How does a floating dock work | Complete guide
As a boat owner or manager of a marina or public boat launch, you understand the power of the right dock to enhance your property’s resale value, boost its value and create a pleasant, welcoming area for people to board and exit their vehicles. Additionally, docks can be used for entertaining and relaxing. There are various options for docking. The advantages of floating docks over other docking types include their flexibility, durability and ease of maintenance.
What is a floating dock?
A floating dock is a platform that floats on the water’s surface, supported by airtight, buoyant pontoons that displace water. These pontoons are made of highly durable material. They are typically filled with expanded in situ polystyrene or similar substance to keep the dock afloat if the drum is punctured.
Floating dock systems are often linked to the shore through a gangway and are simple to install and remove for the seasonal boat owner. Drifting docks are anchored into their body of water and the coastline to protect them from floating away. PV Lightning protection plays a significant role in protecting the dock from lightning.
The Advantages of Using a Floating Dock
It’s simple to understand why drive on boat dock properly is famous on many shorelines. It’s simple to add and remove modules, allowing floating dock designs to vary as needed, even when released for the season or inclement weather. They’re ideal for shorelines with profound or changing water levels:
An anchor may extend deeper than the legs of a fixed or wheel-in dock, and flotation enables your dock to change with the sea. This is especially useful if your dock has electrical systems linked to it or you are worried about the natural environment near water (because legs and piles do not harm the sediment). Floating docks are also a beautiful element that will enhance the appearance of your waterfront.
Types of floating docks
Plastic floating docks
A largely plastic-based floating dock is a dock that covers a host of durable, chemically-derived materials. It may not have the same aesthetic appeal as a wooden dock, but it is generally the most cost-effective solution, and plastic does not rust or decay.
Another fantastic plastic alternative that’s easy to purchase and ship is the Dock Blocks Floating Dock kit discussed previously. Unfortunately, even UV-treated plastics may succumb to sun deterioration, such as discoloration and cracking.
Aluminum floating docks
Because of their longevity, aluminum floating docks are frequent and popular. A dock composed of this lightweight but rigid metal can withstand a boat’s collision or the thrashing of a hurricane with much more resiliency than a plastic or timber pier. However, because aluminum is corrosion-resistant but not waterproof, an aluminum floating dock will corrode with time and exposure to the weather.
An aluminum dock, such as one manufactured by Rolling Barge, is an excellent alternative for usage during the summer and removal and storage during the winter. Because aluminum is lightweight, it’s simple to attach it to an ATV or SUV and truck it away. In addition, its lifetime will be substantially extended due to this restricted exposure.
Wood floating docks
Everyone enjoys the beauty of a wooden dock. Wood is the traditional building material for a floating dock. It continues to be popular not only because of its historical significance but also because it is an excellent material for dock construction.
This material floats naturally (but can waterloo beyond its buoyancy if it isn’t constructed with pontoons and/or foam). It is easy to design, and it is long-lasting. However, depending on the kind of wood used, wooden floating docks may be costly, and they do need maintenance—often involving significant sanding, staining, and sealing—if they are to survive a long time.
How do they work?
Floating docks float because the air within them makes them less dense than the water. EZ Dock floating docks have thick, hefty walls and no frame and are built of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The docks keep level and stable because of an air-filled chamber within the LLDPE portions. This design allows the floating dock to move with the water rather than against it, which would cause wear and tear. Several globe valve types are used in the manufacturing process.
Floating docks may be — and generally are — permanent docking options, even though they are not fixed like stationary docks. The most notable distinction is that, unlike fixed, permanent docks, floating docks may be moved, altered, and extended. In addition, you’ll need to link the dock to the beach in one of two ways: piling and brackets or a gangway. Many floating dock owners prefer to anchor their docks for more secure and valuable construction.
A coupler system links the pieces of a floating dock and helps support varied weight and stress levels. EZ Dock coupler systems are unusual because they are made of recycled rubber, which is ecologically beneficial and can endure severe waves and absorb damage. Screws, bolts, nuts, and nails, which make a dock inflexible and corrode with time, are no longer required.
Final words
We hope the above article has cleared all your confusion regarding the working of floating docks and associated types. However, the floating dock is most popular among several waterfront owners for countless reasons, including being cheaper to construct, long-lasting and versatile.
