New lifts, repairs, and upgrades sized to your boat and your dock.
Your boat takes a beating from Gulf tides, summer storms, and salt spray every day it sits in the water. A properly sized boat lift keeps the hull dry, the bottom clean, and the engine ready to run. At J&M Marine Construction, we install and repair boat lifts for dock owners across Naples and Collier County.
We are a licensed dock builder based right here in Naples at 2496 Kirkwood Ave. Our crew handles new lift installs, motor swaps, cable replacement, and full system upgrades. Every job uses salt-rated hardware and marine-grade parts built for our coastal water. As metal fabricators, we can also custom-build brackets and supports your lift needs.
This page walks you through how we size lifts, what to expect from install day, common repairs, and routine service that adds years to your equipment. Call J&M Marine Construction today to schedule an on-site dock and lift assessment.
Every dock is different, so we start with a site visit before we quote any lift. Whether you are adding your first lift or replacing one that has reached the end of its life, the assessment sets the whole job up for success. We come out to your Naples property and look at the full picture.
Here is what we check during the visit:
* Water depth at mean low tide
* Piling spacing and condition
* Dock structure and load capacity
* Your boat's length, beam, and dry weight
* Power source and wiring path
Naples Bay has a real tidal swing, and many of our canals run shallow at the bottom. These two factors shape which lift style fits and how high the cradle needs to sit. A four-post lift works for some docks; an elevator or beamless lift works better for others.
Getting this right the first time saves you money and rework down the road. You end up with a lift that matches your boat, your dock, and the water you actually float in.
Boat lifts come in a wide range of capacities, from small personal watercraft units to heavy lifts built for large cruisers. Picking the right size starts with knowing your boat's true weight in the water.
We add up four numbers to find the right capacity:
* Dry hull weight
* Full fuel and water tanks
* Gear, batteries, and electronics
* A safety margin on top
That safety margin matters. A lift rated right at your boat"s loaded weight will wear out fast. We size up so the motor and cables run well within their limits.
In neighborhoods like Royal Harbor and Aqualane Shores, we see a lot of center consoles, bay boats, and sport cruisers on Naples docks. Each one needs a different cradle setup and beam length. PWC owners often add a side lift for the jet ski next to the main boat.
The result is a stable cradle, safe lifting cycles, and a longer life for your boat's hull and motor mounts.
Self-install lift kits look simple in the catalog, but Naples saltwater changes the math. Wrong bolts, wrong wiring, or a missed permit can cost you the lift and the boat sitting on it.
Here is what we handle on every install that a DIY job often misses:
* Stainless and marine-grade hardware rated for salt exposure
* Pile driving with the right equipment and depth
* Sealed marine motors wired to code
* Load math that matches your boat to the lift rating
* Permit paperwork submitted the right way
Collier County requires permits for most dock and lift work in Naples. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection also sets rules for setbacks and sea grass protection along the coast. We pull the permits, follow the setbacks, and pass the inspections.
The payoff is a lift that holds up to salt, sun, and storm cycles year after year. You get a clean install, a working warranty path with the manufacturer, and a single crew to call if anything ever needs service.
Most Naples boat lift projects follow the same path from first call to first lift cycle. Knowing the steps helps you plan around your boating season and storm windows.
Here is the flow we follow:
1. On-site dock and water depth visit
2. Quote and contract sign-off
3. Collier County permit application
4. Order lift, motor, and pilings to match your boat
5. Install day — set or drive pilings, mount beams, hang cradle and cables
6. Electrical hookup and remote setup
7. Cycle test with your boat on the lift
Once we are on site, most installs wrap in one to three working days. Permits add the longest wait, and that timeline shifts with the county's workload. Summer storms in Naples can also push the schedule, so we plan around weather windows when we can.
A few things you can do to keep the job moving:
* Clear the dock of furniture and gear
* Confirm your boat's exact weight and beam
* Plan a power source near the lift location
* Be reachable for the permit and final walk-through
When the last cycle test passes, your boat is in the cradle and ready to use.
Boat lifts work hard in Naples water, and parts wear out over time. Salt, humidity, and daily use take a toll on every moving piece. Most repair calls we run come down to the same short list of failures.
What we fix most often:
* Frayed or rusted cables
* Burned-out motors
* Stuck pulleys and worn sheaves
* Dead remotes and wall switches
* Loose or corroded wiring
* Misaligned cradle beams
Every service call starts with a full diagnosis. We test the motor under load, inspect each cable foot by foot, check the switches, and look for hidden corrosion. Then we swap the failed part, lubricate the moving points, and run a load test before we leave.
Saltwater speeds up wear in places like Port Royal and Old Naples, where lifts sit in open tidal flow. Cables that last ten years inland may only last five here. We carry common cables, motors, and switches on the truck to cut down on second trips.
We service lifts we installed and lifts from any other builder. One crew, one call, one fix.
A boat lift in Naples sits in salt air every hour of every day. Without regular service, small problems turn into broken cables and burned motors. Annual maintenance keeps the lift running and pushes back the day you need a major repair.
Our service visit covers:
* Cable inspection along the full length
* Motor flush and lubrication
* Bolt and bracket tightness check
* Cradle alignment and bunk position
* Switch, remote, and limit stop test
* Visual check for rust and salt buildup
We also recommend a few add-ons that protect the lift between visits. A canopy blocks UV and bird damage. Auto-stop switches keep the motor from over-running at the top of the cycle.Remote control kits and GEM controllers cut down on wear from misuse. PWC racks and drive-on guides take stress off the main cradle.
Naples humidity and salt spray do not pause. A lift on a service plan can run well past a decade with the same motor and cables. A lift left alone often fails inside half that time.
You get more years out of the equipment and fewer surprise breakdowns during boating season.
Most boat lift installations in Naples take one to three working days on site, plus permit time before the crew arrives. The full project from first call to first lift cycle usually runs four to eight weeks. Here is the step-by-step path:
1. On-site dock and water depth assessment
2. Submit the Collier County permit application
3. Order the lift, motor, and pilings sized to your boat
4. Drive or set new pilings if your dock needs them
5. Mount the beams, cradle, cables, and motor
6. Wire the electrical and install the controls
7. Cycle test the lift with your boat and hand it off.
Whether you need a new boat lift, a motor swap, or a full upgrade, our crew is ready to help. We serve dock owners across Naples, Marco Island, and all of Collier County.
What you get when you call J&M Marine Construction:
* Free on-site dock and lift assessment
* Licensed dock builder and metal fabricator
* One crew for install, repair, and upgrades
* Salt-rated hardware and marine-grade parts
* Permit handling from start to finish
Call (239) 353-7326 to schedule your boat lift consultation. You can also stop by our shop at 2496 Kirkwood Ave, Naples, FL 34112 to talk through your project in person.