Standard, custom, and composite built for Florida waterfronts.
A well-built boat deck, swim platform, or shoreline boardwalk makes your Naples waterfront safer, more usable, and more valuable. The right structure turns wasted space into a usable part of your property — a place to load the boat, fish off the side, or walk safely across the shoreline. At J&M Marine Construction, we design and build all three for waterfront owners across Naples and Collier County.
We are a licensed dock builder with an in-house metal fabrication shop, based at 2496 Kirkwood Ave in Naples. One crew handles framing, decking, and finish work on every project, with no third-party hand-offs.
This page covers custom boat decks, swim and fishing platforms, shoreline and mangrove boardwalks, material choices, and permits. Learn more about custom waterfront structures at J&M Marine Construction and review Florida coastal construction requirements through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Construction Control Line Program.
01
A boat deck is the work surface tied to your dock — the part where you load gear, step on and off the boat, and tie up lines. Sizing the deck around your actual boat makes every trip easier. We design boat decks in Naples for new builds and add them to existing docks.
Common boat deck layouts we build:
* Walkaround decks for full access to both sides of the boat
* Finger piers for tie-up on long runs
* Side platforms for jet skis and tenders
* Head docks at the end of straight runs
In neighborhoods like Aqualane Shores, owners with center consoles, bay boats, and sport cruisers often need wider walkarounds and head docks to clear the boat lift footprint. We size the deck around your boat length, beam, and lift type before we cut a single board.
Every boat deck we build uses marine-grade framing and saltwater-rated decking. Stainless and hot-dip galvanized hardware holds the structure together through salt, sun, and storm cycles. The result is a deck that fits how you actually use your boat, day in and day out.
02
A platform turns the edge of your dock into real living space. You get room to swim, fish, sit, or launch a kayak without crowding the boat slip. We build platforms onto new docks and add them to existing setups across Naples.
Platform types we build:
* Swim platforms with ladders for kids, pets, and adults
* Fishing platforms with rod holders and fish cleaning stations
* Kayak and paddleboard launches at water level
* Lounge platforms wide enough for chairs and tables
Add-ons that round out the build:
* Stainless ladders sized to your dock height
* Built-in benches with storage underneath
* Dock boxes for life jackets and gear
* Shade structures and bimini frames
Gulf sun and Naples humidity push every platform to handle heat and grip when wet. We pick slip-resistant decking and place shade options where the afternoon sun hits hardest. Old Naples and Port Royal owners often pair a platform with an existing dock to add use without rebuilding the whole structure.
The payoff is more usable waterfront — the same lot, far more time on it.
03
A boardwalk is the link between your house and the water. It spans the ground you cannot walk on safely — sand, soft soil, mangrove roots, or wetland buffer. We build elevated boardwalks across Naples shorelines so you reach the dock or beach without damage to your feet or the land.
Where boardwalks make sense:
* Long shorelines between the house and the dock
* Mangrove buffers required by state rules
* Beach access across dunes and sand
*Wetland zones with protected vegetation
* Connecting paths to gazebos, fire pits, or sitting areas
Elevated framing keeps the structure off the ground and protects mangrove roots and shoreline plants underneath. Pilings or short posts carry the load, and the deck sits high enough to let water and growth pass through.
Mangrove protection rules apply to most coastal lots in Naples. We design every boardwalk to meet those rules before the first piling goes in. The result is a path you can walk every day without harming the shoreline or running into a code issue down the road.
04
Material choice drives how the structure looks today and how it holds up over the next 20 years. We bring samples to your Naples site visit so you can see and feel each option before any decision is locked in.
Wood decking choices:
* Pressure-treated pine — classic look, lower cost
* IPE — dense Brazilian hardwood, very long life
* Cumaru — similar density to IPE, slightly lighter color
* Other tropical hardwoods on request
Composite decking choices:
* Trex marine-rated boards
* TimberTech composite lines
* Other UV-stable composite brands
Aluminum framing is an option for low-maintenance and storm-rated builds. The metal does not rot, warp, or feed marine borers, and it holds up better than wood in high-wind zones.
One important rule: Trex and most composites are not rated for full submersion. We use them above the splash zone on decks, platforms, and boardwalks, not on floating dock sections that sit in the water. Naples saltwater and UV speed up wear on any material left unsealed, so we match the right product to the right spot every time.
