As any boat owner knows, winterizing a dock is essential to keeping it in good condition. Whats unique about Sunfish Lake is its small, but its quite deep about 66 feet and the bottom of the lake is all mud and peat. Re-Posted by Scott Freerksen The Lake Guy, Get every new post delivered to your Inbox. The stairs go down to a low platform that makes fishing possible. Fasten one concrete anchor to each corner of your dock with thick galvanized chains, crisscrossing the chains so each anchor is adjacent to the corner of the dock its fastened to. Toll Free: 1-888-888-DOCK Learn more below: Wooden docks are particularly susceptible to damage during the winter months. However, even this may not fully protect your dock from ice build-up. Even though the typical water depth is only 6ft, the height of the pier By Van Isle Water. Get as close to the water as you can to build it because once it is complete, it will be very heavy and difficult to move. The dock you see in the image above came from one of our customers who used our wooden floating dock plans to build this dock. A floating dock uses steel tubes, barrels, and air chambers to float on fluctuating water. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience! A puny little deck on inadequate footings doesnt stand a chance. Get as close to the water as you can to build it because once it is complete, it will be very heavy and difficult to move. How to Protect a Permanent Dock. DockDeck by Trusscore is the ultimate lightweight and long-lasting dock decking material perfect for removable and sectional dock applications. It is often easier to de-ice a boat by installing the de-icer at or near the bow, angled toward the stern. Large ice floats can also move with the current, in the process getting caught on structures, piling up and destroying anything in their path. WebThe stairs go down to a low platform that makes fishing possible. This dock should last 50 years or longer! After one of the coldest and harshest Canadian winters in the last two decades, be prepared to make some extra repairs when you open your cottage for the summerparticularly if you never got around to taking your dock out of the water last fall. You definitely want aluminum docks like these from me or someone else. Then, as this water dries up or freezes inside the wood, it can expand and contract, leading to splintered and broken wood and a destroyed dock. Then, spring-tie your Jet Dock freely so it does not rub up against other structures, and do not leave the Jet Dock in locations where moving ice can tear it away and cause damage. Use Dock Bubblers. Regular Hours:M-TH: 9am-5pm F-SU: ClosedOffice Will Be Closed July 1st-11th. Greater width at the bottom will also distribute weight over a larger area. Do this by nailing the sides of the tube to the center of a tic-tac-toe grid of 2x4s at the top of the hole. Pipe docks absolutely need to be removed in winter to A pier dock is stable, strong, and able to withstand plenty of severe weather not that particularly severe weather is an issue at Sunfish Lake. What is The Best Decking Material for Your Dock? Heavy clay soils dont drain well, so they tend to have more frost heave problems than sandy, well-drained ones. Then dump concrete through the tube into the bottom of the hole. In these cases, its often best to replace your permanent dock with a roll-in dock. Below are some common ice damage problems outlined, as well as winter-kill conditions and summer water quality problems. We live in a time where new materials and building methods allow us to build a hurricane resistant pier. As a result, theres no one-size-fits-all answer to how to build a dock, but there are lots of things to consider before you hire a contractor to do it for you. This insures that the frame stays above the ice even with Trex style laminated wood decking (which weighs about 5lbs/sqft). These docks are typically built out of wood or concrete and are built at a fixed height. Youve seen them all up and down the coast, wooden piers 15ft high over the water with stairs at the end. Our 4 types of million-dollar coverage protect not just our team and equipment, but your people, property, and investments. Winterizing docks can be a very difficult task if you have to remove them for the winter. Bubblers Another option is a bubbler system. If you must leave your dock in for the Winter, preventing ice damage is your number one priority. Typically, this grating is fastened to the pier with a lag bolt down through the grate holes into the joist or stringers below. 6275 - 210th Street North Web387 subscribers. Dock decking can be made from a variety of materials, but which you choose to build with depends on the type of performance youre looking for: Once you consider the type of dock thats best suited for the water around your cottage or cabin and the materials youd like to build it with, youre ready to hire a contractor to kickstart your project. The advantages that Fiberglass grate has over all other products are: As much as 60% open space, less pressure from waves. Keeping partially open water near dock structures will reduce ice thickness in the general area around docks and pilings and help to limit the risk of ice damage. WebIf the dock frame is allowed to freeze into the ice it could be damaged when the ice thaws. How to Get a Solid, Frost-proof Footing: When you pour concrete footings, hold the cardboard concrete form tube about 12 in. For private docks of cottage or cabin owners, there are two popular types of docks: fixed and floating. This year in our area, the lakes rose three feet higher than normal while the ice was still quite thick. Mark your dock so that people on the frozen lake can see and avoid it. Maintaining and ice-free zone in and around dock structures is your very best protection against jacking/lifting damage. WebBuilding a dock with wood posts 3D animation Seth Merriam 1.95K subscribers Subscribe 347 186K views 7 years ago How to build a dock on posts. Complete DIY projects like a pro! Winterizing Fixed, Metal, or Wood Docks. Docks can also be damaged by ice in the water. The circulators can be attached to floats, which help stretch out the propelled water and help prevent ice from forming around the dock. Tie a line from the dock to a secure object on land to keep your dock from floating away. WebBuilding a dock with wood posts 3D animation Seth Merriam 1.95K subscribers Subscribe 347 186K views 7 years ago How to build a dock on posts. Do this by nailing the sides of the tube to the center of a tic-tac-toe grid of 2x4s at the top of the hole.

