All You Need to Know About Jet Ski Floating Dock Costs

April 02, 2020

It is nice to live near a body of water and have a jet ski, but you need a floating dock to dock your watercraft when it is not in use. Floating docks are platforms formed along the shore to allow jet skis and other vessels to float and be secured in position without getting submerged in the water.

Jet ski floating docks are essential for both commercial and residential use. Homeowners and businesses can use floating docks to keep their jet skis secure when they’re not using them and don’t have to haul the heavy watercraft out to water every time. If you’re looking to invest a drive-on boat dock we can help you out by giving you an idea of jet ski floating dock costs. Here is a compilation of data costs for your reference before so you can make the right choice.

Cost of Floating Dock By Material

Floating docks usually use wood, aluminum, or plastic materials for their decks. Each material has its own potential advantages and disadvantages. The average floating dock cost by the material may run from $15 to $35 per square foot. Moreover, their prices vary considerably when clients use high-end materials.

Wood

A lot of floating docks have wooden decks. They don’t just give your dock a rustic look but are sturdy and durable. Wooden floating docks may cost an average of $15 to $25 per square foot. The cost will go up depending upon the type of wood you use and the overall width of the wooden planks and the length of the dock.

Pros:

Looks aesthetically appealing
Comes in many different varieties and finishes
Sturdy
Can withstand extreme temperatures

Cons:

Needs more maintenance
Need to be built, pre-built structures are costly
Longevity depends on the quality of wood

Aluminum

Floating docks that use aluminum may cost 20 percent to 50 percent more than the wooden ones. The average cost of an aluminum dock is $15 to $35 per square foot. However, these docks are the most sturdy and can last up to 30 years.

Pros:

Strong floating docks that can withstand extreme weather conditions
Gapless seals provide watertight capacity
Scratch-resistant
Durable

Cons:

Very expensive
Needs a lot of maintenance
Highly corrosive

Plastic

PWC floating docks are all the rage nowadays and with good cause. These docks are easy to install and maintain as compared to wooden or aluminum docks. The estimated cost for plastic materials may range from $4 to $10 per square foot. There are plastic dock manufacturers that provide plastic modular blocks or prebuilt floating docks to build the structure you need.

Pros:

Cheaper than the alternatives
Easy to maintain
Lightweight and modular
Variety of colors, designs, and finishes

Cons:

Difficult to repair
May not be able to withstand severe weather conditions

Cost of Floating Dock By Type

There are two types of floating docks based on the way they are installed. An impounded dock is usually used commercially and is a bit more expensive while a floating jetty is more affordable and is used for both commercial and domestic purposes.

Impounded Floating Dock

An impounded floating dock can maintain a constant water level, despite the changes in the tide. It needs lock gates to do that which can add to its expense. Impounded floating dock requires a supply of water to become fully operational. Thus, an impounding station needs to be built at the nearby dock. An impounded floating dock may cost an average of $20,000 to $50,000.

Floating Jetty

Floating jetty docks are usually constructed in marinas and most of these piers maintain a fixed and vertically aligned structure. Floating jetties are supported by pontoons that rise and fall with the tide. Its structure ensures security for the jet ski or any watercraft. They usually intersect to the shore with a gangway. The average cost for floating jetty is at $1,500 to $10,000.

Cost of Building a Dock vs. Buying Pre-Built Floating Docks

Building a jet ski floating dock will cost more than buying a pre-built dock. There are several things to consider in building a dock, including material, labor, and transportation costs. However, it is an advantage as you can plan out the materials of the dock based on your structure and needs.

In some cases building a dock can even be a little more cost-effective for example building wooden docks may be less expensive than buying pre-built wooden docks. In most cases, however, prebuilt floating docks are cheaper as you only have to install them at the shore. Plastic pre-built jet ski floating docks are cost-effective and can be easily installed. You can also rearrange them any way you like and store them in case of bad weather.

Final Thoughts

In summary, homeowners and business owners should plan their floating dock project ahead of time to calculate its exact cost. Since it is a big investment, make sure you do your research before building or buying a jet ski floating dock. Find more detailed knowledge about floating dock in this floating dock guide for beginner in 2020.

If you want to learn more about jet ski docks, check out our other interesting articles:

Jet Ski Maintenance: Effective and Sustainable Tips

Best Jet Ski Floating Docks in the UK

Best Jet Ski Floating Dock: What You Need to Know

How to DIY Jet Ski Dock: A Guide for Beginners