2Jan2018

Best (2nd) Best Season of the Year – Boat Shows!

January 2, 2018

PolyDock Kayak Launch, Canoe Launch, Stand alone Kayak Launch, Dock with Rainbow

Winter Boat Show Season is upon us and ShoreMaster dealers all across the Unites States and Canada couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to get out and visit with all of our customers. It’s one of our favorite times of year – second only to when we actually get to be on the water in the Summer.

If you are in the market for a new dock and lift system – or just looking to forget about the cold and snow for a while – be sure to visit your local ShoreMaster dealer at one of the many upcoming shows. Below a list of the shows that ShoreMaster dealers will be attending (check back often for additions and updates)!

If you are unable to make it to a boat show you can always visit one of our dealers in their showroom just use our convenient dealer locator to find a dealer near you! To stay in touch like us of facebook!

January

Portland Boat Show | January 10th – January 14th, 2018 | Portland Expo Center | Learn more

Chicago Boat Show | January 10th – January 14th, 2018 | McCormick Place – South | Learn more

Minneapolis Boat Show | January 11th – January 14th, 2018 | Minneapolis Convention Center | Learn more

Toronto International Boat Show | January 12th – January 21st, 2018 | Enercare Centre | Learn more

Milwaukee Boat Show | January 19th – January 21st & January 24th – January 28th, 2018 | Expo Center at State Fair Park | Learn more

Fargo Boat & Marine Products Show | January 26th – January 28th, 2018 | FargoDome | Learn more

Seattle Boat Show | January 26th – February 3rd, 2018 | CenturyLink Field, South Lake Union, and an all-new location at Bell Harbor Marina | Learn more

Spokane Boat Show | January 28th – February 4th, 2018 | Spokane County Fairgrounds | Learn more

February

Providence Boat Show | February 2nd – February 4th, 2018 | Rhode Island Convention Center | Learn more

Halifax Boat Show | February 8th – February 11th, 2018 | Halifax Exhibition Centre | Learn more

Hartford Boat Show | February 8th – February 11th, 2018 | Connecticut Convention Center | Learn more

Flathead Valley Boat Show | February 9th – February 11th, 2018 | Flathead County Fairgrounds – Trade Center Building | Learn more

New England Boat Show | February 10th – February 18th, 2018 | Massachusetts Convention Center Authority | Learn more

Duluth Boat, Sports and Travel Show | February 14th – February 18th, 2018 | Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) | Learn more

Grand Rapids Boat Show | February 14th – February 18th, 2018 | DeVos Place | Learn more

Central New York (CNY) Winter Boat Show | February 15th – February 18th, 2018 | NYS Fairgrounds | Learn more

New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo | February 15th – February 18th, 2018 | NJ CONVENTION & EXPO CENTER | Learn more

Detroit Boat Show | February 17th – February 25th, 2018 | Cobo Center | Learn more

Atlantic City Boat Show | February 28^th – March 4^th, 2018 | Atlantic City Convention Center | Learn more

March

Fargo Sportsmen’s Boat, Camping and Vacation Show | March 1^st – March 4^th, 2018 | FargoDome | Learn more

Mid-Canada Boat Show | March 1^st – March 4^th, 2018 | RBC Convention Centre | Learn more

Saskatoon Sport & Leisure Show. | March 2nd – March 4^th, 2018 | Prairieland Park | Learn more

National Capital Boat Show | March 9th – March 11th, 2018 | Dulles Expo Center | Learn more

Minot Boat Show | March 10th – March 12th, 2018 | North Dakota State Fair Center | Learn more

Novi Boat Show | March 15th – March 18th, 2018 | Suburban Collection Showplace | Learn more

Worcester Boat Show | March 16th – March 18th, 2018 | DCU Convention Center | Learn more

Northeast Campground Association | March 16th – March 18th, 2018 | Radisson Nashua Hotel | Learn more

Wisconsin Sports Show (Eau Claire) | March 16th – March 18th, 2018 | Chippewa Valley Expo Center | Learn more

Northwest Sportshow – Minneapolis, MN | March 22nd – March 25th, 2018 | Minneapolis Convention Center | Learn more

Cottage Life | March 22nd – March 25th, 2018 | The International Centre | Learn more

April

1,000 Islands Spring Boat Show | April 7th – April 9th, 2018 | Cerow Recreation Park Arena | Learn more

19Jan2017

New Floating Docks at 2017 Minneapolis Boat Show

January 19, 2017

Kurt Welch

Hallberg Marine, Minneapolis Boat Show, PolYDock Products, ShoreMaster PolyDock Products

As you cruise the aisles, and check out the latest boats, pontoons, and docks at this year’s Minneapolis Boat Show you may notice a new kind of floating dock at the show. Head over to booth #903 and talk to the Hallberg Marine team about ShoreMaster and PolyDock floating docks. PolyDock floating docks are modular, one piece, rotationally molded docks that are generally more stable than a traditional floating dock that uses standard dock flotation or barrels. The team at Hallbergs can show you all of the PolyDock options that are available for your waterfront property or lake home. Plus, You can take advantage of ShoreMaster’s we’ve got you covered promotion, and apply it to your new PolyDock floating dock purchase. To make things easier, head over to the PolyDock dock builder tool, draw up your PolyDock design and then either submit it online for a quote, or bring your PolyDock design to Hallberg Marine at booth #903 at the Minneapolis Boat Show for a quote.

There’s a reason so many people attend boat shows, after all, where else can you see and compare multiple brands of docks, boats, pontoons, outboards, accessories and more all in one place? Aside from the internet, nowhere. If you find a brand of floating dock that you like at this year’s Minneapolis Boat Show, we want to encourage you to look online at PolyDock products, or ask Hallberg Marine to show you your PolyDock floating dock options to ensure you have enough information to make an informed purchase, and to ensure you get the best deal.

