License Status
Verify the individual and brokerage status through the appropriate regulator when licensing applies.
FLORIDA YACHT BROKER GUIDE
How to Choose a Yacht Broker in Florida
A polished listing presentation is not enough to tell you whether a brokerage relationship is right. Buyers and sellers should verify the fundamentals: licensing where required, representation, escrow practices, written agreements, market knowledge, communication, co-brokerage access and the broker’s ability to manage survey and closing.
VERIFY LICENSING
Use Florida DBPR when Chapter 326 applies
UNDERSTAND REPRESENTATION
Know whose interests the broker represents
UNDERSTAND THE MONEY
Deposit, escrow, compensation and closing
FLORIDA LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Florida Regulates Yacht Brokerage Under Chapter 326
Florida’s Yacht and Ship Brokers’ Act defines a broker, salesperson and “yacht” for purposes of the statute. The 2026 Act defines a yacht as a pleasure vessel exceeding 32 feet and generally requires a person acting as a broker or salesperson in covered transactions to be licensed.
The statute also contains exemptions. One important example is a transaction involving the sale of a new yacht. That means buyers should understand both the legal status of the transaction and the practical quality of the representation they are hiring.
FLORIDA §326.004 — LICENSING →
VERIFY BEFORE YOU HIRE
Florida Gives Consumers a Public License Search
DBPR’s online license search lets consumers search regulated licensees by name, license number, city, county or license type. The Yacht and Ships section also explains the broker and salesperson license categories.
A current license does not tell you everything about service quality, but it is a factual starting point when a license is required for the transaction.
INTERVIEW THE BROKER
Eight Things to Verify Before You Commit
Who They Represent
Ask whether the broker represents the buyer, seller or both parties and how any conflict is disclosed.
Escrow Process
Know where deposits go, who controls the account and what written agreement governs release.
Market Knowledge
Ask how the broker evaluates sold evidence, active competition, condition, options, geography and timing.
Market Access
Buyers should understand whether the broker can work across qualifying co-brokerage opportunities, not only the firm's own central listings.
Communication
Decide who will communicate with you, how quickly and how often throughout the transaction.
Due-Diligence Experience
Ask how the broker handles survey, engine inspection, haul-out, sea trial, findings and contract deadlines.
Closing Experience
The broker should understand escrow, documentation, title, lender payoff, closing statements and delivery coordination.
DEPOSIT + ESCROW
Ask Exactly Where Your Money Will Be Held
For covered Florida brokerage transactions, Section 326.005 requires broker-received transaction funds to be placed into a qualifying trust account until properly disbursed. A separate record of money received and its disposition must be maintained.
That legal requirement is one reason “Where does the deposit go?” should have a specific answer—not a vague one.
FLORIDA §326.005 — ESCROW →
REPRESENTATION
Know Whose Side of the Transaction Your Broker Is On
Representation should be discussed early. Florida law authorizes discipline when a broker or salesperson acts for both buyer and seller in a yacht transaction without the knowledge and written consent of both parties.
A buyer should know whether the broker is advising them, the seller or both. A seller should understand how inquiries from unrepresented buyers and cooperating brokers will be handled.
CHOOSING A BUYER'S BROKER
Your Search Should Be Larger Than One Brokerage’s Listings
A buyer's broker should be able to help compare the broader professional market when qualifying co-brokerage is available. That means evaluating CYS listings and relevant opportunities listed by other cooperating brokerages.
The buyer should also expect help with comparable-market review, showings, offer strategy, survey, sea trial, documentation and closing—not simply a link to a listing.
READ THE CYS BUYER GUIDE →Listings, sold evidence, equipment, condition and price.
Price, deposit, due diligence, closing timing and special terms.
Surveyor, engines, haul-out, captain and sea trial.
Funds, documentation, payoff, title and delivery.
CHOOSING A LISTING BROKER
The Highest Suggested Asking Price Is Not Automatically the Best Advice
Sellers should ask the broker to explain the pricing evidence and competitive position behind the recommendation. A broker who promises the highest number may simply be the most optimistic—not the most accurate.
Also ask what work is included after the listing is signed: photography, video, distribution, inquiry management, showing access, market feedback, negotiation, survey and closing.
READ THE CYS SELLER GUIDE →
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS + DEVELOPMENT
IYBA Membership and CPYB Professional Certification
IYBA’s Code of Ethics says members should protect their clients’ interests, deal fairly with all parties, disclose compensation from more than one party and put financial obligations and commitments regarding brokerage transactions into written agreements.
Coastal Yacht Sales also supports the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) program as an additional professional- development benchmark for experienced yacht sales professionals. CPYB uses an industry Body of Knowledge and certification exam covering laws and regulations, technical knowledge, U.S. transactions, yacht broker responsibilities and ethics. Eligibility standards also address professional experience, licensing, escrow practices, written transaction agreements and ethical conduct.
Robby DeVore is currently pursuing CPYB certification. Coastal Yacht Sales plans to encourage its eligible brokers to participate in the CPYB program alongside IYBA membership and continuing professional education. Because CPYB is awarded to individuals, CYS identifies brokers as CPYB only after each broker has completed the certification requirements and earned the designation.
