Choosing Between Bay Colony And Harbor Beach For Yacht Owners

Owning a serious yacht changes how you choose a home. You are not just buying views. You are buying dockage, ocean access, and a support ecosystem that keeps your vessel ready. If you are torn between Bay Colony in Naples and Harbor Beach in Fort Lauderdale, the right fit comes down to your yacht’s size, draft, and how often you need pro-level service. In this guide, you will see how each enclave performs on dock capacity, bridges and inlet access, service options, privacy, and the practical checks to make before you write an offer. Let’s dive in.

Quick take: which fits your yacht

Harbor Beach at a glance

Harbor Beach is set on a barrier island just north of Port Everglades with deep canals, private docks, and a neighborhood Surf Club. The area is wrapped by one of the strongest superyacht ecosystems in the United States. Nearby marinas such as Pier Sixty-Six advertise 164 deep-water slips with capacity up to 400 feet along the promenade, which covers nearly any large motor yacht you might bring to town. The community association also supports a private beach club environment and gated security, adding to privacy and everyday convenience. (Harbor Beach Association, Pier Sixty-Six marina specs)

Bay Colony at a glance

Bay Colony in Pelican Bay is a gated, Gulf-front lifestyle enclave focused on private beach clubs, golf, tennis, and luxury condominium and estate living. It is not built as a megayacht basin. Most owners who boat keep small to mid-size vessels nearby rather than at the residence. The closest private option, Pelican Isle Yacht Club in North Naples, advertises about 190 slips, generally accommodating boats in the 50 to 60 foot range with drafts reported around 4 to 4.5 feet. If your yacht is larger, you will plan berthing or refit elsewhere. (Pelican Isle Yacht Club)

Dockage capacity and slip realities

If your priority is mooring a large motor yacht or megayacht at home or minutes away, Harbor Beach has a clear edge. Many homes in the enclave offer private deepwater docks, and you have immediate access to a cluster of superyacht marinas nearby. The headline number comes from Pier Sixty-Six, which lists 5,000 linear feet of dockage, 164 deep-water slips, and the ability to host vessels up to 400 feet. Pair that with nearby marinas and shipyards, and there is redundancy for storm planning and seasonal movement.

Bay Colony’s waterfront lifestyle is centered on the beach and club scene rather than large private slips. While some Naples neighborhoods are known for deepwater, Bay Colony owners typically look to nearby marinas for berthing needs. Pelican Isle Yacht Club serves many North Naples boaters well with its 50 to 60 foot slip focus, but that range tells the story. If you run above about 60 feet, or need more draft, you will be planning for alternative berths and service yards outside Naples.

Ocean access, bridges, and time to the inlet

Harbor Beach access

Harbor Beach sits adjacent to Port Everglades, a deep, federally maintained inlet complex designed for commercial shipping and large vessels. The harbor’s authorized channel has been in the 42 foot range, with studies and authorization steps for deepening to about 48 feet, which helps explain why superyachts cluster here. Many owners describe a quick run to the Atlantic with no low fixed-bridge restrictions on the immediate route. Always verify the exact bridges and opening schedules on your path and confirm local bascule procedures before transit. (Port Everglades navigation study, U.S. Coast Pilot bridge guidance)

Bay Colony access

Naples-area boating reaches the Gulf via natural passes such as Gordon Pass and Wiggins Pass. For North Naples, Pelican Isle Yacht Club notes about five minutes to the Gulf through Wiggins Pass, which is convenient for day cruising and fishing. Depth management matters, though. Shoaling and dredging cycles can affect usable draft at certain tides. If you operate with deeper draft or very large LOA, you will likely plan for service and extended dockage in Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach, where channels and yards are built for that scale.

Service ecosystem and refit support

Fort Lauderdale advantage

Fort Lauderdale is widely considered a global hub for yacht service, haul-out, and refit. Immediately accessible from Harbor Beach, Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center offers heavy travel-lift capacity, covered sheds, and a vendor ecosystem that supports complex projects. Between Lauderdale Marine Center, Pier Sixty-Six, Bahia Mar, and other facilities, you can secure in-water berths, major refit slots, fuel, provisioning, and even crew housing in one metro. For 80 to 400 foot yachts, this is the kind of infrastructure that reduces downtime and risk. (Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center)

Naples baseline

Naples delivers a high-quality marina experience for small to mid-size boats along with excellent lifestyle amenities. What it does not match is Fort Lauderdale’s heavy-lift, superyacht-scale yard network and international FTZ sales and service infrastructure. Owners of very large yachts usually plan periodic service stops on the east coast at facilities like Fort Lauderdale.

Privacy, HOA culture, and club life

Harbor Beach

Harbor Beach combines gated privacy, neighborhood security, and a private Surf Club, which together create a quiet, yacht-centric residential experience minutes from dining and entertainment by boat or car. If you value neighborhood-level amenities geared to ocean and Intracoastal living, Harbor Beach fits that brief. Confirm Surf Club membership requirements and dues as part of your offer process. (Harbor Beach Association)

Bay Colony

Bay Colony’s identity is private beach access, golf, and tennis within Pelican Bay’s resort-style environment. Condominiums and gulf-front estates emphasize a lock-and-leave lifestyle with premier amenities. Membership rights for beach clubs or golf can vary by property, so confirm what conveys with title during due diligence. This lifestyle-first focus makes Bay Colony a strong choice for owners who run smaller boats and want quick Gulf access while prioritizing beach and club access at home.

