Structural repair, teak decking, custom carpentry, and fiberglass work built on decades of Upper Keys boatwork, not a franchise playbook. Wood is the specialty here, and fiberglass is handled in the same shop rather than farmed out.
The master craftsman behind Keys Marine Carpentry has been building and repairing wood on Upper Keys vessels since 1977. Wooden hulls, structural rebuilds, teak decks, custom joinery, and interior cabinetry have all come across the bench in that time, on boats ranging from small classic skiffs to an 81-foot motor yacht.
Keys Marine Carpentry, the business name, dates to 2020. The craftsman and the standards behind it do not. He runs every project directly, from the first assessment through the final coat, with people who assist him on the larger jobs.
Fiberglass work sits in the same shop rather than being handed off to a separate yard, because on a wood-and-glass boat the two trades usually meet in the same repair. Rot found behind a seemingly sound hull side is a common story on a Keys vessel, not a rare one.
Ocean Reef Club is a short run up the shoreline and sees regular on-site work, alongside Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, and Marathon. Vessels near Big Pine or Key West are taken on for larger projects, usually brought up to the Upper Keys for service.
“Our yacht suffered damage after a storm. We hired Keys Marine Carpentry to care for our boat. They quickly repaired our yacht and solved the problem, and now our boat is ready for the seas again. I appreciate the hard work that was involved with the repairs.”
Victoria R., storm damage repair
“We've owned our boat for over 30 years. It still runs and looks great, but we thought it could use an interior upgrade. Keys Marine Carpentry helped us pick out designs that would give the boat a contemporary look, and installed the new cabinets quickly. I'm impressed with the results.”
Patrick W., interior cabinetry
“I've been slowly restoring my parents' boat and needed help installing a new deck. Keys Marine Carpentry helped me choose and install teak decking that looks amazing and will last for years. It improved the look and style of the boat once installed.”
Derrick C., teak deck installation
The master craftsman who quotes the job runs it personally, from the first assessment through the final coat, with a crew assisting on larger projects. There is no office staff or scheduler standing between you and the person doing the work.
Keys Marine Carpentry has operated under this name since 2020, continuing a Florida Keys marine trade the master craftsman has practiced since 1977. The business name is newer than the experience behind it.
No. The master craftsman is hands-on and personally accountable for every job, and he has people who assist him, particularly on larger restoration and structural projects. It is a small, owner-led shop, not a solo operation and not a large crew-based yard.
This is a mobile trade. Most work happens at your dock, slip, or marina rather than at a fixed shop address, including regular on-site work at Ocean Reef Club. A shop visit only comes up when a piece genuinely needs to be built or finished off the vessel.
Both, under one roof. Wood and brightwork are the core specialty, which is not common among Keys-based marine shops, but fiberglass and gelcoat repair are handled in the same shop rather than farmed out, since rot and wet core on a Keys vessel usually sit behind fiberglass that still looks sound.
Everything from small classic skiffs to an 81-foot motor yacht, spanning sport fishermen, trawlers, sailboats, and wooden boats. The material and the nature of the job matter more than the hull type or the vessel length.
Send the vessel make and length, where she sits, and what you are seeing. You will get a real assessment from the shop that will carry out the work.
