Dock Builders in Lantana, FL

For dock builders, Lantana means open lagoon water: homes here face the Lake Worth Lagoon near the Lantana Avenue bridge, in a town that grew up harvesting oysters from it. About 0.6 of the town's 2.97 square miles is water. In the early 1900s, gathering and selling oysters was the town's leading industry, which tells you how closely its history is tied to the lagoon.

About the lagoon

The Lake Worth Lagoon runs about 21 miles along the coast and is up to a mile wide, with the Intracoastal Waterway running its full length. Two inlets connect it to the ocean, including the South Lake Worth Inlet, also called the Boynton Inlet, cut in 1917. Lagoon water is wide and open, so wind chop and passing wakes are part of every dock design here.

Manatee zones by the bridge

Florida's manatee rule for Palm Beach County sets a year-round slow speed zone within 300 feet of shore along the Lake Worth segment south to the Lantana Avenue bridge, and the waters south of that bridge to near the East Ocean Avenue bridge are slow speed year-round outside the marked channel. Slower traffic near shore helps protect docks from wake damage. In-water construction in these areas follows manatee protection practices.

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New docks on open water

Wider water calls for a sturdier dock than a quiet canal. We drive pilings deep enough for lateral loads, brace framing where the dock reaches out from shore, and use corrosion-resistant hardware throughout. On shallow lagoon frontage, the dock may need to be longer to reach usable depth, which affects permitting. We check depth at low tide first and design from there.

Lifts for lagoon boats

With wind and wakes on the lagoon, a boat tied alongside a dock takes a lot of wear. A lift keeps it raised and steady. We size it for the boat's loaded weight and plan where it will sit relative to the dock and the shoreline.

Decking that holds up

Composite decking resists splinters and needs less upkeep than wood, which is useful on a dock exposed to full sun and salt spray. Wood remains a fair choice for owners who prefer a natural look and do not mind sealing. Both need proper joist spacing and secure fastening on open water.

Town history

The M.B. Lyman family is credited with founding Lantana after arriving in 1888, and the post office was named Lantana Point for the wild lantana growing there. The town incorporated on July 20, 1921.