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How to Make the Most of Your Waterfront Lifestyle

October 19, 2021 by gibson Leave a Comment

Whether you live right on the water, or your property is close by, there is a unique lifestyle afforded to those who choose to live in waterfront communities. Activities like kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, jet skiing, and bird watching are all available right there in your very own backyard. But just as there are so many amazing benefits to living on the water, there are also some additional responsibilities too. Here are some tips for making the most of your waterfront lifestyle.

Be Prepared for Severe Weather

Coastal living means living with big storms. Whether it’s the daily summer thunderstorms or the threat of an impending hurricane, not being prepared for these types of events is a rookie move. Make sure you educate yourself (and your family) on how to prepare your waterfront property for a big storm. And don’t be afraid to practice your storm preparedness procedures! Storms can sometimes ‘come out of nowhere’ leaving property owners just a few hours (or sometimes less) to lock everything down and prepare for the onslaught of severe weather!

Stay Safe! Be Aware of the Unique Safety Hazards of Living on the Water

While it might seem like an obvious statement, there are a lot of safety hazards that homeowners can overlook, especially in regard to living on the water. To learn about some of the most common issues we often encounter when inspecting boat lifts, docks and decks, and seawalls for our clients, take a look at this post about waterfront safety. And if you have any concerns or think your structures might need some maintenance, or to be replaced, reach out to our team of experts at Gibson Marine.

Transform Your Backyard into the Water’s Edge Retreat of Your Dreams

Once you’ve done the (very important) work of preparing your family and property with a plan for severe weather and have ensured that your outdoor structures are all safe to use, it’s time to start enjoying the benefits of living on the waterfront! One of the best ways to do this is to customize your outdoor space.

Add Lighting to Your Outdoor Space

One way to add a personal touch is by incorporating some accessories into your outdoor space. Some of our most common requests are to add an assortment of lighting features. Simply adding pathway or post lights can make a dock more usable after dark. While the lighting requests we get most often from avid fishermen are for underwater lighting. Adding underwater lighting on your dock or deck can transform your space into a beautiful oasis and attract many different kinds of fish!

Enhance the Usability of Your Waterfront Space

Whether you want your backyard to feel like an extension of your living room, or you’re looking for prime sunbathing real estate, there are endless possibilities when it comes accessorizing your waterfront space. Simple add-ons such as built in benches can do double duty offering seating options and potential storage space. While higher-end options such as boat lifts or dock plumbing for outdoor showers or fish cleaning stations can offer both function and convenience.

How Will You Make the Most Out of Your Waterfront Property?

If you are looking for a little inspiration, one of our favorite resources is Pinterest, believe it or not. But, if you need some inspiration that goes beyond the computer screen, give one of our professionals a call to come out and give you personalized suggestions for how to transform your outdoor space.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: boating, deck, decking, decor, dock, outdoor decor, outdoor funiture, waterfront lifestyle, waterfront living

How to Make the Most of Your Waterfront Lifestyle

March 28, 2017 by gibson Leave a Comment

Whether you live right on the water, or your property is close by, there is a unique lifestyle afforded to those who choose to live in waterfront communities. Activities like kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, water tubing, jet skiing and even sightseeing are all available in your very own backyard. But, even being steps away from paradise can have its drawbacks if you don’t know the tricks of the trade! Here are some of our favorite suggestions for making the most of your waterfront lifestyle.

  1. Be Prepared! Coastal living means living with big storms. Whether it’s the daily summer thunderstorms or the threat of an impending hurricane, not being prepared for these types of events is a rookie move. Make sure you educate yourself (and your family) on how to prepare your outdoor spaces for a big storm, and don’t be afraid to practice your storm procedures! Storms can sometimes “come out of nowhere” leaving property owners just a few hours (or less) to lock everything down and protect it from the impending barrage of rain, wind and lightning!
  2. Stay Safe! While it might seem like an obvious statement, there are a lot of safety hazards that homeowners can overlook. We recently posted about some of the most common issues we come across when inspecting boat lifts, docks and decks, and seawalls for our clients. Take a look at this post about waterfront safety, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you think your structures might need some maintenance, or to be replaced.
  3. Accessorize! Once you’ve done the (very important) work of preparing your family with a set plan in the event of a storm, and have ensured that your outdoor structures are all up to code and in tip-top shape, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor! One of our favorite ways to do this is by adding some accessories to your outdoor space. One of the requests we get most often is for underwater lighting (especially from our avid fishermen). Adding underwater lighting on your dock or deck can transform your space into a beautiful oasis and attract many different kinds of fish!
  4. Decorate! Whether you want your backyard to feel like an extension of your living room, or you’re looking for prime sunbathing real estate, there are endless possibilities when it comes to outdoor décor. Our favorite resource for inspiration is Pinterest, believe it or not. But, if you need some inspiration that goes beyond the computer screen, give one of our professionals a call to come out and give you personalized suggestions for how to transform your outdoor space.
  5. Enjoy! We may have our own ideas for how best to enjoy a waterfront oasis, but we’d like to hear from you! What are some of your favorite waterfront lifestyle perks? How have you personalized your space, and what do you do to enjoy it? Next time you’re out there, snap a picture and share it with us in the comments below.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: boating, deck, decking, decor, dock, outdoor decor, outdoor furniture, waterfront lifestyle, waterfront living

