Websites for Fort Lauderdale marine service businesses

Why marine businesses here need their own website

The marine industry is a big part of Broward County. The Marine Industries Association of South Florida's 2020 economic impact figures put the county's marine industry at 121,000 jobs and $9.7 billion in output. That means a lot of boats, and a lot of businesses competing to work on them.

Many marine businesses rely on word of mouth at the dock, a directory listing, or a social media page. Those help, but a directory controls your listing and can put a competitor next to you. A plain website in your own account gives a boat owner, a captain or a yacht manager one place to check what you do and how to reach you, and it is yours to keep.

Say exactly what you work on

Marine work is specialized, and boat owners search for the specific job. A page that says only "marine services" makes them guess. Give each main service its own short section or page, in the words an owner would use.

Be clear about what you do not do. If you service outboards but not diesel inboards, say so. A captain would rather know now than after a wasted call.

• Engine repair and maintenance, with the engine types and brands you work on
• Detailing, waxing, bottom cleaning and hull work
• Canvas, cushions and upholstery
• Marine electronics, navigation and audio installs
• Mobile mechanic visits to the boat
• Charters and captain services, with what a trip includes

Show where you work, honestly

This is the question boat owners have first. Are you mobile, or does the boat come to a yard? If you are mobile, list the marinas, waterways and areas you cover, and say if some areas cost extra or are only available on certain days. If you are yard-based, say whether you haul out and what size boats you can take.

Only list places you really serve. A long list of every marina in the county looks thorough but brings calls you have to turn down. If you work from Hillsboro Inlet down to Port Everglades, say that. If you mostly stay on the New River and the Intracoastal near downtown Fort Lauderdale, say that instead.

Make requesting service simple

Give boat owners one clear way to ask for work, with a short form or a contact page that asks the right questions. A request that arrives with the boat's details saves you a call back.

• Boat make, model and length
• Engine type, if it is a mechanical job
• Where the boat is now: marina, slip, private dock or trailer
• What is wrong or what they want done
• How soon they need it, and the best way to reach them

Hours, timing and the busy season

Post your real hours and how quickly you usually reply. If you answer messages on weekends but do not take jobs then, say so. Owners make plans around that.

Marine work in South Florida has a rhythm. Seasonal residents bring boats back for the winter, the fall boat show draws buyers and crews to Fort Lauderdale, and hurricane season brings haul-out and storm-prep requests. If you offer pre-show detailing or storm prep, put it on your site ahead of time, not the week it starts. When your schedule fills up, a simple note that says you are booking a few weeks out is more useful than silence.

Photos of real work

Use your own photos. A clean before-and-after of a hull, a finished enclosure or a tidy engine room says more than a stock photo of a yacht at sunset. Phone photos are fine if they are sharp and well lit. Ask the boat owner before you post a photo where the boat's name can be read.

Getting found by boat owners

Clear service pages and an accurate service area are the start. A Google Business Profile helps too: a mobile business can hide its address and list the areas it serves, which fits a mechanic who works from a truck or a skiff. For the general steps, see our national guide on getting found on Google.