A boat dock out on the water is one of the best ways to enjoy your waterfront property – even if you don’t own a boat! With the right accessories, you can turn your dock into a relaxing oasis or a fun-filled playground. Here, we’ll examine the types of docks that exist so you can make a smart initial purchase, or upgrade if you already have one.
Rolling Docks
Rolling Docks that literally use wheels on one end to roll in and out of the water have become an industry standard thanks to their convenience, ease of use, and relatively low cost. Customers of ours who swear by them typically deal with frequently changing tide levels or seasonal water level shifts. Smaller rolling docks consist of lightweight aluminum framework with a set of wheels on one end and adjustable-height legs on the other. Larger ones may include additional sets of wheels, but wheels can also be added wherever they’re needed for weight support or to alleviate lift-up.
Taking a look at a couple of best values, the Patriot Docks 16' x 4’ Straight Roll-In Dock with Decking offers a 4-foot-wide deck surface that’s 16 feet long. Their 16' L x 4' W Patio Roll-In Dock with Decking features the same configuration, but with the addition of a double-width 8-foot “patio” area closest to the boat.
Patriot Docks also offers their 4-feet-wide rolling docks in both “straight” and “patio” configurations for 24-foot lengths (straight and patio styles), 32-foot straight and patio, and 40-foot straight and patio versions. All lengths are available with a cedar, aluminum, or PVC plastic top deck surface.
Stationary Truss Docks
Stationary docks make a good choice for permanent applications where water depths stay fairly consistent and the dock can be left in place. Stationary docks are popular choices for lake shores and bogs with heavy vegetation.
If a short, 8-foot dock will suit your needs, we offer a best value with the Patriot Docks 4' x 8' Low-Pro Stationary Dock with Decking. Patriot Docks also offers 4-foot-wide stationary docks in 16-foot, 24-foot, 32-foot, and 40-foot lengths. On any of these sizes, choose the “straight” configuration that’s 4 feet wide down its entire length, or select the “patio” checkbox for versions that widen to 8 feet on the boat side. As with the rolling docks, most Patriot Docks stationary docks are available with cedar, aluminum, or PVC plastic top deck surfaces.
Floating Docks
If you’ve got extremely soft lake bottoms or water that’s too deep for wheels or posts, floating docks that sit on top of the water level are an excellent solution. These feature traditional pier surfaces with foam-filled blocks underneath for buoyancy. Floating docks are typically anchored in place using post and sleeve pilings driven down into the lake bottom. In deeper waters, multiple anchors can be used.
Unlike rolling and stationary docks referenced further above, floating docks are relatively simple to use because there are no post heights to adjust. When not in use, they can be left in place, pulled close against the shoreline, or moved up on land completely. If you’re interested in a fully-assembled floating dock, we’ve got The Patriot Docks 4-foot-wide Low Profile Floating Platform Section with Decking available in 8-foot, 24-foot, 32-foot, and 40-foot lengths.
Build Your Own Dock
If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, we have you covered with a choice of 4’ x 4’ dock top sections and planks, dock frames, floating boxes, wheels, and related hardware you’ll need to build your own custom-sized dock.
Ramps and Gangways to Connect the Dock to the Shore
Ramps and gangways are designed to bridge the gap between the edge of the dock and the shore, eliminating any need to stretch steps or leap across water. If you’ve got a dock, ramps and gangways are well worth owning because they make it so much easier to load or unload carryon items such as coolers, towels, gear, and more – plus they make it easier for individuals with disabilities to access your boat. Depending on your terrain, you may find yourself needing one of each.
Gangways are designed to be submerged in water and connect to a dock. They have side railings, and can be used as a direct connection to ground that’s level and easy to access. However, if you have a steep shoreline or uneven bank to deal with, a ramp is the best item to have. Ramps are shorter than gangways, and usually lack side railings. But because ramps are angled, they’re ideal for the space between uneven ground and a gangway or dock. Ramps are not intended to be submerged in water, whereas gangways are designed for it and equipped to handle posts that are staked in the mud.
Dock Accessories You’ll Want to Consider
Once you have the dock set up, it’s time to consider accessorizing it. Dock accessories include everything from ladders and benches to fishing rod holders and swim platforms. You can also add solar lighting to create a beautiful ambiance, or add security with motion-sensor lights.
We can help with items like dock ladders, underwater lights, solar LED dock lights, cleats, chocks, dock bumpers and edging, mooring whips, dock boxes, piling caps, power pedestals, kayak racks, dock de-icers, dock carts, and much more. You may also find our other boating blog articles informative and well worth a look also. No matter what your vision is, there's a dock accessory that can help you make it a reality. So, get creative and have fun!
In addition to everything covered here, we’ve also got the boating items you want and need such as electronics and navigation equipment, must-haves for interior cabin & galley areas, items for on-deck, replacement engine parts and hardware, plumbing-related items, maintenance, and other upgrades to make the boating experience more enjoyable. Whatever you’re looking for, we’re confident you’ll find the right products on the digital shelves of our online store. Visit us at www.BOATiD.com for all your marine needs, or contact our knowledgeable specialists at 888-453-5144.