Bedeck Your Dock for the Holidays

November 5, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

If your decorating budget is limitless, you are probably having a professional decorator dress your home and boat dock for the holidays. However, if the seasonal embellishment of your property rests solely on your shoulders, making your outdoors festive is easy   .

The only real caveats concern safety:

  • Make sure all lighting and/or décor is rated to be used outdoors
  • Be certain that nothing presents a tripping hazard

Other than that, you are good to decorate your dock for the holidays! As wonderful as it is to live on the water with its unique lifestyle and scenery, decorating your outdoor space makes certain times of year extra special and shows the neighborhood you are full of cheer! What effect is more striking than little white lights twinkling across the water?

Less is More When it Comes to Décor

Deck railings are probably the best surface to garnish. By stringing lights that outline the deck or are scalloped from the handrails, you can give just the right touch of twinkle.

Since docks in Florida don’t get the glistening benefits of a light snow dusting, you can take a potted palm and decorate it with ornaments or even some tinsel. Take a few chairs and add seasonally colored cushions.

If you already have a dock lighting design in place, consider a motif of red velveteen bows or decorate existing planters with lights and even waterproof ribbon. Little flourishes will go a long way when they are placed properly to enhance effect.

Protect Your Dock

Depending on your dock’s material, be sure to use the right method to attach light strings. If you own a pressure treated wood dock, you may already have a line-up of stainless steel screws from which to hang them. If a PVC dock, check with your marine construction company for the best adhesive that will remove easily, but resist the weather so your dock stays decorated!

Stemming the Holiday Décor Tide

Overall, decorating is great when you are in the planning stage and when you get to step back and admire your handiwork, but a good thing to consider is the time it will take to de-decorate! So before over-festooning, think about the sweat equity you need to spend taking it all down and trying to get everything to fit back in the boxes!

Make the Season Bright with Underwater Lighting

If you were considering adding this dimensional nuance to your Florida dock; now might be a good time. The balmy weather won’t hinder the installation and it could also make a lovely holiday gift, or at least a nice seasonal addition to give your shoreline a little lift! Infinite possibilities can be achieved with LED lights, ones that attract fish, spotlights, up-lighting; customizable adjustments are possible to create a variety of effects.

Florida’s exquisite coastline may not have the golden leaves of autumn or January’s shimmering icicles to naturally adorn its backyard space and waterfront docks, but hints of the holiday can be found in the trimmings added to your home’s docks and decks.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: decorating, dock, holidays

Which Type of Boat Lift is Right for you?

July 14, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

If you are a boat owner lucky enough to have your own waterfront property at which to store the boat, you should have a boat lift to protect your precious seafaring watercraft from Mother Nature! When your boat is not in use, a boat lift help can keep it out of the water away from barnacles, storms or any other potential, damage-causing hazards. It can also help you move your boat from one location to another, like from an inlet to a boat storage facility before a hurricane hits. Many different types of boat lifts are manufactured every day and we install lots of different styles to best suit your needs.

The types of boat lifts we install, include:

  • Aluminum Boat Lifts
  • Galvanized Boat Lifts
  • Davits
  • PWC Lifts
  • Swinger Style Lifts

With so many options, one can’t help but beg the question, “what kind of boat lift is right for me?” Well we are here to help you answer that question! Boat lifts are like shoes, one size does not fit all. Some boat lifts are great for large boats on the open sea, while other boat lifts would be better suited for a small boat in a calm freshwater lake. Below are a few things to consider when making the decision about which type of boat lift you need.

 

Freshwater or Saltwater?

Staying knowledgeable about ways you can prevent the wear and tear of your boat lift can be financially beneficial in the future. Damage to a boat lift can be very expensive, and sometimes irreversible. One way you can prevent damage to your boat lift is to think about what kind of water in which your boat lift will be working. Is it fresh or salt water?

Salt water can be corrosive which is why, if you are boating out at sea, a stainless steel boat lift should be your go-to answer. Stainless steel contains a high proportion of chromium and nickel, are very resistant to corrosion and other chemical reactions, and are easy to clean, polish, and sterilize. For this reason, stainless steel has a great relationship with the salty sea and is the best choice for any sea faring vessel.

But what about if you like to go boating out on a beautiful freshwater lake? The water in a freshwater lake is less harsh and gentler on boat lifts, which is why a galvanized boatlift would be a great choice for those kinds of environmental conditions.