Most boat decks, platforms, and boardwalks in Naples need permits before construction starts. We handle the full paperwork so your project does not stall at the county office.
Permits we file on these projects:
* Collier County permit for the deck, platform, or boardwalk structure
* Florida DEP review for coastal and mangrove impact
* Seagrass survey on shorelines where seagrass beds are present
* Shoreline buffer compliance based on your lot type
Mangrove rules apply to many Naples coastal lots, and the state takes them seriously. Building over or through a mangrove without approval can mean fines and a forced rebuild. We design the structure to clear the protected zones from the first sketch.
What we do for you:
* Draw the plans and submit the full permit package
* Run revisions when reviewers ask for them
* Coordinate the seagrass survey when needed
* Meet inspectors on site during and after construction
You sign the application, and we run the rest of the process from submittal to final inspection. No paperwork ends up on your desk.
Once the permits are in, our build crew moves to your Naples site. The same team handles every part of the project from pilings to finish trim. One crew, one schedule, one point of contact.
Build sequence on most projects:
1. Pile driving where elevated framing is needed
2. Stringer and crossbeam framing with marine-grade fasteners
3. Deck board install with proper gap spacing and fastener pattern
4. Stainless or hot-dip galvanized hardware throughout
5. Finish work — ladders, rails, benches, lighting, and trim
6. Final walk-through with the homeowner
For boardwalks and elevated platforms, we drive shorter pilings or set ground anchors based on what the soil and rules allow. Mangrove zones get extra care so roots stay protected during the work.
Most boat decks, platforms, and boardwalks in Naples wrap in one to three weeks once we are on site. Larger boardwalks crossing long mangrove buffers can run longer based on access and weather. We check level, hardware tightness, and finish details before we hand the project back to you.
The best decking for a boat dock in Naples balances saltwater life, UV resistance, and grip when wet. No single material wins every category, so the right pick depends on how the dock will be used and how much care you want to do each year. Three options lead the pack in Gulf Coast water.
Top picks:
* Tropical hardwoods like IPE and cumaru — dense, long-lasting, classic look
* Marine-rated composite boards from Trex and TimberTech — low maintenance, UV-stable
* Aluminum decking — longest life, slip-resistant, hurricane-rated
We bring samples to your shoreline visit so you can see and feel each option before choosing.
Whether you need a custom boat deck, a swim or fishing platform, or a shoreline boardwalk, our crew is ready to help. We serve waterfront owners across Naples, Marco Island, and all of Collier County.
What you get when you call J&M Marine Construction:
* Free on-site visit
* Licensed dock builder and metal fabricator
* Full pile-driving crew in-house
* Permit handling from start to finish
* One team from first sketch through final trim
Call (239) 353-7326 to schedule your project consultation. You can also stop by our shop at 2496 Kirkwood Ave, Naples, FL 34112 to talk through your project in person.
The walkway from shore to dock is most often called a boardwalk or gangway in Naples. We build them to span sand, mangroves, wetland buffers, and other ground you cannot walk on safely. The structure is elevated on pilings or posts to protect the land underneath.
Tropical hardwoods, marine-rated composite, and aluminum are the three top picks for a Naples boat deck. Each has different care needs, costs, and lifespans. We bring samples to your site visit so you can pick what fits your dock and your maintenance comfort.
No — Trex and most composite boards are rated for above-water use only. We use them above the splash zone on decks, platforms, and boardwalks, never on parts of the structure that sit in the water. Submerged areas call for different materials built for that exposure.
A boat deck ties to your dock for boat access; a platform adds swim, fishing, or lounge space; a boardwalk spans shoreline ground between two points. Each one solves a different problem on a Naples waterfront lot. We build all three and often combine them on one project.
Yes — most shoreline boardwalks in Naples need Collier County and Florida DEP permits, especially when they cross mangroves. Skipping the permit can mean fines and a forced rebuild. We submit the full permit package on every boardwalk job.
Yes — we add platforms, swim decks, and finger piers to docks from any builder. We check the existing framing and pilings to see what can carry the new load. Most projects start with a site visit and a short scope review.