6 Effective Tips for Maintaining Your Jet Ski Floating Dock

October 05, 2020

Floating jet ski docks are extremely important if you want your jet ski to be as safe as possible. These platforms allow you to hop on and off your jet ski, conduct jet ski repairs, and keep your watercraft safe from getting damaged. However, a damaged jet ski dock can actually be bad for your jet ski. So it is important that you practice proper floating dock maintenance. Here are 6 effective tips for maintaining your jet ski floating dock.

Conduct a Visual Check Every Day

Before you even think of getting on your floating dock, you should do a quick visual check. Look for any obvious signs of damage such as cracks or loose floats. You should also check for any discolored or corroded surfaces.

Although plastic is very durable, it can still deteriorate in the long run, and can even cause you to fall through your floating dock. So it is always a good idea to do a visual inspection of the dock on a regular basis. That way should you find any type of damage, you can conduct emergency repairs as soon as possible.

Clean the Floating Dock Regularly

Aside from doing a visual check on your dock, it is important to clean it on a regular basis as well. If you don’t clean your floating dock consistently, it may grow mold, barnacles, and other types of organisms that stick to the bottom of the floating dock.

It is imperative that you check the bottom of your dock while cleaning and if you find any mold you should scrape it off as soon as possible. Letting these organisms stick to the bottom of your dock can lead to permanent damage for your dock.

Test Their Buoyancy

Buoyancy is the force that causes objects to float and it is one of the main things you should look for in your floating dock. Make it a habit to check your floating dock for buoyancy. Test out its stability and ability to stay afloat despite supporting a certain amount of weight.

You can test out the buoyancy of your floating dock by securing your jetski and yourself on top of it. If the dock starts to sink or loses any form of stability, then you should conduct a very thorough examination of your dock. A jet ski dock’s main purpose is to support the weight of a jet ski and the rider. If the floating dock can’t fulfill this function, then there is something really wrong with it, and you should make the necessary repairs.

Check the Connections Regularly

Floating docks are usually made up of plastic floats that are held together by strong pieces of rope or wire. They are tied to each other through sturdy connectors that allow the floating dock to stay compact and stable. However, through long wear and tear these connectors can get damaged.

Regular use, collisions, and damage from waves can cause the connectors to weaken over time. This can lead your dock to disassemble in no time. So make it a part of your floating dock protocol to check on the ropes and connectors on a regular basis. Check the ropes for any signs of fraying or loosening. You should also check the connectors for any signs of deterioration or outright physical damage.

Remove Dented or Punctured Hardware

Your floating dock is meant to act as a platform for your jet ski. It is also meant to act as a cushion against debris and the shoreline. While fulfilling this function, your floating dock can sustain damage. It could get dented by the rocks on the shoreline, or punctured by a piece of wooden debris. As durable as most plastic floats are, they are still not indestructible. So if you find any plastic float to be damaged, don’t hesitate to remove it from the dock.

Replace Damaged Floats

Once you remove the plastic float from your jet ski dock, you should make sure to replace it with a new one. Although plastic floats are very durable, they can still be damaged, and once they do get damaged, they will need to be replaced.

Luckily, there are companies such as Hiseadock that create quality plastic docks and other accessories. They particularly specialize in creating and selling jet ski docks.

Conclusion

If you want your jet ski to be as safe as possible, you will need a floating dock. By having your very own floating dock, you’ll be able to store and repair your jet ski easily. However, a faulty floating dock can also damage your jetski. So it makes sense that you maintain your floating dock as much as possible. With these tips, your floating dock maintenance will go a lot smoother.