Dock Builders in Siesta Key, FL

Most of the dock builders' work on Siesta Key happens on the quiet side, where the key faces Roberts Bay instead of the Gulf. That was true from the start: in 1907 the Siesta Land Company platted the north end, dredged bayous and built docks before there was even a bridge. Today the bayou and canal lots are where we repair docks, set boat lifts and rebuild what storms have loosened.

The Milton question

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 storm. For dock owners the result was a long list of maybes: decking that rose and settled back, lifts that shifted, ladders torn off, and pilings that now lean a few degrees. Dock repair here starts with sorting those maybes into a short list of real problems. We check every pile for movement and section loss, test the connection at each cap, and look at the lift beams and cables before anyone puts a boat back up.

Repair or rebuild?

A dock is worth repairing when the pilings are sound and the problem is above them: decking, stringers, hardware, rails. When several piles are damaged or the frame has racked, patching usually costs more over time than a rebuild. We give you both paths in writing so the choice is yours.

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Lifts on the Grand Canal and the bayous

The state manatee rule for Sarasota County puts the north part of Roberts Bay, including Siesta Key's Grand Canal system and Coconut Bayou, in a year-round slow speed zone. Slow water means boats idle in and out of tight slips, which is where a properly placed lift pays off. We size the lift to the boat's loaded weight, match the cradle to the hull, and set the beams so the boat clears the dock at the tides your canal sees.

Seasonal homes, absent owners

The 2020 census counted 7,792 housing units on the key, and 63.9% were listed as vacant, which on an island like this mostly reflects seasonal and rental use. If you are out of town, we can schedule the inspection and send photos and a written scope, then do the work while you are away once you approve it.

Floating launches on the bayous

Not every Siesta Key owner keeps a powerboat. Plenty of bayou lots are better suited to kayaks and paddleboards, and a small floating launch beside the existing dock can make getting on the water far easier than climbing down a ladder. We size the float, anchor it to pilings with hoops so it tracks the tide, and add a short hinged ramp. Where seagrass grows close to shore, we keep the float in water deep enough that it never rests on the grass at low tide.

Pilings worth a second look

The key's oldest docks date back decades, and some have been re-decked several times on the same piles. New boards on old pilings can hide a structure that is close to the end of its life. When we replace decking, we check every pile at the tide line first, and we tell you if a few should be replaced while the deck is open.

Part city, part county

The north end of the key lies inside the City of Sarasota, and the rest is unincorporated Sarasota County. That split decides which office reviews your dock, so we confirm it from your parcel before we start. Call (941) 213-5801 for a walk-through.