boat docked at dusk in the Marlin Bay deep-water marina, Marathon, Florida Keys

Marina economics · Updated July 2026

What a slip really costs in the Keys

The short answer

Deeded deep-water slips in Marathon run $8,200 per linear foot in 2026 — $328,000 for 40 ft, $574,000 for 70 ft at Marlin Bay Yacht Club. Rental dockage at private Keys marinas commonly lists at $20–$40 per foot per month, so a 40-ft boat spends roughly $10,000–$19,000 a year renting what it could own.

Per linear foot, deeded: $8,200; Per linear foot, deeded
Slips remaining (live): 97 of 99; Slips remaining (live)
Slip sizes: 24–70 ft; Slip sizes
Fixed bridges to Florida Bay: 0; Fixed bridges to Florida Bay

Purchase pricing

Deeded slip prices, by size

Slip pricing at Marlin Bay is linear: $8,200 per foot of slip length. Every slip includes Wi-Fi, shore power, water, and sewer pump-out, with a dockmaster and ship’s store on site. The table below is computed from the live reservation system.

Marlin Bay deeded slip pricing by size, 2026
Slip size	Price	Available now (live)
24 ft	$196,800	9
34 ft	$278,800	25
40 ft	$328,000	19
50 ft	$410,000	14
60 ft	$492,000	14
70 ft	$574,000	16

Availability syncs from the reservation office and updates automatically. The two reserved slips retain earlier pricing; all currently available slips price at the per-foot rate shown.

The alternative

What renting dockage costs

Published wet-slip rates at private marinas in the Middle Keys commonly fall in the $20–$40 per foot per month range depending on marina, season, contract length, and beam — before electricity, liveaboard surcharges, or waitlist realities. For a 40-ft boat that is roughly $10,000–$19,000 per year; for a 60-ft boat, $14,000–$29,000. Rates move; verify current published rates with each marina.

The structural point doesn’t move: ROGO and shoreline regulation make new marina basins in the Keys close to impossible to permit, so slip supply is as capped as housing supply. A deeded slip is the same scarcity asset as the home above it.

The water

Why deep water, no bridges matters

Marlin Bay’s basin opens to Florida Bay with no fixed bridges — sailboat masts and sportfish towers clear without detours. From the dock: Boot Key Harbor, Sombrero Reef, the Seven Mile Bridge, and Gulf Stream fishing runs in every direction. Slips 1–79 are held under a Submerged Land Lease from the State of Florida; ask the sales gallery for the lease summary during diligence.

Questions buyers ask

Straight answers

How much does a boat slip cost in the Florida Keys?: Deeded deep-water slips at Marlin Bay Yacht Club in Marathon are priced at $8,200 per linear foot in 2026 — $328,000 for a 40-ft slip, $574,000 for 70 ft — with Wi-Fi, power, water, and sewer pump-out included in the marina infrastructure. Rental dockage at private Keys marinas is commonly listed in the $20–$40 per foot per month range, varying by marina, season, and availability.
Is it better to buy or rent a boat slip in the Keys?: At typical listed rental rates, a 40-ft boat pays roughly $10,000–$19,000 per year in dockage. Buying a deeded slip converts that permanent expense into an owned asset in a market where ROGO makes new marina construction close to impossible — the same scarcity math as Keys homes. Owners also control their slip's availability instead of renewing against waitlists.
What size boats can Marlin Bay's marina take?: The marina holds 99 deep-water slips from 24 to 70 feet, with no fixed bridges between the basin and Florida Bay — sailboats and sportfish towers clear without stepping masts. Slips 1–79 are held under a Submerged Land Lease from the State of Florida.
Do you have to own a home at Marlin Bay to buy a slip?: Homebuyers select slips first — 97 of 99 remain as of mid-2026. Contact the sales gallery for current slip availability and the pairing rules with the Founders' 13 residences.

Keep reading

Sources

· Marlin Bay reservation-office live slip inventory (this page auto-updates)
· Published wet-slip rate ranges, Middle Keys private marinas, 2025–2026 (verify per marina)
· State of Florida Submerged Land Lease (slips 1–79)

Sunset Point observation tower over Florida Bay at sunset, Marlin Bay, Marathon FL

Pick your slip from the water side

Call the sales gallery for current slip availability, the pairing rules with the Founders' 13, and a dock walk with the dockmaster.

Call or Text (954) 801-7671 Request the Price Release

Reserve today · All 13 placed within 90 days · Move-in ready at closing