Some prominent floating dock manufacturers hide their pricing by listing section sizes that are larger than they actually are. For instance, some manufacturers claim their dock section sizes to be 60″ wide, when in reality they are closer to 57″ wide. While it may not seem like much, over the span of the entire length of the dock, you are actually getting quite a bit less square footage than you think you purchased. To learn more about this, check out our blog post on the topic – For Modular Dock Pricing – PolyDock May Be Your Best Value.

We hope you enjoy the Minneapolis Boat Show this year, there are a lot of other things you could be doing, but the fact that you chose to seek adventure both literally at the show, and aspirationally (in the form of daydreaming about summer on the lake over a cold January weekend in Minnesota), tells us that you deserve to have a great summer this year, because you’ve started planning for it now. Stop by and say hi to us, and the Hallberg Marine team while your at the show, we think you’ll be glad you did!

6Nov2016

PolyDock Products, ShorePort, PolyDock, Floating Docks

Using A Floating Dock To Extend a Fixed or Roll-In Dock

November 6, 2016

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK

When it comes to adding onto an existing dock system, you have many options to choose from. One of the most obvious choices for any waterfront property owner that wants to add onto an existing dock, is to simply add more of the same style or brand of dock that you already have. This is really a “no brainer”.

However, there are other, less obvious choices, and now is as good of a time as any to consider them.

Floating Docks Can Be A Great Way To Extend Your Existing Dock System

Floating Docks, Like the PolyDock floating dock and ShorePort drive-on jetski ramp offer many benefits when you want to add onto an exsiting standing or wheel-in dock system. Some of the many benefits of using a floating dock system like PolyDock is the ability to quickly and easily move the extension around your existing dock. To make changes, you simply remove the floating portion from it’s anchorage, float it into position in it’s new location, and re-anchor it. It’s that simple.

Using A Floating Dock For A Special Event Like Weddings, Concerts, or Triathalons

Floating Docks like PolyDock Products modular system can also be used as a temporary dock solution. For instance, a USA Triathalon Race Director, or event promoter might use PolyDock for a temporary dock system for the swim portion of a major triathalon, or a band might use PolyDock as a floating stage either temporarily, permanently, or at different bodies of water throughout an entire summer! To see PolyDock in action as a floating stage check out the Rock Out With Your Dock Out post from our blog.

6Nov2016

PolyDock Selected as Swim Dock for 2016 USA Triathalon Age Group National Championship In Omaha, NE

November 6, 2016

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK

PolyDock was officially selected as the dock system to be used for the swim portion of the 2016 USA Triathalon Age Group National Championship triathalon in Omaha, NE. Watch the video below for clips from the PolyDock installation on Carter Lake at Levi Carter Park in Omaha, NE, and hear what members of Mimran Event Management | Race Omaha, and USA Triathalon had to say about the dock installation and working with PolyDock Products and ShoreMaster to make the event a success. Want to see more? Check out PolyDock’s USA Triathalon 2016 Age Group National Championship Photo Galleries below.

Also, check out this great video from Omaha World-Herald:

Triathletes Compete For National Title In Omaha

21Jul2016

Waterfront Design For Parks, Resorts, and Camps like Camp Wakeela

July 21, 2016

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK

At Camp Wakeela, swimming, watersports, sailing, and a multitude of other waterfront activities are just an integral part of the fun and adventure that camp-goers are treated to every camp season.

So when Camp Wakeela’s Directors decided to expand their programming options to help bolster their already enviable waterfront amenities, they tapped into the experience and professionalism of the team at Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS) to help them plan, design and program the new waterfront features at the camp.

CRS worked with Camp Wakeela’s Directors to help them take advantage of the beauty and abundance of the natural resources that they already had available, namely, their existing waterfront on Little Bear Pond in Hartford, ME. to create a unique, first-class swim space using PolyDock modular floating docks. Working together, the team utilized the modularity and flexibility of the PolyDock floating dock system to create two separate swimming “cribs” at the waterfront. One crib was designed and set up as a competition style pool that features eight swim lanes, kick boards and starting blocks – perfect for fun, competitive swimming games and programs. This new swim area provides Camp wakeela and it’s campers with all of the advantages of a natural competition pool without all of the costs associated with installation and traditional pool maintenance. In other words, this is a competition pool where everyone wins.

With the new PolyDock installation designed and implemented by Commercial Creation Specialists, Camp Wakeela has been able to add not only a new competition pool area that can accommodate races and swim lessons for their campers, they’ve also added opportunities for campers to fish, receive out of water instructions for watersports activities, and campers can easily access other areas of the waterfront, like the installed floating watersports features.

NEED HELP PLANNING A DOCK SOLUTION?

Commercial Recreation Specialists has helped hundreds of camps find waterfront solutions using the resources they already have availabe. They’d love the opportunity to do the same for you. Give them a call or contact them today to get started.

www.crs4rec.com
877.896.8442 (toll free)
608.848.8781 (office)
608.848.8782 (fax)

LEARN MORE ABOUT CAMP WAKEELA

Visit the Camp Wakeela Website at: www.campwakeela.com

Email Contact:
Ephram and Lori Caflun, Owners/Directors
ephram@campwekeela.com
Summer Address:1750 Bear Pond Road
Hartford, ME 04220
Phn-207.224.7878
Fax-207.224.7999
Winter Address:979 Allison Court
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Phn-201.612.5125
Fax-201.612.9927

7Mar2016

To Get Your New Pier or Floater Installed This Summer, Start Planning Now

March 7, 2016

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK

How Will You Spend Your Summer?

