Dock Builders in Manasota Key, FL

Manasota Key is a thin strip of land with the Gulf of Mexico on the west and Lemon Bay on the east, and dock builders here work almost entirely on that east side. The key only became an island when the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was cut, and the Stump Pass channel at its south end separates it from Don Pedro Island and links Lemon Bay to the Gulf.

Boat lifts for a boating key

With quick access to the Gulf through Stump Pass, many owners keep a fishing or cruising boat on a lift behind the house. Getting the lift right means:

• Sizing capacity to the loaded boat, with margin
• Placing beams so the boat clears the dock and pilings at every tide
• Using motors and switches rated for salt air
• Checking that the pilings that carry the lift are sound

We also service and re-cable existing lifts when a full replacement is not needed.

Building in a preserve

Lemon Bay is an aquatic preserve, designated in 1986, with seagrass beds along much of its shoreline. Under DEP's exemption criteria, docks in Outstanding Florida Waters are limited to 500 square feet over water, and the online self-certification cannot be used in an aquatic preserve. Lift placement also has to avoid grass, so the slip may end up farther out or angled.

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Split between counties

The north part of the key is in Sarasota County. The south part, around the Englewood Beach CDP, is in Charlotte County, where docks and lifts need sealed drawings, a site plan and a natural resources review for protected species. We confirm which county your home is in before we price anything.

Water on every side

The Englewood Beach CDP covers 3.07 square miles, and 2.01 of them are water. It counted 1,326 residents in 2020. On the Charlotte County end, Beach Road crosses Lemon Bay to Englewood, and we plan material deliveries around the bridge your home uses.

Pilings in a moving bottom

Near a pass, sand moves. Pilings that were driven deep enough years ago may have less embedment today if the bottom has scoured, or may be partly buried if sand has built up. We check pile condition and how firmly each one sits before adding a new lift or deck to an existing dock. Where needed, we drive new piles to the depth the current bottom calls for.

Floating launches

For paddlers, a floating launch beside the main dock gives a low, steady step. On Lemon Bay that float has to stay off the grass at low tide, so we pick its spot carefully.

Getting on the schedule

On a narrow key with limited bridge access, we plan pile deliveries and equipment moves carefully. We give you a clear window for the work and keep you posted if weather or tide changes the plan.

Repairs and pilings

If your dock is sound but tired, new decking and a few replacement piles may be all it needs. Call (941) 213-5801 to set up an inspection.