Do this by nailing the sides of the tube to the center of a tic-tac-toe grid of 2x4s at the top of the hole. This will secure your dock, should it come loose during the winter or as ice thaws. That will not work for fiberglass, 2x6 joist are just not thick enough to hold a 3/8 lag bolt and washer. Winterizing Fixed, Metal, or Wood Docks.

Tie a line from the dock to a secure object on land to keep your dock from floating away. Scott Freerksen "The Lake Guy" created LakefrontLiving.com in 2003. Then, as this water dries up or freezes inside the wood, it can expand and contract, leading to splintered and broken wood and a destroyed dock. When water sits on wooden boards, it can cause the wood to expand and fill up with moisture. Bosharts piers are driven down deep enough into the lakebed that they find firmer footing, ensuring they, and the dock that theyll support, will remain stable. The first low fiberglass pier was installed before Katrina. Aluminum (for legs and framework) and synthetics, such as plastic (for decking material), are the WebIf you were not planning on keeping your dock in the water during the winter this application may change your mind. up from the bottom of the footing. Building a dock is a complicated process that requires a lot of planning, a good knowledge of local geography and the body of water youre building a dock in, and specialized construction skills. In the winter months, snow and ice can take a toll. Repair costs are not only limited to physical damage, but also the down-time of dock facilities and time spent obtaining necessary government permits. Our Truss Docks are designed with one 55 gallon drum per every 8 square feet. As the vegetation dies, the decomposition process uses up much of the available oxygen in the pond. Consult Your Owners Manual. Jim Boshart, principal of Boshart Construction, is an expert in dock construction. This insures that the frame stays above the ice even with Trex style laminated wood decking (which weighs about 5lbs/sqft). Jacking damage can also occur on any body of water regulated by man. Whether it be on the roads, on our cars, or on our homes, winter can truly pack a punch. In what ways can winter ice damage a dock? Its common for fixed dock owners to add gazeboes and other amenities to the structures since they're so sturdy. Required fields are marked *. Use Dock Bubblers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 V-Dock R&D Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved. This product has come down in price in recent years and is now seeing wide adoption in residential pier construction. up from the bottom of the footing. Make sure the deck panels come out so you can carry the dock out in parts and the sections are short to keep the weight down. We spoke with Hickson to learn more about the best type of docks for our four-season weather and how to prevent this damage. When winterizing docks you must disconnect them especially if the shore connection is a deck or other solid structure. Using the hardest wood available. WebYou can simply untie your Jet Dock winter boat dock from rigid moorings or remove the moorings altogether. Winterizing docks can be a very difficult task if you have to remove them for the winter. They are submerged quickly, so the debris floats over the top. It is also possible to use a timer and temperature sensor with these products to save on electricity usage. 3 Make a square with your 8-foot (2.4 m) long 2-by-8 pieces, and screw them together. You definitely want aluminum docks like these from me or someone else. Email: sales@vdock.com. Simple to install and remove, theyre also protected by our patented Poly-Deck, so you wont have to worry about cracking, fading, or wearing wood. Please enter a valid phone number (123-456-7890). De-Icing is more accurately referred to as an art form than an exact science. The owner worked on oil platforms and saw how the material held up, so he decided fiberglass grate was the way to go. Attach a safety line: Tie a chafe-resistant rope from your dock to a fixed point nearby, like a tree or permanent structure. Visit the area of the water where you plan to build your dock, and bring your supplies with you. This will secure your dock, should it come loose during the winter or as ice thaws. This type of dock hinges back from the shoreline and rises up higher than a normal lift dock. When water sits on wooden boards, it can cause the wood to expand and fill up with moisture. If youre pouring more than a few footings, order premixed concrete from a ready-mix company. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. The heavy snow and ice prevent sunlight from penetrating into the water causing the existing aquatic vegetation to die off. Obviously, the pier cannot be completely hurricane proof, there are still so many unpredictable things that can happen. 3 Make a square with your 8-foot (2.4 m) long 2-by-8 pieces, and screw them together. This makes for a stronger installation. When you build your dock with DockDeck, youll not only enjoy the look and feel but also reap the rewards of a high performing product for decades to come. Ice in the water Docks can also be damaged by ice in the water. Create a Winterization Plan. This is a complicated system and materials are unforgiving. It is a much safer alternative to traditional dock floats. Steel grating has been around for decades. Fasten one concrete anchor to each corner of your dock with thick galvanized chains, crisscrossing the chains so each anchor is adjacent to the corner of the dock its fastened to. Aluminum (for legs and framework) and synthetics, such as plastic (for decking material), are the We promise not to lay siege to your inbox and you can unsubscribe at any time! Please enter your phone number (###) ###-####. Then dig the footing holes so that the bottoms of the footings are at or below the frost depth. Boshart has now completed seven docks for home and cottage owners on Sunfish Lake, just a few minutes drive northwest of Waterloo, Ontario. Your email address will not be published. Hurricanes, well we all know about those. The longer and colder the winter is, the more the water will cool over time and open water may be limited accordingly. The fishing pier is an iconic symbol of our way of life on the Gulf coast. However, the downside of building a low pier is that waves will be knocking some of the decking off the pier every time there is a high wind. Well let the shipping experts handle your order to get it to you quickly. Ice exerts a pressure of about 50,000 lbs. Create a Winterization Plan. Maintaining and ice-free zone in and around dock structures is your very best protection against jacking/lifting damage. Controlling Indoor Air Pollution at Your Lake Home, Prevent Ice Damage to Your Dock A De-Icing Guide. Get as close to the water as you can to build it because once it is complete, it will be very heavy and difficult to move.