Perhaps you wish you could install a private pier stretching out over a tranquil body of water somewhere in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, or New Jersey; a place where you could fish, watch the sun rise or set, and tie up your boat or pontoon just steps from your back deck.
Just as you snap back to reality from your daydream, you realize it’s only March, you still have plenty of time to get your private dock planned and installed before summer, right? Well, maybe not. If you want your own pier or dock this summer, or if you’d like to install a new floater along your bulkhead this spring, you need to start the process now.

For many people, a dock or pier is the wood or metal structure that’s built over the water and it’s used as a walkway. A dock is the water next to a pier, where you moor or tie up a boat. And a floater is typically a plastic modular floating dock system like PolyDock Products, or sometimes it’s used to refer to a wood floating dock, usually installed alongside a bulkhead or seawall. However, people, businesses, and the agencies involved in regulating and building such structures use all these terms somewhat loosely and definitely interchangeably.
No matter what you call it, you should think about how you would like to use the structure. Do you want a basic configuration where you can unwind after a long day, or week, at the office, or do you want an extension of your backyard with power, dock furniture, and a fish cleaning table?

Do you have a lot of wave action or is it mostly calm at your shore, what kind of water or tidal fluctuation do you have? Are you docking a waverunner, a pontoon, or a Bow Rider along the dock? What about boat lifts? Are you planning on installing the dock in a narrow canal?

Find a Reputable Dock Builder or Marine Contractor

Finding someone to build your dock can be difficult. Ask those who have nicely constructed docks for their recommendations, then ask the contractors how their construction and installation techniques differ from those of other contractors. Find out if they are licensed and insured. Ask them to show you some of their other work. You’ll quickly learn which bodies of water have ice movement or challenging restrictions to dock installation. You’ll also get a good idea of what makes a floater like PolyDock such a great choice thanks to its stability and firm walking characteristics.Stationary docks are usually anchored to pilings designated for marine use and then the piles are driven to maximum depths and spaced out (typically every 6’ to 10’ on center. Modular floating docks can also be anchored, with piles, and many waterfront owners and installers find it much simpler and much easier to anchor modular floating docks with schedule 40 Galvanized Pipe – this is a less expensive option and typically works very well for installing modular style floating docks in nearly any location.
The marine contractor should use hardware that will withstand constant exposure to the marine environment. Hot-dipped galvanized steel pipe and either galvanized steel or at least stainless steel and brass nuts and bolts are the rule. Anything less will soon rust. As concerns grow about the effect of chemically treated pilings on water quality, chemicals from pressure treated lumber used to build piers leaking into the water supply, and the environmental damage caused by Styrofoam beads that escape from some foam-filled modular floating docks that some manufacturers still fill their floaters with, it is important to consider using products that are environmentally friendly.

The best dock builders often will be incredibly busy, so you’ll likely need to be patient. Our growing list of PolyDock Products dealers are a great place to start when trying to find a reputable marine contractor, and most PolyDock dealers will be able complete the installation of your PolyDock or ShorePort for you.

Fixed Pier or Floating Dock or Floater Next to the Bulkhead?

The choice between fixed and floating docks usually boils down to personal preference, and while a floating dock might give you a bit more versatility, there are some general guidelines to think about. Fixed docks tend to sit higher off the water, especially at low tide, than floating docks and are preferable in places where there is a lot of current or wave action.Floating docks float directly on the surface of the water, rising and falling with the water level, their freeboard is generally determined by the amount of water that the dock system drafts minus the total section height. For instance, PolyDock floating docks have a total section height of 16” and they generally draft about 1.5” to 2”. This means that the PolyDock floating dock will always have a freeboard of about 14” regardless of the water depth or tidal fluctuation. This is great for entering and exiting boats, pontoons, kayaks, canoes, you name it. This style of dock is usually anchored using pile guides around pilings, or pipe brackets around galvanized pipe. They require fewer pilings, too — and the ones needed are to hold the floaters in place horizontally, not to support their weight. That makes repairs less expensive, and easier.

Modular floating docks are popular because many people may find it easier to get into a boat from a floating dock, because instead of climbing down from a standing dock, they can just step in to enter or exit the vessel.
Naturally, floating docks may not be the right choice everywhere. Some jurisdictions discourage installing a floating dock (or any dock) over incredibly shallow water or in some wetlands. The thought is that because the dock may rest to close to the bottom it could impede the flow of material underneath.

Also, as a general rule, most floating docks should not be subjected to continuous non-stop wind driven waves, or excessive waves brought on by heavy boat traffic. No matter what the installer or dock builder tells you about a floating dock’s couplers being able to withstand huge waves, there is almost nobody that wants to walk on a wobbly, constantly moving, floating dock that is doing its own version of the worm dance in 3’ waves. You should feel compelled to question any installer that tells you otherwise. You do have other, better options, and when someone tells you a floating dock is a great choice for large waves and in unprotected areas, your start to exercise your options. Most floating dock systems and drive on jet ski ports are optimal for backwaters, and calmer areas where waves aren’t much of a factor. In these locations a dock that offers a firmer, less spongy walking surface, along with a more rigid dock connector that allows the whole dock system to float in unison is going to give you the most stability. Take a walk on any installed PolyDock floating dock system to get a good idea of what great stability in a modular floating dock feels like.

Many people use floating docks in combination with stationary or fixed docks. One popular configuration is a T- shaped design, with a fixed walkway on pilings, then a ramp or steps going down to a floating platform, or they will simply install the floater parallel to a fixed dock with a ramp or gangway transition. It is also very common to see a floater installed parallel to a bulkhead because it is an effective and easy way to access your boat and generally is very simple to get a permit for a modular floating dock in this configuration.