 

Small Boat or Large Boat?

Some boat lifts can’t lift boats of certain specifications. For example, you wouldn’t make a boat lift designed for small lake boats lift a large sea yacht would you? Just like you wouldn’t make a boat lift designed for only deep water lift a boat that is in shallow water. Again, it is like a shoe, not one size fits all, so be sure to take the size and usage of your boat into consideration when purchasing a boat lift.

 

More Questions?

Still not sure which boat lift to get? We can give our expert advice on what kind boat lift would best fit your needs, and then we can install it for you, from beginning to end! We love our lakes and oceans and we would be more than happy to assist in your next project! Feel free to contact us by calling 727-942-3111 or here.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: boat lift, boating, deck, dock

Which Type of Dock is Right for You?

June 8, 2015 by gibson Leave a Comment

When deciding which type of dock to install on your waterfront property there are some fundamental things to consider. You must know the difference between the types of docks available; fixed or floating, and whether or not you need an addition like a kayak dock.

Fixed docks are permanently attached to the seabed using pilings that will remain secured all year round. The docks are constructed out of pilings, framing, and decking; made from steel, wood, or concrete. Floating docks float on top of the water and are flexible structures. They rise or fall with the change in tide, which is the largest distinction between floating and fixed docks.

Floating docks do not have to be permanent structures they can be seasonal if they are located in colder climates where there may be ice. The docks consist of flotation units, a framing system, and decking made from wood, concrete, or steel. The floating structure is tethered to the seabed using vertical poles that keep the dock in place.

A kayak dock attaches to an existing dock or seawall, it is a smaller dock in which you can launch kayaks or paddle boards from. They can be floating or fixed and can contain launching stations for ease of use. Made from the same materials as a fixed or floating dock just of a smaller scale.

One of the main factors to consider when choosing a dock type is the water level.  Floating docks rise and fall with the water level along with the boat that is attached to it. This allows for ease of boarding and disembarking because the dock moves with the boat and therefore the dock is always at the same level as the boat. This is great for areas that have large tidal variations throughout the days or seasons, such as costal areas. Having a floating kayak dock is most common because even a small change in water level could create difficulty when launching the kayak.

In contrast, fixed docks do not change with water level, which can create large differences between the elevation of the boat and the dock. Fixed docks are best where water level does not vary large amounts throughout the days, if the tide changes seasonally then it most likely will not create such a problem. Having a floating kayak dock attached to a fixed dock will allow the ease of boarding a kayak with the stability of a fixed dock.

A fundamental requirement of a dock is to disperse impacts from natural forces such as wind, waves, and currents. Floating docks have a built in flexibility, which allows them to accept loads from wind and currents by moving, although the movement of the dock can sometimes be profound in extreme weather. Also, since they are so close the water at all times, usually only a foot or two above they are susceptible to wave topping if the waves are large enough.

Fixed docks are not subjected to the same impact from wind and waves because they are often raised further from the water. The loads from waves and wind are taken directly by the pilings of the fixed dock because the fixed dock cannot move to absorb them. Kayak docks are most similar to floating docks, but don’t carry the same impact, as they are much smaller and more susceptible to change. The construction and design of docks over the year has made all docks less vulnerable to damage from natural forces.

Whichever you choose it is important to consider all factors that are specific to you and your location. If you have any questions about which type of dock is right for you, feel free to contact us.

 

 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: dock, waterfront

Dock Repair and Maintenance a Must Year Round

April 23, 2013 by gibson Leave a Comment

Waterfront property owners are afforded a luxury view and activities that not all homeowners get to enjoy. Many have a dock that houses a boat or watersports equipment which might leave some friends and family a little jealous! But, with those fun and playful components of your waterfront property, also comes proper and routine maintenance of your seawall or dock. We have covered seawall maintenance before, so let’s talk about appropriate upkeep for your dock.

Mostly due to weather and time, all docks need routine maintenance before repairs become too costly.  If your dock is not maintained regularly or properly, the posts of your dock (which are secured to the floor of the body of water) may erode and deteriorate. Other repairs might include: replacing un-treated lumber with water-treated lumber, sealing your wood, and repairing wooden platforms. If the damage is too extensive, it may just cost you a pretty penny.  Maintenance is key!

Minor dock conservation can be handled by the property owner like ensuring the cables are adjusted correctly, cleaning docks and ladders, and checking for storm damage. Also, to keep your docks looking like new simply use a power washer to remove dirt and grime.

We recommend that in order to reduce your chances of needing extensive repairs on your dock, call in a professional to routinely inspect the dock for common problems that can be easily repaired. The season is upon us to enjoy your waterfront paradise, don’t let an unsafe dock ruin your outdoor plans!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: clearwater, dock, dock repair and maintenance, marine construction, palm harbor, pinellas, st. petersburg

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Clearwater, FL 33765
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