You know how amazing it feels if you have ever stood at the marina on a scenic and clean waterfront. You are sitting on the edge of the dock with your legs dangling or taking a leisure stroll with the sun setting in the foreground and the wind blowing in your face. The gentle waves provide you with a pristine and peaceful escape.
Hence, you need to get a dock for your lake house!
Besides the incredible scenery that we just painted above, a dock has more to offer. A dock offers you plenty of benefits, such as the perfect home for your boat, a beautiful place to throw a party or have a BBQ on Sundays, and making major life decisions in peace.
So, are you interested in buying a dock?
If yes, the only question remains: Would you prefer a floating dock or a fixed dock?
Let’s look at them in detail their respective pros and cons:
Fixed Dock
A fixed dock has a small gap above the shoreline. This accounts for any fluctuations and tides in the water level. This dock is secured with steel pilings driven underwater and into the ground.
Here are a few aspects of a fixed dock:
- As the name says, this dock is fixed to the water body bed, making it very stable
- Boats secured to a fixed dock need to be monitored regularly to make sure that any fluctuations in the water level might not damage them
- It can withstand a lot more weight compared to a floating dock
- Offers sturdy footing when you are getting in or out of a boat due to no movement
- High variance in water level can cause a large gap between the dock and waterline. This is why a fixed dock is better suited in areas where water does not deviate much from a standard level
- There’s a possibility of termite or rodent infestation
- It can become a hazard in harsh weather, such as storms
- The fluctuating water often splashes over the platform and strips away any protective coating and paint
- Support poles corrode over time
- Frequent maintenance is necessary, prolonging the dock’s life. Cleaning the support poles and pilings underwater can be very expensive and dangerous in winter
Floating Dock
Floating docks made an appearance in the 90s, and since then, they have been gaining a lot of attention, thanks to their configurability and durability. Today, floating docks are used for residential, commercial, and naval applications.
Here are a few aspects of a floating dock:
- Ability to relocate, resize, and redesign
- It has the right amount of buoyance to float on surfaces
- It can withstand considerable weight
- Made of recyclable and high-density polyethylene, making it maintenance-free
- You can easily remove and add sections
- The dock is resistant to snow, rain, and UV rays
- Floating jetty cubes have special groves on the top surface that enhance grip
- Are corrosion and chemical-resistant
- Can tolerate temperatures up to 110°C
- Eco-friendly and non-toxic
- Moisture-repelling
- Very lightweight
A fixed dock loses its quality slowly. From the water body characteristics to area conditions and the material with which the dock is made, all these factors play a major role in the platform’s durability. On the other hand, a floating dock has none of these problems. It offers more benefits than a fixed dock. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t opt for a fixed dock. As we mentioned, depending on the weather conditions in your area, a fixed dock might be more suitable than a floating dock.
You can get fixed, floating, and other quality boat docks from EZ Dock. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.