The stability of some modular dock systems and traditional wood floating docks that utilize billets or tubs for flotation, varies greatly. In some cases, stepping on one side of a lower quality floating dock will cause the dock’s other side to rise, this can be very unsettling for many people to experience. Because of its design, PolyDock Products floating docks are among the most stable you’ll find, and, they are designed to reduce or eliminate this type of movement creating a safe and stable system. You can learn more about PolyDock Stability by checking out thePolyDock Blog Article on PolyDock Stability. If you’re considering a modular dock, you really should take a walk on some in-water floating docks before purchasing.

Traditional floating docks usually have decking made of wood or polypropylene. Naturally wood frame docks with polypropylene decking are more expensive but generally require a bit less maintenance.
Wood floating docks will warp, rot, and require maintenance and repairs over time. The dock hardware will generally need to be inspected and / or replaced, and, if not installed properly, the dock hardware can wear out faster than if it were installed properly.

Dock Permitting and Environmental Considerations

Is your property in a flood plain or tidal wetland area? For instance, local jurisdictions in Maryland may require a water quality impact assessment to demonstrate compliance with Chesapeake Bay protection laws.Could there be bird nesting and fish spawning areas nearby? These things all can impact what time of year dock construction or installation can take place.

Will your proposed dock layout obstruct the flow of sand and silt? Is the location likely to freeze in winter? Ice flows can be more damaging to a dock than boat wakes.

The Dock Permit Process

Despite what some people may say, permits are often times required to build docks. Indeed, the actual construction can take less time than getting the required permits. Permitting rules vary depending on the location and type of body of water involved. In some counties, docks may be considered an improvement to property, which means local zoning and building permits may be required.To apply for these permits, you’ll likely need a copy of your property’s plat and drawings of the proposed construction and placement – a good tool to use to at least get the conversation started regarding your dock layout is the PolyDock dock builder tool online. Plan out your PolyDock system and add measurements, etc. as a part of your initial permitting plans. Piling size, width of slips, fingers and walkways, and whether the dock interferes with boat traffic and navigation will be considered.

If you are buying waterfront property, check local regulations before completing the sale. A perfect project without any issues might take two to six weeks for approval. And the more complicated the dock or pier, the more time will be needed to complete the permits and probably the actual dock construction as well. Also, as temps warm up, the longer the process will take because of the volume of permit requests tends to goes up with the temperature.

One of the biggest challenges with water-oriented structures is figuring out which jurisdiction is responsible for approving what permit and determining what has been recently changed regarding dock permits. Regulations change, so don’t rely on what a neighbor who put in a dock five years ago tells you. Maryland and Virginia now limit a dock’s main walkway to no more than six feet wide – three feet in wetlands. The allowable size of the structure also varies from place to place, so read up and pay attention, even these restrictions may be different today.

So, How Much Time Do You Have or Need To Install A Dock?

As you have probably guessed all along, there are many, many options when it comes to building your perfect dock system no matter how you intend to enjoy it. The amount of choices available to you, combined with the fact that there is no one best solution for everybody, means that planning and installing your new dock, pier, or floater is likely to take longer than you originally thought. Once you’ve chosen the correct dock system for your vision, you may still need to get those permits in place.

Wherever your dream shoreline is, do your research now, talk to a PolyDock dealer to help you get started. Don’t wait, summer will be here and gone before you know it. Wouldn’t you rather be out enjoying your time on the water this summer rather than waiting to enjoy it next summer?

To help you turn your vision into reality, below are some very common PolyDock layouts and configurations for the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-Chesapeake area, of course these are just a few examples of the many ways you can use PolyDock!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this post and wish you all of the best in turning your waterfront dreams into waterfront reality this summer. If we can help at all, please contact us!

1Feb2016

Find Your New PolyDock Floating Dock at the New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo

February 1, 2016

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK

Boaters, jet ski enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a floater or drive-on jet ski lift for their place on the Jersey Shore or up on Lake Hopatcong, Lake Wallenpaupack, or Greenwood Lake were pleased to find PolyDock floating docks and ShorePort drive on jet ski lifts from PWCTEC at the 2016 New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo at the Raritan Convention Center in Edison, NJ. PWCTEC is a Personal Watercraft repair and sales outfit that also specializes in the sale and installation of modular floating docks and drive-on jet ski lifts. PWCTEC’s primary location is at Flash Marina on Lake Hopatcong, they also have other locations throughout New Jersey.

The New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo takes place through 5pm today, so stop out, meet with a representative from PolyDock Products, and talk to Brian or Bob at PWCTEC about their used PWC’s for sale, schedule your jet ski for service and repair, or learn more about their PolyDock Products floating dock and ShorePort sales, installation, and service programs.

To learn more about PWCTEC visit the PWCTEC website at pwctecinc.com

For more information on the 2016 New Jersey Boat Sale and &Expo, at the Raritan Convention Center in Edison, New Jersey, check out their website at NJ Boat Sale & Expo

8Jan2016

For Modular Dock Pricing – PolyDock May Be Your Best Value

January 8, 2016

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK, Modular Dock Pricing

It’s that time of year when waterfront property owners start searching for prices and doing comparisons on the brands and styles of modular floating docks and drive-on jet ski ports that they’ll need to get their summer boating, fishing, and riding adventures off to a great start. Smart shoppers know that now is the time they can find the best deals and great pricing on modular docks and drive-on boat ports, and that’s why so may people are searching for modular dock pricing right now. It’s also why we’re writing this blog post, so that we can help you get know what to look for when searching for modular dock pricing.