Permitting, seawalls, and dredging to verify

Big-water homes carry marine-specific details that affect cost and insurability. In Florida, larger docks, dredging, or work waterward of certain lines often require state and possibly federal authorizations. That may include Florida Department of Environmental Protection permits, submerged-lands leases, and U.S. Army Corps approvals, with county-level rules layered in. Never assume an existing dock is fully permitted. Request permits, as-built surveys, and resolve any open issues. (Florida permitting statute overview)

Seawall age, piling condition, and past dredging are major drivers of maintenance and insurance. Ask for recent engineering reports, talk with the HOA or city about dredging schedules and survey records, and plan for any upgrades that may be needed for your vessel’s weight and mooring loads. A marine-permitting consultant can help you frame the scope early. (Florida marine permitting overview)

Practical buying checklist for yacht owners

Use this short list before you make or write an offer:

• Usable berth length vs boat LOA. Measure the space between pilings or structures, not just lot frontage.
• Beam clearance and side-mooring. Confirm canal width, fendering, and swing room with neighbors across the canal.
• Charted depth at MLLW at the berth, along the route, and in the turning basin. Get a recent hydrographic sounding if draft is over 4 to 5 feet. Consider a third-party engineer to validate. (Example of marina rebuild context)
• Air-draft vs bridges on the exact route to the inlet. Identify any fixed spans and whether published clearances are at MHW or MLLW. Confirm bascule openings and VHF procedures. (Bridge procedures reference)
• Turning room and approach angles. Make sure a nearby basin or canal intersection can handle your LOA and beam in wind and current.
• Dock infrastructure. Verify shore power amps and voltage, water, pump-out, fuel availability, and sewer hookups.
• Seawall, piles, and code status. Request reports and check for after-the-fact permits or open violations.
• HOA and use rules. Review covenants on liveaboards, guest mooring, transient rentals, and construction standards.
• Marina alternative. If the property lacks a full-size private dock, confirm membership, waitlists, and costs at nearby marinas. For North Naples, Pelican Isle Yacht Club is a common solution for sub-60-foot boats.
• Storm plan. Identify haul-out or storm-refuge options that will accept your vessel during hurricane season. Fort Lauderdale yards, including Lauderdale Marine Center, provide formal storm planning and capacity.

Who should choose which

Choose Harbor Beach if your yacht is larger than about 70 to 80 feet, or if you want private deepwater dockage paired with immediate access to heavy-lift yards, chandlers, crew support, and a deep inlet. The Fort Lauderdale ecosystem around Harbor Beach, Pier Sixty-Six, and the shipyards gives you options, redundancy, and short transits to the Atlantic. (Pier Sixty-Six, Lauderdale Marine Center)

Choose Bay Colony if your top priority is a private Gulf beach and club lifestyle in Naples and you run a small to mid-size boat that can be berthed at a nearby private marina like Pelican Isle Yacht Club. You will enjoy quick Gulf runs for day cruising and fishing while keeping the on-property focus on resort-style living.

Bottom line: If you need true megayacht dockage and a robust superyacht service network, Harbor Beach and Fort Lauderdale are the stronger base. If you prize private beaches, golf, and Pelican Bay’s lifestyle and you operate a smaller yacht, Bay Colony makes strong sense. In both cases, confirm yacht size, draft, and service needs with current soundings, engineering, and the marina or HOA before you make an offer. (Lauderdale Marine Center)

Verify critical details before you buy

Hydrographic conditions and marina capacities change after storms and dredging cycles. Public marketing and even this guide are not substitutes for a site-specific survey. Order fresh soundings where draft is tight, and review title, permits, and HOA documents for membership rights and construction rules. Doing this upfront avoids closing surprises and protects your yacht and your timeline. (Port Everglades channel context)

Next steps

The right waterfront home should serve your vessel and your lifestyle. If you want a private comparison of on-market and off-market options in Harbor Beach or Bay Colony, vetted against your yacht’s LOA, draft, and crew needs, our team can help you see the full picture. For confidential guidance, curated tours, and a plan that includes staging, property management partners, and closing logistics, connect with Gilles Rais. We will tailor the search to your yacht and the way you live.

FAQs

What sizes of yachts can Bay Colony owners berth nearby?

• Nearby Pelican Isle Yacht Club in North Naples advertises roughly 190 slips, generally suited to boats around 50 to 60 feet with reported drafts near 4 to 4.5 feet.

Does Harbor Beach have fixed-bridge limits to the inlet?

• The neighborhood sits by Port Everglades with a short run to the Atlantic and no low fixed bridges on the immediate route, but always confirm bascule openings and local procedures before transiting. (Bridge procedures reference)

Where can I berth a 150 to 300 foot yacht near Harbor Beach?

• Pier Sixty-Six lists 5,000 linear feet of dockage, 164 deep-water slips, and capacity up to 400 feet, with additional large-vessel options nearby.

How deep is Port Everglades and why does it matter?

• Port Everglades’ authorized channel depth has been in the 42 foot range, with study and authorization for deepening to about 48 feet, supporting reliable access for large yachts. (U.S. Army Corps study)

What permits are needed to build or modify a dock in Florida?

• Larger docks and dredging may require Florida DEP environmental/resource permits, submerged-lands leases, and U.S. Army Corps approvals, with county rules layered in, so verify all permits and as-builts during due diligence. (Florida permitting overview)