Floating Boat Dock

March 26, 2018 by gibson Leave a Comment

The Advantages of Owning a Floating Boat Dock

Deciding to add a dock to your property can be a fairly easy decision. Yes, I want a dock! But deciding what type of dock to get, and figuring out which type of dock best suits your needs – that decision can be a lot more difficult. There are so many choices!

One of the biggest choices is to decide between a floating dock and a fixed dock. This post will focus on the advantages of owning a floating dock.

Basic, Less Expensive and Easy to Install

Many floating docks are pretty basic. Some of these basic floating docks can be purchased and delivered fully assembled while others are designed for easy assembly by a handy do-it-yourselfer.

Installing a basic floating dock is not typically considered a true marine construction project, so installation does not require:

the expertise of a marine contractor
the use of speciality equipment
obtaining the proper building permits (although you should always verify this with your local governing agency)

For these reasons (and more) installing a basic floating boat dock is usually much less expensive than other types of boat docks.

Easy to Maintain

Most floating boat docks are made of low-maintenance materials, such as polyethylene. This type of material doesn’t need to be painted or stained, so you can set up your floating dock and start enjoying it right away. And it’s also pretty easy to clean; usually soap and water will do the trick.

Many Floating Docks are Modular

Modular floating docks are easy to expand and are often sold in sections. Using connectors, sections can be assembled like building blocks allowing you to configure and reconfigure your floating boat dock to best suit your needs at any given time.

Marinas love to take advantage of this feature. Slips can easily be reconfigured to accommodate boats of varying sizes. This means not having to turn any potential customers away because of boat size.

Adjusts to High and Low Water Conditions

Because it floats on top of the water, a floating boat dock is always at the same height as your boat or watercraft allowing you to embark or disembark with ease. You will have use of your dock no matter how high the water rises or how low the water levels drop. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for your boat – low water levels can leave you high and dry, unable to move your boat without scraping the bottom.

Easy Removal

You don’t have to worry about your floating dock getting damaged during a hurricane or severe weather event. Floating docks are easy to remove from the water and should be placed in a safe storage area before a big storm.

Call the Dock Experts at Gibson Marine Construction

Sometimes even the most basic dock installations can give the best do-it-yourself guys a hard time. If so, Gibson Marine Construction is standing by ready to assist with the install.

Or if you want a floating boat dock with more than just the basics, the experts at Gibson Marine Construction can handle that too. They can create a custom design incorporating a floating boat dock that will best suit your needs.

Floating Docks vs. Fixed Docks

August 4, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

Like any structure, its design should suit the environment and the need. As marine construction specialists, we delve into the way the property owner wishes to use the dock as well as the types of aqua vehicles that will be moored to it.

Buying any kind of structure that must sit on a surface as unpredictable as water is one that should be carefully engineered and customized, or at least determined to be the right fit for the need.

The Perfect Sidecar

A floating dock can easily be a standalone solution. Their innate “flexibility” makes them the perfect foundation to skim the surface of a tranquil lake, or sustain footing over fluctuating tides, and most can remain in the water.

You may also want to consider installing a floating dock as an extension of your fixed one. Sometimes a more cost-effective solution, floating docks can be installed alongside a fixed dock to provide additional square footage.

We appreciate these insights posted on Gulf Coast Fisherman, written by a floating dock manufacturer:

One option is a modular dock. It is sold in sections and assembled like building blocks, using connectors. Sections can be added as budget permits, or arranged into a new configuration to accommodate an owner’s growing inventory of watercraft.
Another thing to examine when choosing a floating dock is whether it is constructed of low- or no-maintenance material. This can offer tremendous time and labor savings, especially at the beginning of boating, fishing or swimming season. Docks made of plastic, such as polyethylene, do not need painting or staining and won’t rot or cause splinters like wooden docks. A safe, slip-resistant dock surface is another important feature.
Finally, the right dock should be environmentally friendly as well. Docks made of Styrofoam blocks can be eaten by hungry wildlife or deteriorate over time. Choosing a dock made of recyclable, air-filled polyethylene eliminates pollution from bits of Styrofoam breaking off into the water.

Installing a Floating Dock

Our words of caution include knowing what you are doing. DIY television programming has enabled homeowners to hone skills they never thought they possessed. It is both liberating and gratifying to create an improvement.

