The Best Cities To Live In If You Own A Boat

For a city to qualify as a haven for boaters, it should fulfill certain criteria. Having many waterfront listings with affordable prices is one, and a lengthy boating season with ample sunshine is another. Large numbers of dealers and substantial service facilities are important considerations, as are plentiful docks and marinas. What else influences a boat enthusiast's choice of city? 

Owning a boat is expensive, so cost is a key factor. Miscellaneous fees vary from city to city and certainly add up. Taxes, dock charges, and fuel costs are significant expenses. According to The Mariner, an owner should anticipate annual maintenance costs of up to 10% of the vessel's initial price, and storage fees can reach $2,000 a year. Flood insurance and boat policies are other pieces of the puzzle. The closeness of destinations and the availability of yacht clubs and mooring facilities also play a role. The effects of climate change should be weighed too. Will the city still be on the waterfront in the future or underwater?

The front-runner for the best boaters' city in the U.S. is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In fact, Fort Lauderdale was chosen as the "Boating Capital of the World" by Boat Setter. Other top-five choices for boat owners include Tampa, Minneapolis, Long Island, and Seattle, per Redfin Report.

Fort Lauderdale and boat ownership are two peas in a pod. Its boating industry is supported by shipyards, manufacturing, an abundance of accessories and suppliers, brokers, boat dealers, and substantial dockage. According to Career Source Broward, Fort Lauderdale's county has more than 110,000 boat-centric jobs available, from deckhand to harbor master. There are also extensive opportunities for maritime training and licensing.

The city is blessed with an abundance of sunshine and warm temperatures. Fort Lauderdale has 24 miles of beaches, 76 artificial reefs, and a plethora of underwater wrecks for divers to explore. The city's waters offer deep sea fishing and freshwater angling with 200 species. It is dotted with 300 miles of canals and waterways, including the Intercostal Waterway. Dock and dine is a way of life in Fort Lauderdale, and boaters enjoy its extensive nautical nightlife. Miami is only a 25-mile cruise from Fort Lauderdale. The Bahamas and Bermuda are reasonably close destinations, and Fort Lauderdale and Bermuda have a cooperative arrangement to promote yachting. A Bimini round trip is a doable day's excursion. Fort Lauderdale's International Boat Show features the world's largest array of yachts, including 200-foot behemoths. There are 50,000 yachts registered in Broward County alone, per Visit Lauderdale, serviced by more than 100 marinas. 

Home prices range from roughly $300,000 to 7 figures, according to By The Sea Realty, and a one-bedroom rental can be had in Fort Lauderdale for around $1,800.

Tampa is a close second to Fort Lauderdale as a prime maritime city. It has an extended boating season, and Tampa has one of Florida's sunniest seasons, with an average of almost 245 sunny days per year. Locals, however, are cognizant of the August through October hurricane season, according to Policy Genius. The city is situated within miles of the Gulf of Mexico, and Tampa Bay is Florida's largest estuary and a favorite of boaters. Tampa's signature River Walk is boat-accessible, and the Port 32 Marina accommodates visitors with storage facilities, a restaurant, a fuel dock, and maintenance services (via Port 32).

Nearby, the 1,800-acre nature preserve Shell Key is a must-see destination. Caladesi Island State Park is another Tampa treasure, per Dr. Beach, who rates its beach as the nation's second best. Boats can anchor offshore or park in a state-of-the-art marina, and miles of mangrove forests are perfect for canoeing and kayaking. The two tourist highlights are accessible from Tampa by private boat, ferry, or sea kayak. 

According to Moving.com, the median price of sold homes in Tampa is $389,000. As listed by Oceanfront Realty, Marina Pointe luxury waterfront condos are available in Tampa's Westshore district for around $750,000, complete with their own boat slips.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a surprising candidate for cities that are hives of boating activity. However, it is actually among the most boat-friendly. Boat Alert History Report shows the Gopher State as having the most recreational boats and leading all states with 9.16% of the nation's vessels. Minnesota's "Land of 10,000 Lakes" is actually 11,842 lakes per Explore Minnesota. Minnesota was even the home of the first person ever to water ski, which occurred 100 years ago.

Lake Superior, the country's largest freshwater body of water, is a boating destination for its lighthouses, cycling, and fishing. Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes is a favorite spot for kayaking, canoeing, yachting, pontoon boating, jet skiing, and parasailing. The five inter-connected lakes are within a 10-mile radius of the city. Also near Minneapolis is Lake Minnetonka, the 10th largest lake of the 11,842. Close by is the town of Orono, whose square mileage is one-third water and is considered perfect for kayaking, according to Metro Self Storage. Lake-filled Chippewa National Forest is also a boating haven, as well as the nearby Mississippi River. 

Minneapolis' homes are not exorbitantly priced and sell for an average of $302,500 per Realtor.com.

Long Island, New York, comes to its favorability to boaters naturally: It is 120 miles long by 20 miles wide, surrounded by water. The bay is calm, and the ocean is rimmed by white beaches. According to The Association of Marine Industries, the island is a sailor's delight with a long sea-faring history. Long Island has 100 boatyards, marinas, and a full range of boating-related services. Boaters have access to Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Gardiner's Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Per Marina Life, Long Island Sound puts the triangle of Connecticut, Long Island, and New York City only a few knots away. Nearby nautical destinations include Old Saybrook and Essex in Connecticut, Fisher's Island, Montauk, and the Hamptons in New York, and Massachusetts' Martha's Vineyard. Fishing and whale watching are popular pastimes. Greenport is well-known for its shopping, eating, and nightlife activities. The boating season excludes only the winter months, and Long Island matches the nation's average in terms of sunny days.

Long Island's median home price is around $600,000 (via Redfin), but per Best Places, the median price of a residence in Mastic is just over $340,000. And it's less than an hour from the chic Hamptons. Life of Sailing analyzes the liveaboard lifestyle and concludes that the Montauk Yacht Club is one of the best marinas to anchor in and live on your boat. 

Seattle, Washington, has more boats per capita than almost any other U.S. city, with 237,493 registered vessels, according to Sea Grant Washington. There are 31 municipal boat facilities within the city limits. Seattle has been conducting boat competitions for over 150 years, including crew races and hydroplane events. Its yacht club opened in 1892, and the start of the city's boating season is a venerable tradition more than 100 years old. Houseboats are scattered around the city, including one used in "Sleepless In Seattle," per Visit Seattle.

The Carefree Boat Club suggests six nearby activities for a Seattle sailor. Lake Union and Lake Washington are riddled with restaurants and docking facilities. Downtown Seattle is accessible by securing your boat in Bell Harbor Marina and then walking. Scenic Bainbridge Island and the San Juan Islands are famous for whale watching, dolphin sightings, and deluxe resorts. A 20-mile sea-going jaunt brings you to Poulsbo, AKA Little Norway.

Many of Seattle's neighborhoods are just a stone's throw from Puget Sound. Median home prices in Seattle have skyrocketed, but many residents have addressed the problem by moving across the Sound to Bremerton. Just a ferry commute from downtown Seattle, houses there are 11.3% less expensive  — almost $90,000 less, per Apartment List. 2-bedroom apartments are available in the city for under $2,000.