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 many 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 to 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 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 make 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 the 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.
In the world of modular systems, whether it's in industrial automation or dock design, the principles of flexibility and cost-efficiency reign supreme. González-Nalda and colleagues (González-Nalda et al., 2017) in their work on modular CPS architecture, highlight how integrating open-source components like ROS and Docker can significantly boost operational flexibility while cutting costs. This mirrors the philosophy behind PolyDock's modular dock systems, where adaptability and affordability are key. Similarly, Apte and Viswanathan (Apte & Viswanathan, 2000) delve into the cost-saving potential of modular logistics in 'Effective Cross Docking for Improving Distribution Efficiencies.' Their insights into how cross-docking streamlines product transfer without the need for storage echo the modular approach of PolyDock, where efficiency and customer service are paramount. These studies collectively underscore the value of modular design in both industrial and consumer settings, a concept that's at the heart of PolyDock's approach to providing stable, versatile, and cost-effective docking solutions.
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 where 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 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 your 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 to purchase 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 manufacturers describe and price their dock sections, let’s just assume, for the sake of comparison, that all 3 brands 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 dock manufacturers will have the exact same price per dock section, but this is 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 receive 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.
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.
González-Nalda, P., Etxeberria-Agiriano, I., Calvo, I., & Otero, M. (2017). A modular CPS architecture design based on ROS and Docker. International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing (IJIDeM), 11, 949-955. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12008-016-0313-8
Apte, U., & Viswanathan, S. (2000). Effective Cross Docking for Improving Distribution Efficiencies. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 3, 291 - 302. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/713682769
