Douglas Elliman Launches Elliman Yachts — And What It Means for Palm Beach County Waterfront Buyers
Douglas Elliman just made a move that makes a lot of sense for anyone who’s ever bought a waterfront home and a boat in the same year: they launched Elliman Yachts.
The new division, announced March 26 at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, is a partnership with Royal Yacht International — a Monaco-based boutique brokerage specializing in the sale and charter of high-end vessels. Through Elliman Yachts, clients can now access yacht acquisition advisory, brokerage services, and bespoke charter experiences on a global scale.
Why This Matters for Palm Beach County
Northern Palm Beach County is one of the most active boating markets in the country. Jupiter Inlet, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Loxahatchee River aren’t just scenic — they’re working waterways that buyers plan their entire lives around.
I work with waterfront buyers every week. The conversation almost always goes like this: "We want a home with a dock that can handle our 42-footer." Or: "We’re buying the house first, then the boat." Or sometimes it’s the other way around — they found the boat and now need a home with the right slip depth and bridge clearance.
The point is, the home and the vessel are connected purchases. They’ve always been part of the same lifestyle decision. Elliman Yachts just formalizes that.
The Market Is Huge
The global luxury yacht market is valued at over $11 billion in 2025 and is projected to nearly double by 2035. Shipyards are running at near-full capacity. The new-build pipeline alone is worth over $15 billion.
And the buyer profile is shifting younger. It’s not just 65-year-old retirees anymore. Tech executives in their 40s and 50s — many of them relocating from Silicon Valley and the Northeast to Palm Beach County — are driving demand for vessels in the 50- to 90-foot range.
What Elliman Yachts Offers
The division provides three core services:
Yacht Acquisition Advisory — Guidance on new-build orders, pre-owned vessels, and fleet management. Think of it like a buyer’s agent for yachts.
Brokerage Services — Full sales representation for vessel transactions, leveraging Elliman’s existing client network of high-net-worth real estate buyers.
Bespoke Charters — Curated charter experiences worldwide. For clients who want the lifestyle without full ownership, or who want to test a vessel class before committing.
This isn’t Elliman’s first expansion beyond traditional real estate. They already have specialized divisions for Sports & Entertainment, Equestrian, Farm & Ranch, and Estate/Trust/Probate. Yachts is a natural fit — especially in South Florida.
The Local Connection
Here’s what I see on the ground in Jupiter and Palm Beach County:
Communities like Admirals Cove, Frenchman’s Creek, Jonathan’s Landing, Forté Luxe, and homes along the Jupiter Intracoastal corridor all attract buyers who factor boat access into their home purchase. Many of these homes come with private docks that can handle vessels from 30 feet to 80+ feet.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Palm Beach Gardens includes a private marina with 29 boat slips. Forté Luxe in Jupiter has private slips for vessels up to 60 feet. These developments are being designed around the boating lifestyle from day one.
Having yacht advisory and real estate under one roof means a buyer looking at a $4M waterfront home with a 60-foot dock can simultaneously explore vessel options that match the slip — and vice versa. It’s a smarter way to plan.
What This Means for My Clients
As a Douglas Elliman agent focused on waterfront and luxury properties in Northern Palm Beach County, Elliman Yachts gives me another tool for clients who live this lifestyle. If you’re buying a waterfront home and considering a vessel — or if you already own a boat and need a home with the right dock configuration — I can now connect you with the yacht advisory team directly.
It’s one more reason the Douglas Elliman platform is built for this market. Get in touch if you want to talk waterfront homes, boating access, or both.
