How Does a Floating Dock Work : Complete Guide - Hiseadock
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How Does a Floating Dock Work

October 26, 2020
A Floating Dock
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A floating dock is a lightweight jetty, pontoon, or quay that rises and falls with the tide whose sole purpose is to provide an anchorage platform for boats and jet skis. A floating dock is usually linked to the shore using a gangway upon which people can walk without coming into contact with the water. A floating dock can either be held in place by pilings or poles that are embedded into the seabed or they can fasten to supports on the shore by the use of ropes and chains.

Table of Contents

Types of Floating Docks and How They Work

There are about 5 types of floating docks you can install on your waterfront property. Each is designed to carry out a specific function. The following are the 5 types of docks and how they operate

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Straight-Line Floating Dock

This is a floating dock that consists of one gangway made of wood decking and is supported by a foundation made of aluminum or planks of wood that are embedded into the seabed. Straight-Line floating docks are common in residential areas and most are rectangular in shape.

Working Mechanism

This type of dock is lined with cleats on either side of the gangway that allows for multiple vessels to be anchored to the dock, the longer the dock the more available slots. Some have an L-shaped extension that provides more walking space and adds stability to the whole structure.

Floating Kayak Dock

This is a small type of floating dock designed for kayaks. Unlike boats and jet skis, Kayaks are light enough to be carried by one arm, therefore, they do not need big docks. A floating kayak dock usually extends to a few meters into the water and works best where the shoreline is shallow.

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Working Mechanism

Floating Kayak docks have railings on one side that have metal extensions that act like arms that hold the kayak when they are not in use. The reason why these railings are vertical is to allow more room for kayaks to be stored on one dock as they are light enough to be accommodated in that fashion.

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DIY Floating Dock

This a floating dock that you construct on your own using locally available materials. It usually consists of a broad wooden deck that is built on top of a series of empty plastic drums that are placed close to the shore, floating on water. A short gangway is then attached to the deck and fastened to the shore by ropes and chains.

Working Mechanism

DIY floating docks rise and fall with the tide as they are balanced on buoyant plastic containers. They do sink lower into the water depending on the amount of weight applied to them. Generally, these types of floating docks are designed for lighter loads.

Customizable Floating Dock

This is a floating dock that is made out of modular plastic cubes that can be moved around at will to create as many shapes as you may want. They are very versatile as they can also be translocated quite easily over the water. They are the ideal floating dock for a residential home that has children.

A Customizable Floating Dock
Source: Pinterest

Working Mechanism

A customizable floating dock has modular plastic cubes that fit into each other like a jigsaw puzzle from either side. You have the freedom to construct any shape you may feel is convenient for your waterfront. Due to how flexible they are, customizable floating stocks can be transformed into cages for fish farming or even create the foundation for floating restaurants.

A Floating Dock
Source: Pinterest

Multipurpose Floating Dock

This a floating dock that doubles up as a recreational center on top of providing anchorage and shelter for boats and jet skis. It is supported by metal beams that are embedded into the sea bed that rise up high enough for another deck floor to be added at the top, accessible via stairs.

Working Mechanism

The lower part of the multipurpose floating dock is fitted with boat lifts that can raise the boat clean off the water when they are not in use. The number of boats that can fit under there depends on the size of the dock. The upper floor usually has a shade and benches or hammocks where people can sit in and enjoy the breeze.

Conclusion

Floating docks are more popular among many waterfront owners for a number of reasons; they are cheaper to construct, they are versatile and they last long. There are no fixed benefits of one floating dock type over another, it all depends on how you go about using them.

Customize a Floating Dock that Works Best for You.

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