IYBA membership and CPYB certification do not replace any license required by Florida law. They are additional indicators of a broker’s commitment to professional standards, education, ethics and transaction knowledge.
WARNING SIGNS
What Should Make You Ask More Questions?
When licensing applies, verification should be straightforward.
You should know where transaction funds will be held.
Ask for the market evidence behind a valuation or asking price.
You should understand whose interests the broker is representing.
Survey, sea trial, documentation and closing should not be afterthoughts.
Important obligations, compensation and transaction terms belong in written agreements.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Florida Statutes, DBPR and IYBA
The licensing and escrow sections of this guide are grounded in the current Florida Yacht and Ship Brokers’ Act and DBPR licensing resources. The professional-ethics discussion uses IYBA’s published Code of Ethics and resources.
CONTINUE YOUR RESEARCH
The Broker Is One Part of the Transaction
CHOOSING A YACHT BROKER
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a yacht broker in Florida?
Start by verifying the broker or salesperson’s Florida license when Chapter 326 applies, then evaluate who the broker represents, how deposits are handled, the brokerage agreement, market access, comparable-sales knowledge, communication, survey and closing experience, and whether the broker’s process matches the yacht and transaction you are considering.
Are yacht brokers required to be licensed in Florida?
For transactions covered by Florida’s Yacht and Ship Brokers’ Act, a person generally may not act as a broker or salesperson unless licensed. The Act defines a yacht for this purpose as a pleasure vessel exceeding 32 feet and also contains specific exemptions, including a transaction involving the sale of a new yacht.
How can I verify a Florida yacht broker license?
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation provides a public license-verification search. You can search by name, license number, city, county or license type and review the displayed license status and rank.
What is the difference between a yacht broker and a yacht salesperson in Florida?
Florida Chapter 326 defines a broker as a person who, for compensation, performs specified yacht purchase, sale, exchange or listing activities for others. It defines a salesperson as a person employed by a broker to perform acts of a broker. DBPR licenses both categories.
Should my yacht broker have an escrow or trust account?
For covered Florida brokerage transactions, Chapter 326 requires a broker receiving transaction funds to place them into a qualifying trust account until properly disbursed. Ask where your deposit will be held, who controls the account and what written instructions govern release of funds.
Can one yacht broker represent both buyer and seller?
Florida law makes undisclosed dual representation a serious issue. Chapter 326 authorizes discipline when a broker or salesperson acts for both buyer and seller in a yacht transaction without the knowledge and written consent of both parties. Ask clearly who the broker represents before signing.
Why does co-brokerage access matter when choosing a buyer’s broker?
A buyer’s broker should be able to help evaluate qualifying opportunities beyond only the brokerage’s own central listings. Professional co-brokerage access can let the buyer work with one representative while considering yachts listed by other participating brokerages.
What should a seller ask a yacht broker before signing a listing agreement?
Ask how the broker reached the recommended price, which comparable sales and competing listings were considered, what marketing and showing work is included, how communication will be handled, what the listing term and compensation structure are, and what happens if market feedback shows that the original strategy needs to change.
What is the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) program?
CPYB is a professional certification program for experienced yacht sales professionals. The program uses an industry Body of Knowledge and certification exam covering laws and regulations, technical knowledge, U.S. transactions, yacht broker responsibilities and ethics. Eligibility also includes experience, licensing, escrow, written-agreement and ethics requirements. CPYB is a professional credential and does not replace any license required by Florida law.
Is Coastal Yacht Sales CPYB certified?
CPYB certification is awarded to individual yacht sales professionals, not automatically to an entire brokerage. Robby DeVore, Owner, Co-Founder and Employing Yacht Broker of Coastal Yacht Sales, is currently pursuing the Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB) designation. Coastal Yacht Sales plans to encourage its eligible brokers to participate in the CPYB program alongside IYBA membership and continuing professional education. Individual brokers will be identified as CPYB only after they have earned the designation.
Does IYBA membership replace Florida licensing?
No. Association membership and state licensing are different things. Florida licensing is governed by applicable state law. IYBA membership adds an industry code-of-ethics and professional-association framework, but it does not replace any license required by law.
What are warning signs when interviewing a yacht broker?
Warning signs can include unwillingness to explain representation, vague deposit-handling answers, pressure to sign before reviewing the agreement, unsupported pricing promises, weak knowledge of survey and closing, poor communication, reluctance to document important commitments in writing, or an inability to explain how the broker will reach the relevant buyer or seller market.
REVIEWED BY
Robby DeVore
Owner · Co-Founder · Employing Yacht Broker at Coastal Yacht Sales. Robby is currently pursuing CPYB certification. This guide was reviewed against current Florida licensing and escrow statutes, DBPR resources, IYBA professional guidance and CPYB program materials on September 16, 2026.
INTERVIEWING BROKERS?
Ask Coastal Yacht Sales the Same Questions.
Whether you are buying or selling, we are comfortable discussing representation, market strategy, escrow, co-brokerage, survey, closing and the agreement before asking you to make a commitment.