Hi, I’m Captain Ben Steliga, founder of Marco Boat Works. I’m originally from Chicago, but Marco Island has felt like home for as long as I can remember. I grew up spending my days fishing, exploring the Gulf, and developing a deep respect for the water and everything that comes with it.
Entrepreneurship has always been part of who I am. My dad built his own business from the ground up, and watching him taught me the value of independence, hard work, and doing right by people. Those lessons stayed with me throughout my early career in the restaurant industry, where I worked my way up to management and helped open new restaurants and food trucks. I thrived in fast-paced environments where leadership, organization, and consistency mattered every single day.
When I moved to Florida full-time, my passion for the water took center stage. I earned my Captain’s License and began spending nearly every day on the water—whether guiding fishing trips, hosting sunset cruises, or just enjoying the freedom of the Gulf. Over time, I started to notice a clear gap: boat owners who loved their vessels but struggled to find dependable, detail-oriented professionals they could trust to maintain and manage them. That realization sparked the creation of Marco Boat Works.
For Ben and his crew, it’s not just about service — it’s about stewardship of the boating lifestyle that defines Marco Island.
Marco Boat Works is staffed by a trusted team of vetted 100’ licensed Captains, skilled mates, and expert detailers. Each team member is carefully selected for their professionalism, technical skill, and shared dedication to reliability and care. The team’s passion and expertise ensures every vessel is maintained with pride, attention to detail, and respect…reassuring clients that they’ll receive nothing less than excellence.
From yacht management, cleaning, and detailing to weekly monitoring, fueling, haul outs, and storm preparation, every service is handled with precision, communication, and accountability. The goal is simple: ensure that every client’s vessel is ready to go when they are — no matter how long it is between adventures.
Enjoy the lifestyle, leave the hassle to us!
We hired Ben at Marco BoatWorks for our monthly boat watch and boat detailing. He is very knowledgeable, reliable, and always does a great job! Our boat has never looked so good. I highly recommend! Thank you Ben!!