Below you’ll find some very helpful hints and money saving tips to help you find the most accurate modular dock pricing. Of course, if you simply want a price on a PolyDock modular floating dock system or wave runner port you can quickly get one by either contacting a PolyDock Products dealer so that they can give you the most accurate and complete price quote available by including any additional services that you’ll need including assembly, or installation, or you can use our dock builder to draw your dock system and add any drive on jet ski ports, and accessories and then request a free, no obligation quote, or you can use our modular dock pricing guidelines below to help you make sense of what exactly your price quote means, regardless of where you received it.

Understanding How Manufacturers Price Their Modular Dock Systems

When it comes to modular dock pricing and modular dock comparisons, understanding how manufacturers price their modular dock sections and drive-on platforms is crucially important to making sure you get the best value for your money. Of course, only comparing modular docks by price would suggest that all modular docks are created equal and that the only difference between them is the price. If you’ve ever walked on various modular dock systems, you would instantly know that there are major differences between each brand of modular dock system, especially in terms of their looks and aesthetics, stability, durability, slip-resistance, maintenance requirements, and so on. It’s important to remember that while price is incredibly important, it’s also just one component of the overall value determination that you should consider when comparing modular dock systems this season.

We suggest that you use the modular dock pricing guidelines below to help you get a good feel for the true “total value” or “real modular dock pricing” you are receiving when comparing modular dock price quotes this season. No matter which brand you buy, make sure that you are comfortable with your purchase decision, and that the other components of value – things like safety, stability, durability, and aesthetics, have also been considered before you plop down your hard-earned cash for a new modular dock.

Modular Dock Pricing – Size Really Does Matter

The information here is presented to you to help you get the best value possible when looking at modular dock pricing. If we’ve forgotten something, or if you’d like to contribute to the post, please just let us know in the comments section.

The Modular Dock Section Size Paradox

Understanding the way that modular dock manufacturers list their dock section sizes is crucially important when it comes to knowing exactly how much you are paying for that new modular dock system. However, it can be really tricky to find out the exact size of each manufacturer’s modular dock sections. We admit, even the published dock section sizes for PolyDock Products can be tricky because our dock section sizes are actually larger than the published description of each section. Fortunately, we make it incredibly easy to find the PolyDock section sizes by listing the PolyDock modular dock section specifications right on our website.

As a consumer, you should always ask about the true dock section sizes and never trust that the published description sizes are in fact the actual dock section sizes. Some manufacturers hide their higher square foot pricing by using modular dock section description sizes that are larger than the actual dock section sizes. If you calculate your costs for this manufacturer’s dock sections based on the dock section square footage, and you took the manufacturer’s description size at face value, it looks like you’re getting a better square foot price than you actually are, and for many unsuspecting new modular dock owners, this is were they are literally throwing their money away.

For instance, one modular dock manufacturer lists the description for one of their dock sections as 60 x 10. Most consumers believe this to be a 5′ x 10′ modular dock section size, and naturally they would assume they are getting a dock section with 50 square feet (based on the total section size). In reality, this manufacturer’s real dock section size is is closer to 4′ 9″ x 9′ 9″. This means the actual square footage of the dock section is really only 46.3125 square feet. When you add it up across multiple dock sections that are used to create a complete modular dock system, this creates a huge difference between the real value and the perceived value that you are getting for you modular dock system price.

For instance, based on the information above, let’s assume that the price for this manufacturer’s “60 x 10” modular dock section is $1000. To be fair, this price is a bit on the low side, but it makes the math that much easier to comprehend.
Let’s say you are looking purchasing a modular dock system and want your dock width to be around 5′. So you are comparing 3 different dock brand’s pricing for their 5′ x 10′ modular dock sections. To give you a true idea of how modular dock manufacturer’s describe and price their dock sections, let’s just assume, for the sake of comparison, that all 3 brand’s were priced out at $1000 / per section. This will show you exactly why it is so important to use the “true square foot” or actual square foot comparisons for each dock section between each modular dock brand you are comparing. Take a look at the example chart below:

We know that not all all dock manufacturers will have the exact same price per dock section, but this a great way to illustrate for you how dock manufacturers not only price their modular dock sections, but also how they list the section sizes. In fact, in our analysis, PolyDock Products modular dock systems are usually the best “true square foot price” value, no matter what size dock sections you are using to create your dock system. And remember, price is just one component of the total value you receive when purchasing a modular dock system; PolyDock Products also offer incredible value when it comes to durability, looks and dock stability. To learn more about what makes PolyDock modular docks so stable, check out our blog post titled What Makes PolyDock So Stable.

What we really want you to know is that you can use the “true square foot price” to get a really good apples-to-apples comparison for each dock system quote you receive this season. In fact, the “true square foot” price analysis may be the only way to quickly and easily compare modular dock prices. Simply sum up the total price quoted for the complete dock system including any connectors, and all accessories, but make sure to subtract any freight, assembly, installation, etc. so you are just comparing the dock system. Your dealer should easily be able to itemize your quote this way if they truly want you to understand what kind of value you’ll receiving for your purchase. Then, simply determine the “true square footage” of each dock section (remember to use the actual square footage and not the published description sizes per section), next, multiply the “true square footage” by the total number of dock sections in your quote to get your modular dock system’s actual “true total square footage”. Then simply divide the total true square footage of the dock system by the quoted price. This will quickly get you as close to a true side-by-side comparison as is possible.

Try the handy Modular Dock Price Comparison Worksheet below to help you keep track of, and compare, the modular dock price quotes you receive while researching your new modular dock system.

