In this guide
Why St Maarten matters for Caribbean crew
Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin is a divided island — the southern Dutch side (Sint Maarten, abbreviated SXM) and the northern French side (Saint-Martin, abbreviated SFG). Most of the yachting infrastructure sits on the Dutch side, centred on Simpson Bay Lagoon — the largest protected lagoon in the Caribbean, capable of sheltering hundreds of yachts simultaneously.
The island's position in the northern Leeward Islands makes it a natural hub for yachts cruising the Eastern Caribbean. Vessels coming from Fort Lauderdale or crossing the Atlantic typically make St Maarten one of their first stops. Yachts based in the BVI or Antigua regularly transit through. This constant vessel movement creates a dynamic, busy crew market throughout the Caribbean season.
St Maarten also has an unusually well-developed marine services industry for an island its size — chandlers, engineers, rigging specialists, provisioners, and crew agencies are all present. This infrastructure supports year-round employment in shore-side marine trades even outside the main charter season.
Dutch side vs French side — what crew need to know
The island's division is more than geographical — the two sides operate under different laws, currencies, and administrative systems. The Dutch side uses the US dollar and operates under Netherlands Antilles regulations. The French side uses the euro and is technically an overseas collectivity of France, subject to French law.
For crew, the practical difference is that the Dutch side has the marinas and the work. The French side (Marigot, Grand Case) is where crew go for excellent French food, a different atmosphere, and the occasional visit to the French customs office. Most visa and work authorisation questions relate to the Dutch side. Non-EU crew working on European-flagged vessels should check their specific requirements with a maritime immigration specialist.
Key marinas to target
Bobby's Marina
One of the most established marinas in St Maarten, Bobby's is in Philipsburg, on the sheltered southern coast of the Dutch side. A mix of charter vessels, private yachts, and visiting cruisers. Relatively open access and a friendly marina staff who are accustomed to crew seeking work. The area around Bobby's has good provisioning and crew facilities.
IGY Yacht Club Port de Plaisance
The most upscale marina facility on the Dutch side, IGY hosts larger superyachts and charter vessels. Security is more visible here than at smaller marinas, but professional dock walkers are generally treated reasonably. The marina staff can often tell you which vessels are currently looking for crew or due to depart with short-notice openings.
Simpson Bay Lagoon marinas
The lagoon itself is accessed through a drawbridge on the Dutch side, which opens several times daily. Inside the lagoon, multiple marinas and anchorages host hundreds of vessels. The lagoon marina scene is more relaxed and accessible than the more formal facilities on the coast. Walk the lagoon dinghy docks and make contact with anchored vessels by VHF radio (Channel 16 to request a channel change) if you have no dingy of your own.
Captain Oliver's (French side — Marigot)
On the French side near the border with the Dutch side, Captain Oliver's is a smaller marina with a loyal following among regular Caribbean cruisers. Worth including in your circuit for the different mix of vessels and the less competitive dock walking environment.
After Hurricane Irma
Hurricane Irma devastated St Maarten in September 2017, causing catastrophic damage to the marina infrastructure and the island's buildings. The rebuild has been substantial — the island came back stronger in many areas, with improved marina facilities and better-engineered infrastructure. That said, some areas and facilities took several years to fully recover.
The St Maarten of 2026 is a fully functioning yachting hub. The crew house scene has rebuilt, the marinas are operating normally, and the social life has returned to its pre-Irma vibrancy. If you were put off by stories of post-Irma conditions, those concerns are now well out of date.
Seasonal timing in St Maarten
| Month | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| November | Building ★★★ | Caribbean season begins, ARC-related yachts arriving via St Lucia |
| December–February | Peak ★★★ | Maximum vessel count, Christmas/New Year charter rush |
| March–April | Active ★★ | Still busy, some vessels beginning to head north |
| May–June | Winding ★ | End of season, vessels departing for summer base |
| July–October | Very low | Hurricane season — most vessels leave the area |
St Maarten tips for dock walkers
- The bridge opening is a daily event. The Simpson Bay drawbridge opens at specific times each day to allow yacht access to the lagoon. Watching the bridge opening is a good way to identify which vessels are coming and going — and to make contact with crew as they wait for the bridge.
- VHF radio is useful here. In a port with significant anchoring, being able to hail vessels on VHF is genuinely useful. Channel 16 for hailing, then switch to a working channel. A brief professional introduction explaining you're a dock walker seeking crew positions is entirely acceptable.
- The crew house scene is well-established. St Maarten has a good supply of crew accommodation — ask in the Facebook group for current recommendations. Prices are typically $400–700/month for a shared room.
- Two sides, two currencies. Carry both USD and euros if you plan to spend time on the French side. Most Dutch side establishments accept USD; French side establishments prefer euros, though many accept USD at a slightly unfavourable rate.
Where crew hang out in St Maarten
- Soggy Dollar Bar area (Maho / Simpson Bay) — the beach bar circuit around the western Dutch side is crew territory from around 4pm onward. The concentration of crew here during peak season is notable.
- Kim Sha Beach bars — along the lagoon causeway, several beach bars attract the crew crowd on their days off. Casual, social, and genuinely good for meeting other people in the industry.
- Sint Maarten Village (Marigot, French side) — for a change of scene, the French side market town of Marigot has excellent restaurants and a calmer atmosphere. A useful reset from the busier Dutch side social circuit.