BOAT DOCK PLANNING 101
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Ninety-five percent of all docks we build have a 10’ wide by 24’ to 28’ long slip opening for your boat (even if you think you could get away with a 20’ slip now, you’ll grow out of it soon so it is not worth trying to save $500 and not have adequate space for your boat in the future). Most pontoons, deck boats, fishing boats and runabouts will fit into the 24’ slip. A word of caution, however: some deck boat manufacturers have extended the cockpit and now bolt an additional 2’ swim platform to the back of the hull rather than incorporate it inside the hull (losing cockpit space). If you are looking at a these deck boats, you may want to go for a 26’ or 28’ slip rather than a 24’. Even though the swim platform off the stern is in the weather and on the waterline, some people do not want this platform to protrude 2’ beyond their slip.
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Slip docks will usually have four foot wide walks all the way around, but typically with one side having a larger 10’ wide swim deck (swim decks, also called ‘wide sides’, come in widths of 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 20’, 24’, or double side 10’ wide if permitted on your lake). The most popular basic size is a 24’ wide X 28’ long dock which will have a 4’ walk on one side, a 10’ slip opening and a 10’ swim deck on the opposite side with a 4’ walk in front of the slip. (If this is confusing, see the configuration drawings below.) You have the option to put the larger swim deck on either side of the dock without additional charge. Your decision as to placement should consider a variety of factors, some obvious, some not. For instance, which side has the better view, where is the morning/afternoon sun/shade position, do you like the neighbors more to one side or the other, etc, etc. You may want to put the swim deck on the sheltered side if you have little ones swimming around so that prevailing waves push them away from the dock and not into it. Similarly, if you plan to moor your boat outboard, do you want it being blown into or away from the dock.
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Almost all docks we build will have a roof covering the slip and 4’ of deck space around three sides. The two-sided gable roof is the least expensive, but the four-sided hip roof option is extremely popular. We don’t recommend you try to save money by eliminating the roof. The roof helps stabilize the dock, adds strength and rigidity, and keeps the boat cool and clean. It would cost almost twice as much to add a roof at a later date.
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A walkway (bridge, catwalk, gangway) connects the dock to the shore. It is hinged at the dock to permit lake fluctuations. Our typical walkway is 4’ wide by 40’ long with options for 10’ to 60’ of clear span. Our arched walkways all come with two structural handrails for safety. Typically we deck the walkway in Ipe, although for longer walkways where weight may be a consideration, we may recommend aluminum decking. Generally speaking, if we are running a walkway to a second storey Sundeck, we will only deck the walkway in aluminum.
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The back corners of the dock are cabled to the shoreline at a 45 degree angle and fixed to concrete and steel anchors buried underground.
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Many lakes in the Southeast require floating docks that adjust to varying lake levels. The floats are a polyethylene shell filled with foam. Our docks are engineered with sufficient buoyancy so that it would take 45 people to sink our basic 24’ X 28’ dock.
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Docks require vertical bumper posts and a horizontal bumper strip around the entire perimeter of the deck to protect the boat/deck from damage. We typically mount two cleats (tiedowns) on each dockable side of the dock. A 5-step swim ladder is standard on all our docks.
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All our docks use stainless steel hardware for longevity.
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All our docks are maintenance-free aluminum with the finest and lowest maintenance Brazilian Ipe hardwood decking.
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Other options to a dock include boat lifts, PWC lifts, dock storage box, fold down cleats and roofing choices in 17 colors. Boat lifts and PWC lifts simply bolt to the dock frame and can be added at any time; the boat must be in the slip at installation time so the cradles can be adjusted properly.
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