Modular Dock Price Comparison Worksheet.xlsx

Download File

PolyDock Products Dock Section Sizes Specifications

Below is an easy to use chart that you can reference to quickly find the “true square footage” of each PolyDock section. When comparing to other brands, make sure to use their actual square foot size per section, and not just their published dock section description, and bring a tape measure if you need to. When you compare, you’ll quickly see the PolyDock difference when it comes to giving you more value in terms of price, durability, stability, and ease-of-ownership in modular floating dock systems.

Modular Dock Pricing Section Size Specifications PolyDock

23Nov2015

What Makes PolyDock Floating Docks So Stable?

November 23, 2015

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK, Floating Dock Stability, PolyDock Products

One of the first things people ask us about floating dock systems is, “how stable are they?”, and to that question, we always respond with something along the lines of; “The stability of any floating dock is determined by a wide array of factors.” You see, the purpose of this post is not to get too technical when it comes to floating dock stability, rather, we simply want to show you what makes PolyDock one of the most, if not the most stable floating dock systems in its class. To keep things simple, which is especially important on a Monday, we’ll try to describe what makes PolyDock floating docks so stable in laymen’s terms, with just a little marketing speak thrown in to really drive the message home (we hope). However, If you’d like to jumble your brain with floating dock technical know-how, fancy words, and (gasp) mathematical formulas and calculations in an attempt to figure it all out, we offer you this gem of an image:

“ Fig. 70 Displacement and other Curves” from the American Civil Engineers Pocket Book. You can download or read it for free by following this link to its location on Google Books. To be fair, the book was published in 1916, and PolyDock Products weren’t even invented for another 84 years or so. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1940’s or 1950’s that rotational molding (the process used to manufacture PolyDock Floating Docks) was first developed. We can honestly say that the rotationally molded design of PolyDock dock sections do adhere to the basic engineering and design principals that are required to achieve superior dock system stability.

If you took the bait and read the aforementioned 1916 edition of the American Civil Engineers Pocket Book, congratulations, you don’t need to read the rest of this blog post because you can probably, by now, surmise what makes PolyDock floating dock systems so stable, plus, you might now be ready for the Civil Engineering PE Exam, and probably don’t have time to read such a simple blog post anyway.

The Secret to PolyDock Floating Dock Stability is all in the Design

Floating Dock Section Size:

The stability of the PolyDock floating dock system is built into the design of the dock sections. To start, PolyDock floating dock sections are actually larger than their actual published sizes. For instance, PolyDock’s 5 x 10 dock section (some people call them a 60 x 10 floating dock) actually measures 65.5” x 123”. So the 5 x 10 PolyDock section actually measures about 5’ 5” wide by 10’ 3” long. This means that not only are you getting more value for your dollar when you calculate your floating dock price by total square footage, you are actually getting more stability thanks to the additional width of the dock section. This is true for all section sizes of PolyDock. You can get more information about the square foot size and actual floating dock section size, including prints and schematics by checking out our PolyDock floating dock page. Or, simply take a look at the chart below to see how our section sizes break down.

PolyDock Section Sizes and Specifications Chart

PolyDock Products Dock Section Sizes and Specifications Chart

*Buyers Note: Make sure to ask a competitive manufacturer or dealer for their actual floating dock section sizes to see what you are paying for, and then do the math to determine exactly what you are paying per square foot of dock. You’ll be surprised by the additional value you get when you choose to design your residential dock or commercial marina with PolyDock 4 x 10 or 5 x 10 dock sections. This is a great way to do a true cost comparison of any floating dock system.

Floating Dock Trapped Air Compartments:

*Recessed Area / Trapped Air Design

Underneath each section of PolyDock floating docks, and ShorePort drive-on jetski lifts are compartments molded into the dock section that serve to capture and retain trapped air. PolyDock Products utilizes this trapped air design to help improve overall dock stability and buoyancy. The trapped air design means PolyDock is likely to be much, much more stable than your average home built floating dock system that employs barrels, or tubs, as its primary source of flotation. Even when a barrel or “tub style” floating dock uses water in the barrels for ballast, the overall stability is not as great because of the shape and design of the flotation. The unique design of PolyDock floating dock’s trapped air Compartments acts in two ways to make it one of the most, if not the most stable floating docks in its class. First, PolyDock’s trapped air compartments actually add to the overall flotation capacity of each dock section. Second, the design of PolyDock’s trapped air compartments create a negative force, or suction, that acts like a vacuum to keep the dock firmly positioned in the water. This means the trapped air compartments not only add buoyancy to mitigate the dock’s downward force into the water as you walk on it, the vacuum created by the trapped air compartments also act to keep the opposite end or side of the dock from rising up –this is where true dock stability comes from. To get a better idea of what we’re talking about, try to think of a floating dock system’s basic flotation capacity as it’s “Upward Stability” (this prevents the dock from sinking), also, try to think about the amount of suction created by the recessed areas in the the dock’s design as it’s “Downward Stability” (this prevents the dock from lifting up or rising out of the water). PolyDock floating docks have both upward and downward stability, whereas a barrel style or tub style floating dock only has upward stability. This upward and downward stability, or “Dual Stability” is one of the most important components of the superior stability of the PolyDock floating dock system, and the ShorePort drive-on jetski port, and it’s something that you won’t get with some competitors dock systems and most home built floating docks.

Floating Dock Walking Surface Design:

Close up of PolyDock Walking Surface with rain water puddled on top

If you’ve ever seen a PolyDock floating dock system up close, and by close, we mean walking on it with your bare feet, then you already know why most PolyDock owners chose PolyDock; it has an attractive, herringbone brick pattern design that feels good on bare feet and looks great. While the look and feel of the floating dock surface is important, especially if you demand a premium high quality surface finish like you get with PolyDock, it’s what lies beneath the surface of the PolyDock floating dock system’s herringbone brick pattern walking surface that helps to make it so stable.

