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Charleston-based · Building across the Southeast
Marina-style dock and landing on the Kiawah River
Commercial · Marinas

Marina Construction & Repair

Marina construction for owners, developers and communities — new docks and slips, fixed and floating systems, piers, gangways, pile work and marina repairs, built for Southeast tides and storms.

Fixed & floating docksOwn barges & pile rigsBohicket Marina · Kiawah
Marina construction

A marina contractor that drives its own piles

A marina is a long-lived piece of infrastructure in a hostile environment: salt, tide, current, boat wakes and hurricane surge. The dock system, the piles and the way it all ties together decide whether it lasts thirty years or needs rebuilding after the next storm.

BluTide builds and repairs marina docks, piers, gangways and boat slips for marina owners, resort and community developers, yacht clubs and public owners. Because we drive our own piles from our own barges, we control the critical path on the work that matters most — and we can take on phased construction while a marina stays open.

  • New marinas and marina expansions
  • Fixed piers, floating dock systems and gangways
  • Pile driving and pile replacement
  • Slip reconfiguration, boat lifts and utilities coordination
  • Storm repair and marina rehabilitation
Commercial dock on the Kiawah River
Scope

Marina construction services

Self-performed by BluTide crews.

01

New marina docks

Fixed and floating dock systems, main walks, finger piers and slips laid out to the engineer’s design.

02

Piers & gangways

Access piers, platforms and ADA-conscious gangway transitions to floating docks.

03

Pile driving

Timber, concrete, steel and helical piles; guide piles for floating systems.

04

Marina repair

Pile replacement, re-decking, hardware, whalers and storm-damage repair.

05

Boat lifts & slips

Lift installation and slip reconfiguration for changing fleet sizes.

06

Phased construction

Sequencing that keeps slips in service while we rebuild around them.

07

Fuel & service docks

Structural dock work for fuel, pump-out and service areas, coordinated with utility trades.

08

Breakwater & shoreline

Bulkheads, rip-rap and shoreline protection around the basin.

Permits & grants

Built to the permit and to the grant

Marina work in the Southeast runs through state coastal agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — in South Carolina, SCDES (formerly SCDHEC) OCRM critical area permits and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorizations. We build to the permit conditions and work alongside the owner’s engineer on submittals and inspections.

Many public and community marina projects are funded through boating-access programs such as the federal Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) and state boating-improvement funds. We understand the documentation and schedule those programs require.

Seabrook Island waterfront
Process

How a marina project runs with BluTide

Pre-bid review

Plans, specs, geotech and access reviewed; questions submitted before bid day.

Mobilize

Barges, pile rigs and materials staged to protect the operating marina.

Piles & framing

Piles driven to design; framing and decking built in planned phases.

Closeout

Punch list, as-builts and warranty — and we stay available for maintenance.

Trusted by

Owners, municipalities and agencies we have built for

South Carolina Ports AuthorityJoint Base CharlestonCharleston County ParksBerkeley CountyCity of North CharlestonTown of Kiawah IslandTown of Edisto BeachTown of James IslandTown of Pawleys IslandThe Beach CompanyKiawah Island Golf ResortBohicket MarinaSeabrook IslandMiddleton PlaceSCE&GAudubon South Carolina
Client feedback

What owners say

I have used BluTide Marine for two projects in the last year and have been very pleased with both outcomes. BluTide’s ability to produce, manage and maintain schedule, cost, quality, attention to detail as well as communication and problem solve are some of their strengths.
George S. HeylConstruction Manager, The Beach Company
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

It depends on the number of slips, fixed versus floating systems, pile type and length, water depth, utilities and site access. Send the drawings or a concept and we will give you a budget number and the main cost drivers.

Both. In high-tide-range waters like the Lowcountry, floating docks keep a constant freeboard for boats; fixed piers provide the access and platforms. Most marinas use both, connected by gangways.

Yes. We phase construction so most slips stay in service and coordinate closures with your dockmaster.

Yes. For marina projects we mobilize across the Southeast — North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. See our service area.

Start a project

Have a project out for bid?

Send the plans or a solicitation number. We’ll price it, schedule it and build it — crews, barges and pile-driving equipment included.