4978 Pontchartrain Drive Slidell, LA 70458 $$. Icy conditions and frozen water in lakes, ponds, or rivers can damage old, wooden docks, leading to expensive repairs and replacements in the spring. For most families, a pier is a big investment and the centerpiece of the fishing camp. Lake Home Buying Seminar Teaches 37 Questions You Never Thought to Ask! WebMaterials and construction Docks built by DIYers based on plans theyve purchased or drawn themselves, or even docks designed by a local builder, are usually constructed the old-fashioned way: from treated wood with galvanized screws, bolts and nuts. There is a lot of controversy over the use of bubblersif they are not properly installed and aligned then they can create a liability for the cottage owner. Keeping partially open water near dock structures will reduce ice thickness in the general area around docks and pilings and help to limit the risk of ice damage. Our ice resistant pontoon floats are designed to be left in the water all year including winter. Forest Lake, Minnesota 55025, Phone: 651-464-3902 This type of dock hinges back from the shoreline and rises up higher than a normal lift dock.

Sign up for our newsletter! Theres also the risk of ice flows, particularly in river waters, where large chunks of ice can flow down current and smash into a dock, causing damage. Consult Your Owners Manual. Remember, a De-Icer works because it draws warmer, denser water from the bottom and circulates it upward to the surface, preventing ice formation or melting existing ice. Remember to tie the rope high enough to account for any tides or rising water levels. When winterizing docks you must disconnect them especially if the shore connection is a deck or other solid structure. Theyre also well-equipped to handle a wide variety of situations, from deep drop-offs just offshore to mucky and muddy waters that are difficult to work in. Will not rot, bug risistant and does not get slippery when wet. Freezing ice can heave the dock up or down, moving it off moorings or damaging the anchor posts themselves. And thats all before you determine the type of dock you need to build or select the material you want to build it with. If youre in an area where the ice has a tendency to build up on the shoreline, a step lift dock may be a better solution for you. To solve the problem of resistance to the waves upward pressure, we need to consider a few different decking materials. The difference between a floating and fixed dock, The special environmental factors that affect which type of dock you can build, The pros and cons of the most popular dock decking materials on the market. What Does it Mean to Have Lake Access or Right-of-Way. Then, spring-tie your Jet Dock freely so it does not rub up against other structures, and do not leave the Jet Dock in locations where moving ice can tear it away and cause damage. Cottagelife.com is part of the Blue Ant Media Canada network 2023 Blue Ant Media. Hurricane Katrina showed us the futility of building higher piers. These piers are made of timber piles with wood decking and cross ties to support the long piles.

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