Difference between revisions of "New Docks"

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The docks on the Island are VERY HEAVY. Two grown adult males have trouble moving each section. The question is how to make lighter weight docks that are just as strong?
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In 2020, we purchased 3 Aluminum dock sections from [https://www.shoremaster.com/ ShoreMasters] docks from [https://www.bickfordssportcenter.com/shoremaster Bickfords Sport Center] in Epsom, NH.
  
Years ago, I created a dock for the shore side that might provide a solution.  The dock consists of a frame with lighter weight drop-in sections.  The problem with the original is that the frame is too weak.  It's gets loose at the corners and the whole dock feels "wobbly".  I nailed the sides into the ends and a stronger attachment is required.
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We purchased
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* 1 x 10' Cedar Decked dock for the Shore
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* 1 x 12' Cedar Decked dock for the Island
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* 1 x 10' Cedar Decked dock for the Island
  
* [http://t.homedepot.com/p/PermaFloat-Dock-System-Outside-Corner-End-HLOCE/100431478/ Outside Bolt Plate]
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In addition, we purchased a 4' x 4' ramp with "Flow Through" decking for the Shore side. That was the last ramp that Bickford's had available at the time. They say they usually place an order or more in August.
* [http://t.homedepot.com/p/5-in-x-8-75-in-x-5-in-Metal-Inside-Corner/202026727/?MERCH=REC-_-tablet_pip1_rr-1-_-NA-_-202026727-_-N&showPLP=false Inside Bolt Plate]
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With the two products, above, the corners would be MUCH more rigid, preventing much of the "wobble" in the original dock.
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We also bought a pair of "Leg Pockets" for the Shore and a pair for the Island dock.  We also bought 8 vertical bumpers to keep the boats from hitting the dock and to provide a way for passengers to stabilize themselves when they get out of the boats.  The legs we bought are all 7' long because they didn't have any 5' legs in stock.
  
Also, the original drop-in sections consisted of a 2x4 box with the slats nailed to the topThere is no center support rail, so the slats are not connected down the center and stepping on the center of a slat causes it to sag since there is no support tying it to the neighboring slatsFor this reason the new drop-in sections need to have a center rail running the length of the unit to provide additional support to the slats.
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Once we completed the initial assembly (installing the leg pockets and assembling the bumpers), yearly disassembly and reassembly should require no tools other than a short pipe to use as leverage on the T-handles we cranked tight so the dock would not drop.  Items like the bumpers and the legs are held in place with T-Handles that have been torqued down tightly.  Two adults can VERY easily carry a single section of dock with the decking removedThey weigh less than 100 lbs when empty.  The legs should be removable for seasonal storage in either the garage or the boat house, but the leg pockets stay attached to the docksI personally think the Garage is better since a boat would need to be stored on top of the dock in the boat house and the leg pockets will get in the way of this.
  
HomeDepot sells a 4x10 aluminum dock platform frame.
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We also applied an oil based finish to the deck plates to minimize weathering in the sun and rain.
* http://www.homedepot.com/p/PlayStar-Premium-Dock-Frame-Kit-PS-1322/203265063
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= Individual Dock parts =
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= Commercial Solutions =
* [http://www.homedepot.com/p/PermaFloat-Dock-System-Female-Outside-Corner-HLOCF/100431476 Female outside Corner bracket]
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* http://www.pierofdnort.com/
* [http://www.homedepot.com/p/PlayStar-Commercial-Grade-Dock-Kit-PS-1005/203265059 Commercial Grade Dock Kit] - $209.99 (four corners with bracing)
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** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rCpiAUs3nk
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* https://www.shoremaster.com/
  
 
[[Category:Island]]
 
[[Category:Island]]
 
[[Category:Docks]]
 
[[Category:Docks]]

Latest revision as of 02:07, 15 July 2020

In 2020, we purchased 3 Aluminum dock sections from ShoreMasters docks from Bickfords Sport Center in Epsom, NH.

We purchased

  • 1 x 10' Cedar Decked dock for the Shore
  • 1 x 12' Cedar Decked dock for the Island
  • 1 x 10' Cedar Decked dock for the Island

In addition, we purchased a 4' x 4' ramp with "Flow Through" decking for the Shore side. That was the last ramp that Bickford's had available at the time. They say they usually place an order or more in August.

We also bought a pair of "Leg Pockets" for the Shore and a pair for the Island dock. We also bought 8 vertical bumpers to keep the boats from hitting the dock and to provide a way for passengers to stabilize themselves when they get out of the boats. The legs we bought are all 7' long because they didn't have any 5' legs in stock.

Once we completed the initial assembly (installing the leg pockets and assembling the bumpers), yearly disassembly and reassembly should require no tools other than a short pipe to use as leverage on the T-handles we cranked tight so the dock would not drop. Items like the bumpers and the legs are held in place with T-Handles that have been torqued down tightly. Two adults can VERY easily carry a single section of dock with the decking removed. They weigh less than 100 lbs when empty. The legs should be removable for seasonal storage in either the garage or the boat house, but the leg pockets stay attached to the docks. I personally think the Garage is better since a boat would need to be stored on top of the dock in the boat house and the leg pockets will get in the way of this.

We also applied an oil based finish to the deck plates to minimize weathering in the sun and rain.

Commercial Solutions