“Kiss-Offs” Bolster the Walking Surface

Just beneath the ultra-firm, non-spongy walking surface of each PolyDock section are hundreds of “Kiss-Offs”. These Kiss-Offs are an important part of the overall structural integrity of the PolyDock floating dock system and a major contributor to the sense of stability one can experience when walking on the PolyDock system. To visualize what the PolyDock Kiss-Offs look like and to see their location on a PolyDock section, take a look at this image.

*PolyDock Products Rotational Molding Kiss Offs

You’ll notice that the kiss-offs are spread throughout the entire dock section. The Kiss-Offs are created during the PolyDock system’s rotational molding process and they act to fuse the interior of the PolyDock section to the bottom of the walking surface. These fused-together areas, otherwise known as kiss-offs, are what give PolyDock their firm, non-spongy walking surface. They act as both a support and a foundation for the surface of the dock section much like hundreds of little pillars in typical building construction, plus, they prevent the dock surface from “ballooning” during warm weather conditions. The more areas of the dock that are fused together with these kiss-offs, the stronger and more firm the walking surface is.

How Many Kiss-Offs Does The PolyDock Have?

To be fair, we’ve never counted the number of kiss-offs that the competitor dock sections have, or if they even have any at all, but to make it easy for you to compare, please take a look at the handy chart below that shows you the exact number of kiss-offs on each section of PolyDock. From there you can make your own comparisons. To really get the true effect, and understand exactly what Kiss-Offs mean to dock stability and walking surface firmness, we recommend that you actually walk on each dock system that you are considering. We think you’ll absolutely fall in love with the experience you’ll get by walking on a PolyDock floating dock system, an experience that lets you know you’re walking on a premium floating dock system.

PolyDock Kiss-Offs

PolyDock Section Size Number of Kiss-Offs
3 x 10 Section = 160 Kiss-Offs
4 x 6 Section = 108 Kiss-Offs
4 x 10 Section = 192 Kiss-Offs
5 x 10 Section = 282 Kiss-Offs
6 x 8 Section = 232 Kiss-Offs
4’ Corner = 36 Kiss-Offs

In addition to support provided by the kiss-offs, the surface of every PolyDock floating dock section benefits from the additional structure and support provided by the herringbone brick pattern. Each “brick paver” on the surface of the PolyDock contributes to the overall firm walking surface because of the additional polyethylene material and structure created by each brick. For reference, each brick paver on the surface of the PolyDock section measures 4” x 8” and is approximately 1/2” deep. The space between each brick is approximately 3/8”. In addition to the extra structure provided by the herringbone brick pattern, the surface of each brick features a shot peen finish to create a slip resistant surface. All of this adds up to an incredible walking experience for owners and users of the PolyDock floating dock.

The Floating Dock Connector Design:

Don’t trade safety and stability for a “flexible” dock coupler

The design of the PolyDock Dock Connector provides another element that contributes to the overall strength and stability of the PolyDock floating dock system. No one wants to walk on a dock system that flexes and moves with waves and foot traffic. If the connectors or couplers of your dock system require special tools to install, and are flexible enough to allow the dock to move with the wave action, it’s a good bet that you’re trading off a certain amount of safety and dock stability for that flexibility. One might even argue that if your modular floating dock is installed in water that is so rough that your dock connection system needs to allow enough flexion so that your dock system flexes and moves with the waves, you may have the wrong style of dock system installed. You do have other floating dock options that won’t require you to concede the stability or safety of your floating dock system.

For instance; a good rough water floating dock system like the Kit Dock floating dockfrom RhinoHoist Products might be exactly what you need, and it’s available with, or without a roof system and you can even choose concrete decking to really add to the durability and stability of the Kit Dock system.

Back to the stability of the PolyDock rotationally molded floating dock system. The PolyDock Connector is designed to have the perfect balance of strength, rigidity and flexibility so that it acts to hold each PolyDock floating Dock section firmly in place with minimal up, down, or side-to-side movement between each dock section.

The Connectors act as a solid fastener between each section so that the entire dock system can move as one unit, this creates an incredible amount of stability because there is less movement as you walk from one dock section to the next, and the entire system moves in unison. Couple this with the dual stability (upward and downward) provided by the design of each dock section, and you have an incredibly stable floating dock system. When you look at the connectors as a part of the whole dock system you find that the PolyDock connectors help transfer weight and wave energy throughout the entire dock system which adds stability, rather than allowing each section to move independently which creates an unstable, and sometimes difficult to walk on dock system.

Connectors Span the Full Length and / or Width of the Dock Sections

The top and bottom of the PolyDock dock connector is manufactured from high density polyethylene to be incredibly durable with the perfect balance of flexibility and stiffness. Each Connectorspans the full length or width of the PolyDock section to better transfer wave energy while providing a more durable and secure floating dock connection and improved total dock system stability. PolyDock connectors also float so they will not sink to the bottom of the lake or river if you accidentally drop one during installation.

Composite Connector Rod Design

Each PolyDock connector uses ultra-durable composite connector rods to secure the top and bottom components of the connector together. The composite connector rods are designed to be incredibly durable and remain tight to reduce the chance of loose connectors. The composite connector rods are fastened to the bottom connector to make installation quick and easy, and best of all, PolyDock connector installation requires NO SPECIAL TOOLS.

