Crocker Marine Services designs, builds, and repairs docks, seawalls, and boat lifts in Matlacha, Florida, in unincorporated Lee County. Matlacha is a small, colorful fishing village on the causeway between Cape Coral and Pine Island, sitting directly on Matlacha Pass — a state aquatic preserve known for very shallow, seagrass-rich water. That preserve status shapes almost every waterfront project here.
Marine construction services in Matlacha
Crocker Marine is a full-service marine contractor — docks, seawalls, boat lifts, dredging, and inspections, in-house. See the full range of services or browse completed projects across Southwest Florida.
Docks
Matlacha Pass frontage is shallow with protected seagrass close to shore, so dock length and placement get careful review. We build new docks and handle repair, replacement, accessories, and canopies and shade covers.
Seawalls
Matlacha's small residential footprint carries a mix of concrete and vinyl seawalls where the shoreline isn't natural mangrove. We install and replace both and keep sound walls going with repair and maintenance before a replacement or new wall.
Boat lifts
We install and service boat lifts from Coastal Boat Lifts in Fort Myers, sized for Matlacha Pass's shallow water. Repair covers cables, motors, bunks, and controls.
Dredging
Given how shallow Matlacha Pass runs, dredging is tightly limited inside the aquatic preserve. Our residential dredging restores permitted depth where it's allowed, with the state review that requires.
Marine inspections
Our marine inspections give buyers, sellers, and insurers a written condition report on the dock, seawall, and lift.
Permits and local conditions in Matlacha
Marine construction in Matlacha is permitted through Lee County, since the village is unincorporated, along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — and, because Matlacha sits inside the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve, state review is closer here than in most areas.
- Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve. The pass is a designated state aquatic preserve; seagrass and shallow-water protections generally limit new dredging and shape dock design.
- Very shallow water. Much of the pass is flats, so depth at mean low water is checked early in any project.
- Small footprint. Matlacha is a compact fishing village, so most projects are modest in scale compared to the bigger canal communities.
- Manatee zones. Slow-speed protections cover the pass.
Why Matlacha homeowners choose Crocker Marine
- True Price Guarantee. The quoted price is the price you pay — no change orders, excluding rock excavation, client-requested changes, or specialty permitting.
- Licensed and insured. Florida certified building contractor CBC1266139, with $2 million in insurance coverage.
- Regional reach. More than 60 years of combined experience and a showroom at 2101 McGregor Blvd in Fort Myers.
- Warranties. A 15-year seawall warranty and a 1-year dock warranty.
Matlacha marine construction FAQ
Does the aquatic preserve limit what I can build in Matlacha?
It can — the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve's seagrass and shallow-water protections shape dock length, placement, and especially dredging. We work within the rules and handle the state review.
Who permits dock and seawall work in Matlacha?
Lee County, since Matlacha is unincorporated, plus FDEP and the Army Corps, with extra state attention given the aquatic preserve.
Can I dredge my slip in Matlacha?
It depends on the specifics of the site — preserve rules limit new dredging significantly. We assess what's possible.
Do you work on both the Matlacha and Pine Island sides of the pass?
Yes. Request a free estimate or call (239) 841-9674.
How shallow is Matlacha Pass?
Very shallow in most places. We check mean low water before designing any dock or lift.