Boats for Sale in Florida

Florida registers more boats than any other state, and the market reflects that: everything from Keys flats skiffs to Lake Okeechobee bass boats to 40-foot center consoles in Miami.

Titles and registration

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) oversees vessel titles and registration, and you do the paperwork at your county tax collector's office. Motorized vessels must be titled and registered, and non-motorized vessels 16 feet or longer must be titled too. Registration fees are set by vessel length, and some counties add a small local fee.

Boater education

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 must complete an approved boating safety course and carry a Boating Safety Education ID Card (plus photo ID) to operate a vessel with 10 horsepower or more. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) runs the program. Renting a PWC also has age rules.

Where to boat

South Florida means Biscayne Bay, the Miami and Fort Lauderdale inlets and the run to the Bahamas. The Keys add flats, reef fishing and long stretches of shallow, unforgiving water where prop scarring is a real concern and seagrass is protected. On the Gulf side, Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Boca Grande and the Ten Thousand Islands draw anglers, and the Panhandle around Destin and Pensacola has emerald water and a big charter fleet.

Inland, Lake Okeechobee, the Kissimmee Chain, Lake George on the St. Johns River and the Harris Chain near Leesburg are bass-fishing water. Watch for manatee zones: many coastal and river areas have slow-speed rules that FWC enforces.

Popular boats

Center consoles are the default Florida boat, from 20-footers to large outboard-powered boats with triple or quad engines. Bay boats and flats skiffs suit the Gulf coast and Keys. Pontoons are popular on lakes and in protected canals around Cape Coral and Port Charlotte. Many well-known builders are based in the state.

Season

All year. Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms; hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30.

Buying tips for Florida boats

Saltwater is the main issue. Ask how the boat was stored: dry stack, a lift, a trailer under cover or a wet slip. Look for corrosion on engine mounts, wiring connectors, steering, trim tabs and trailer components, and check for blistering on boats kept in the water.

Hurricanes put flood-damaged boats on the market every year. Check the title history for salvage brands, look for silt, water lines and corroded electronics, and run the HIN. UV is the other enemy: faded gelcoat, cracked vinyl and brittle hatches are common on boats stored outside.