Whether for kayaking, boating, canoeing, or simply relaxing, your boat dock is a versatile accessory made of many different components with their purposes.
What are the different parts of a full boat dock? To learn its entire anatomy, continue reading below.
Otherwise known as the backbone of the structure, the main frame is your boat dock's supporting base. The frame outlines the accessory's design, so you'll know what everything will look like before building. It helps to have robust and modular frame material like aluminum to ensure the dock's service life is long.
You’ll locate floatation components underneath the main frame of your dock. Float drums should be sturdy enough to withstand the elements and have a buoyancy that allows the dock to move as water levels fluctuate.
Bumpers on a boat dock are like corner guards on a kitchen counter. These devices protect aluminum docks from watercraft, and vice versa, during close contact.
- P-Bumper: A P-bumper attaches to the edge of a boat dock and protects against potential damage and scratches.
- Pole Bumper: Pole bumpers attach to dock poles and face outward, increasing the space between a dock and an incoming vessel to ensure they don't make contact.
Decking provides a stable surface for people to walk on and is available in various materials.
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Aluminum Since aluminum oxide is one of the hardest substances on the planet, decking made of this material is incredibly durable and resistant to the elements. Aluminum is an affordable and sustainable option that is highly resistant to corrosion.
Feel free to browse our selection of aluminum boat ramps for sale on our American Muscle Docks and Fabrication webpage!
- Wood: Wood decking consists of a long-lasting, dense material that is just as fire-resistant as aluminum. IPE wood can resist insects, rot, decay, and weathering without pre-treatment.
- Composite: Composite decking provides hardwood's natural look and feel without maintenance or increased expense. It is also an environmentally friendly alternative since it uses recycled or scrap materials during its manufacture.
Whether you select handrails, toe rails, or wheel rails, these components provide support when walking down a boat ramp and prevent slips, falls, and objects from falling off a dock.
A roof on a boat dock keeps a vessel dry while stationed. There are two styles to choose from.
- Hip Roof: A hip roof has four downward sloping sections that provide a solid appearance and increased wind resistance.
- Gable Roof: A gable roof has two sloping sides that resemble an A-frame. This design and build can provide great ventilation at a budget-friendly cost.
A boat dock's slip is where your boat remains parked. Most ports will have parallel fingers on each vessel's side and one towards the front, enabling you to park watercraft easily.
Fingers are components that sit perpendicular to the main structure, creating two additional decks on each side of the boat when moored.
A mooring is a permanent component that helps secure a watercraft and can classify as cleats that mount on the edge of the dock or poles that sit in the water.
There are many different parts of a boat dock, but when assembled, they create one sturdy structure that adds value to your waterfront property.
