Big boats lead to big money for marinas

Extra-large yachts can bring thousands of dollars to the cities where they drop anchor.

To yacht broker Tom George, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg means one thing: boats, big ones, and lots of them.

The race attracts dozens of uber-wealthy yachtsmen eager to strike nautical poses and glimpse the racetrack without ever having to step on dry land. To meet the demand, George and other mega-yacht brokers arranged to have a private floating dock set up near the track with slips starting at the discount price of $5,000 per boat.