Selling a Deeded Boat Slip in Jupiter: Steps, Documents and Pricing

Selling a deeded boat slip in Jupiter works like selling real estate, because it is real estate. The difference is that buyers shop slips on specifications: length, beam, depth, power and how fast they reach the inlet.

I am Kyle Camerlinck, broker and owner of Taiter Realty in Jupiter. I have been a licensed Florida real estate professional since December 15, 2020, and I hold Florida broker license BK3487029. Boat slip sales and swaps are a core part of my business, and the sellers who prepare their slip specs up front get the cleanest deals.

What exactly do you own?

Start with your recorded deed and the marina's declaration. Deeded slips are often condominium units in a marina condominium, which means a declaration, an association, dues and rules. Some slips are instead held by membership, license or lease, which are contract rights, not real property. That difference changes how the slip transfers and who can buy it. I explain the ownership types in my guide to deeded slip options.

What documents do slip buyers want?

• Recorded deed and legal description
• Declaration, bylaws, rules, budget and any special assessment history
• Slip dimensions and the maximum vessel length, beam and draft the rules allow
• Water depth at mean low water, if documented (TBD for most slips until measured)
• Power, water and lift details, and any lift permits
• Any restrictions on leasing, liveaboards or commercial use

For a marina condominium, the condo resale documents under s. 718.503(2) apply as well.

What approvals and costs come with a slip sale?

Approvals. Some marina declarations restrict who can buy, require association approval, or give the association a right of first refusal. Read yours before you sign a contract.

Estoppel. The association issues an estoppel certificate confirming dues and assessments owed.

Documentary stamps. Deed documentary stamp tax under s. 201.02 is 70 cents per $100 of consideration. The seller customarily pays it in Florida, but the contract controls.

Title. Close through a title company or real estate attorney, as with a home.

How is a Jupiter slip priced?

I price slips from recent closed slip sales in the same marina, adjusted for size, depth, location in the marina and access. Fixed bridges between the slip and the Jupiter Inlet matter a great deal to larger boats. See my bridge clearance and air draft guide for that piece. Asking prices on other slips are not evidence of value until they close.

Frequently asked questions

How do I sell a deeded boat slip in Jupiter?

Confirm what you own from your recorded deed and the marina's declaration, gather the governing documents, budget and any slip specifications, check whether the association has approval rights or a right of first refusal, order an estoppel, and close through a title company or attorney like any other real property sale.

Are documentary stamp taxes due on a boat slip sale?

A deeded slip is real property, so deed documentary stamp tax applies under s. 201.02 at 70 cents per $100 of consideration. In Florida the seller customarily pays it, but the contract controls.

What do slip buyers ask first?

Maximum vessel length, beam and draft at the slip, water depth at low tide, power and water service, whether a lift is allowed or included, fixed bridges between the slip and the inlet, and monthly dues and assessments.

Is a slip membership or lease the same as a deeded slip?

No. A membership, license or lease is a contract right, not real property, and transfers by the terms of that agreement. Confirm which one you hold before you price it.

My recommendation

Put a one-page spec sheet together before you list: dimensions, allowed vessel size, depth, utilities, dues and bridges to the inlet. Serious boaters decide fast when the facts are in front of them.

If you are thinking about selling in the next 6 to 24 months, send me your address and I will put together a private value range built on recent closed sales, not list prices. No obligation, and nothing goes on the market until you decide.

This article is general information, not legal, tax, insurance, or financial advice, and it is not an appraisal. Marina rules, dues and tax rates change; confirm current figures with your association and closing agent. Items marked TBD are figures I have not verified.

Kyle Camerlinck | Taiter Realty, Jupiter FL Luxury Real Estate
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