Stainless Steel Hardware

In addition to the composite rods which resist rotting and corrosion, all PolyDock connector hardware is corrosion- resistant stainless steel to provide you with an easy to install and long lasting dock to dock connection system. The PolyDock dock connectors are tightened from the top of the dock with an ordinary hand wrench, ratchet or cordless drill / impact, and do not require you purchase any special installation tools. Premium hardware is just another small component that adds up to create PolyDock Products’ superior stability.

Learn more about the PolyDock dock connectors by checking out the PolyDock Connectors page.

Floating Dock Anchorage Design:

Choosing the right anchorage to get the most stability out of your floating dock system

When it comes to anchoring your floating dock system or drive on Jet Ski Port, nothing is more important than options. Having a wide range of anchorage option to choose from makes all the difference in the world, especially when it comes to choosing the right anchorage to get the most stability out of your floating dock system.

Pipe Brackets –
The most common style of floating dock anchorage is the typical galvanized steel pipe driven into the lake or river bed. The dock system will be held in place by the pipes and the pipe brackets will allow the dock to float up or down to accommodate changes and fluctuations in water depth and reservoir summer or winter pools and draw downs. Pipe brackets tend to provide a very stable floating dock system because there is generally less “play” or “slop” in the system. The galvanized steel pipes that are driven or augured into the lake bottom go through the pipe brackets with approximately a quarter to a half an inch of free play which keeps the dock held firmly in place for reduced side-to-side movement and added stability while still allowing vertical travel to accommodate water fluctuations.

Pile Hoops –
Another common anchorage option are Pile Hoops. PolyDock Products Pile hoops are designed to fit a wide range of piling sizes and can be positioned anywhere along the PolyDock system for easy installation no matter the spacing between each piling, or the diameter of the piles.
Stiff Arm anchorage allows good stability without requiring pipe to be driven or augured into the lake or river bottom.

Deadweight Anchors –
Deadweight Anchors are a simple way to anchor PolyDock in very deep water or in areas with hard or firm lake or river bottom substrates.

You can learn more about PolyDock Products Anchorage options by checking out our PolyDock Floating Dock Anchorage Options page.

The Secret To Floating Dock Stability Is A Good Design. PolyDock Is Designed For Stability.

Good design is paramount to an incredibly stable dock system, and PolyDock Products floating dock systems are designed for stability.

We hope this blog post helps you understand why PolyDock floating dock systems are so stable compared to competitor’s floating docks and nearly all styles of home-built barrel, tub, or traditional wood floating docks.

We also hope this blog post helps you consider all of your options when it comes to choosing a floating dock system, especially if dock stability is an important consideration for your residential dock system or commercial marina floating dock project. PolyDock Products dock sections and ShorePort Waverunner Ports feature many positive attributes that we didn’t even cover in this post such as the durability of our materials (PolyDock Products feature UV-8 inhibitors for superior protection from sun / UV damage) or the tensile strength and impact ratings or the dock sections.

If you would like to learn more about PolyDock Products’ engineering specifications for floating docks, you can check out our specifications pages to learn more.

If you have any questions about PolyDock products, you can always reach us at 1-844-295-1026, or find your local PolyDock Products dealer or distributor by using our PolyDock Dealer Locator.

14Oct2015

An Easy To Install DIY Dock System from PolyDock Products

October 14, 2015

Kurt Welch

#ONPOLYDOCK, Applications, Modular Dock Pricing

You may have already guessed that PolyDock makes a great DIY dock system, in fact, you may have already installed a PolyDock system on your own, that’s because PolyDock Products dock sections, ShorePort Jet Ski ports and components really do make a great DIY Dock System.

PolyDock Products are the perfect dock system for the Do It Yourself waterfront property owner.

A DIY dock kit should be easy enough for the average homer owner to assemble and install the dock system within a day. PolyDock can be a great choice as a DIY Dock because there is virtually no assembly of the actual dock sections. PolyDock dock sections are one-piece, rotationally molded DIY docks that ship from the factory ready to install. However, some of the dock connectors, anchorage options, and accessories require assembly, but these parts are incredibly easy to manage and include easy to follow assembly instructions.

DIY dock installation is quick and easy with PolyDock Products

As a DIY dock system for the “do-it-yourselfer”, PolyDock is great, because installation is quick and easy. Simply connect each dock section together as you float your dock into place and then use the appropriate anchorage options for your location, and you’ll be relaxing on your new PolyDock DIY floating dock system in no time. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better DIY dock system anywhere. The video to the left shows just one idea of how to install the PolyDock DIY dock system, and though the video is a bit dated, the information is still pretty good. One thing to note though, is that you don’t need to get in the water to install the PolyDock DIY dock system depending on your waterfront location.

PolyDock DIY Dock Components Give The Added Convenience of a DIY Floating Dock System

Because PolyDock sections are constructed as a on-piece rotationally-molded, they are designed to be incredibly durable, and work as a floating dock. Their size and weight may make them a bit awkward to handle and should be considered too heavy for an individual to move around on their own, so your biggest challenge may be finding at least one other person to help you get your new PolyDock DIY dock system into place. Take a look at the assembly and installation instructions to the left to understand why PolyDock makes a great DIY Dock system.

Save time and money with a PolyDock DIY floating dock

Because it’s a floating dock system, you generally won’t be installing your dock system season after season, so you’ll save time and money on annual dock installation and removal costs. PolyDock is known throughout the industry for it’s attractive brick patterned surface and superior floating dock stability, so you’ll be buying the best DIY Floating Dock system available. Get Started today! Design your DIY dock system today and you could be installing it tomorrow.

For More Information on DIY Dock Systems from PolyDock Products, check out the DIY Dock Page

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