In the old days, the predominate thinking was marinas and waterways should have hard edges and concrete or sheet-piled bulkheads. Today, it is usually less costly and more environmentally acceptable to use a form of riprap, broken rocks or concrete stacked along the water's edge. This format can be far less costly while providing a habitat for aquatic creatures and to effect boat wake dampening. To access docks from land, a style or bridge links land to waterside piers or slips.

Dock construction can consist of any number of materials. Wood and concrete are the most prevalent. Depending on tidal range, floating docks can be used. While Florida's averages only a foot and a half tide south of Melborne, fixed docks with simple utilities would probably be all that is needed. The cost of slips at small basins typically ranges from $2,5000 to $7,000 per slip, including simple utilities. Adding to this would be necessary dredging, bulkhead treatment, permit and associated fees. In Florida, most new marinas are subject to state bottomland leases, with varied rates based on marina use. Depending on how you position and integrate your marina, upland costs for a clubhouse, swimming pool or storage lockers would be adjunct costs.

The common thread in all marinas is the boat. While national boat sales have slipped since the late 1980's, Florida has actually grown in vessels per capita. Nationally, boating and fishing are ranked among the top five American recreational activities. In the land of sunshine and with the Magna Carta safely behind us, perhaps the trends of yesterday to open public waterways to private use can be the renaissance of your Florida development opportunities tomorrow.


Bruce H. Blomgren is president of Brandy Marine, Inc, a Florida based marina and real estate consulting firm focusing on market research, development and operations of waterfront real estate.