Where to keep your yacht after the Fort Lauderdale boat show: winter dockage guide 2026-27
By Tal Fox Amit · Sep 27, 2026 · 6 min read
Planning for FLIBS 2026 (Oct 28 to Nov 1)? See private boat-show dockage
FLIBS 2026 ends on November 1. If your yacht is wintering in South Florida, here is how to plan the weeks after the show and line up a dock for December 1 to April 30.
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS 2026) runs October 28 to November 1. For many owners and captains the next question comes right after it: where does the boat spend the winter? This guide covers the timeline, your options, what to check before you book, and how to line up a winter dock with FoxStays Docks.
The timeline: show week, November, then winter
In this guide, winter means December 1 to April 30.
That leaves November in between. Decide early which plan fits your boat: stay put through November and roll into a winter lease, move straight from your show dock to a winter dock, or leave after the show and come back for December.
If you are at a private dock for show week, ask whether it takes monthly stays and is free for the winter. Staying put saves a move.
Your options for a winter dock
There are two main kinds of slip to choose from:
- Marina slip: book directly with the marina, and ask about seasonal terms, what is included and how early they fill.
- Private dock: a slip at a waterfront home or property, rented by the month. A service like FoxStays Docks handles the quote, the dock agreement and payment.
Book as soon as you know your dates
Winter is the busy season for dockage in South Florida. The earlier you ask, the more docks you can choose from, especially for longer boats and for docks that allow living aboard.
Our docks are in Fort Lauderdale, Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach and Dania Beach, and we look for docks in other South Florida areas on request.
Check the fit before you book
Length is only the start. For a stay of several months, check:
- Length overall and beam, against the slip.
- Draft at low tide, against the depth at the dock and on the way in.
- Air draft or mast height, against any fixed bridges on the route.
- Shore power: 30A, 50A or 100A, single- or three-phase, and how many cords.
- Living aboard: rules vary by property, so confirm it for each dock.
- Access and parking for crew, guests and deliveries.
Every dock is reviewed by our team, and we confirm the exact fit before you book.
Hurricane season overlaps the start
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30, so a boat that stays on after the show is still inside it for most of November. Know your storm plan, where the boat would go if it had to move, and what your insurance asks for while it is in South Florida.
What a winter month costs
Dockage is priced per foot of your boat’s length, per night. A quote for a monthly stay prices each night of your dates, so a stay in a busier season can cost more than the same stay at another time of year.
Our monthly dockage page shows worked examples from the rates our docks publish today. They are estimates; you get the exact quote before you book.
Paperwork and policies
Your insurance certificate and a government ID are required before check-in.
Our cancellation policy: Free cancellation until 7 days before arrival. Monthly leases need 30 days’ notice. Boat-show (FLIBS) stays are prepaid and non-refundable.
How to line up a winter dock with FoxStays
Four steps, and requesting is free:
- Tell us your boat (length, beam, draft, air draft, power) and your dates, on our monthly dockage page or by phone, text or email.
- We come back with docks that fit.
- Open a dock to see the exact quote, then send a request.
- FoxStays confirms your booking, then you e-sign the dock agreement and pay.
Tal Fox Amit
FoxStays Docks · Sep 27, 2026