For those living at the water’s edge, some people enjoy the challenge installing their own floating dock provides. The only problem is that people trying to install something that sits on water may be pushing the boundaries of safety. Small children, pets, anyone is actually vulnerable to the unpredictability of the water and its tides.
In taking on such a DIY project, there also exists a tendency to be sparing on materials and fittings quality. Do not skimp.
The hardware you use should be stainless or galvanized, or at the very least, marine-environment rated. Zinc or copper grease can be swiped on the bolt threads too before tightening any nuts.

As a marine construction company, we design, manufacture, and install all kinds of custom fixed and floating docks. A limitless variety of configurations await your inspiration, and our expertise!

You Can Get a Lot of Mileage from a Floating Dock

February 5, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

Floating docks are certainly the ideal solution for many reasons. First of all, they offer innate flexibility. They can be added as an extension of a fixed dock–literally providing that extra square footage we seem to crave once we are living life at the water’s edge. With a floating dock as an extension, you can use a fixed dock for furniture and storage and shade umbrellas, and the floating dock to moor your water vessels.

Whether or not you own a boat, if you are living on the water, you are already familiar with the associated maintenance. It could be saltwater or extreme temperature swings, or both; but here in Florida – if you don’t count the occasional hurricane, you can keep your floating dock safe and operational with some pretty straightforward steps. Besides, if you do need to replace your dock, the swap out is less intrusive than ripping down and installing a new fixed one.

Floating Dock Maintenance and Construction

For PVC or composite surfaces, soap and water will do the trick. If you have a power washer, that will be a time saver of course, but we always recommend a thorough inspection before and after cleaning. Depending on how your floating dock is affixed to your seawall or coastline will determine what you need to inspect. Routine inspections rule out the creation of dangerous situations.

Some people do enjoy the challenge installing their own floating dock provides. If so, do not skimp. The hardware you use should be stainless or galvanized, or at the very least, marine-environment rated. Zinc or copper grease can be swiped on the bolt threads too before tightening any nuts.

Floating docks are ideal for areas with fluctuating tides, and most can remain in the water. They can assume a variety of shape configurations; you can really get more creative than you would imagine with something which is a removable addition.

Docks in a Storm

There’s nothing like a fixed dock for the creativity and just the presence their construction evokes, but there is also no doubt about the flexibility a floating dock provides. When Florida gets hit with some crazy storms, and even during the rainy season when the wind kicks up, the first thing residents are instructed to do is to take in outdoor furniture and anything that could get swept away and cause destruction or injury. This is of course true for floating docks. Since they can be detached, there is less likelihood of their getting beaten up and damaged when secured away.

As a marine construction company, we design, manufacture, and install all kinds of custom fixed and floating docks. It is interesting today how much design inspiration our clients provide. As professionals, we genuinely appreciate these collaborations. Sites like Pinterest illustrate unique add-ons for floating docks like: doggie ladders, dock swings, dock launchers for kayaks and canoes. Literally, something for everyone with expanded features to enhance the traditional installations. These embellishments contribute to showcasing your unique style as an extension of your home and outdoor space.

Fixed Docks vs Floating Docks

January 22, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

We have been Florida dock experts for many, many years and have seen an extraordinary evolution in the methods of installation and types of dock surfaces for businesses and home owners to take under consideration. While we love the growth and the possibilities these represent, options can be confusing; so we recommend you take it step by step.

First, contract the best dock construction specialist in Tampa Bay. Check. You called Gibson Marine!

Second, start with the big picture and work down toward the details. Whether you are installing a brand new dock or replacing an existing one, just begin with the wish list on one side and the questions list on the other. Jotting them down as you consider what you want will make certain we look at this structural addition from every angle.

Third is the consideration of the type of dock. There are materials of all types and additions like benches and power and railings of all sorts; but you begin at the baseline. The type. You’ve heard of them both, as their reference is directly linked to their juxtaposition to your water’s edge: fixed or floating.

Fixed

Attached permanently with pilings driven into the seabed
Framing and decking can be crafted from steel, composite, pressure-treated lumber, extruded PVC
Can be used to support a boat lift or heavier items like storage cabinetry or furniture

Floating

They are flexible and buoyant and easily impacted by tidal fluctuations
Because not necessarily permanent, they can be removed and stored which can come in handy
Typically, vertical poles are what keep it grounded

Depending on the type of water vessel you are keeping moored, a floating dock will technically provide a “level playing field” so to speak by providing an easy transition from vessel to dock as they will both always be at the same water level. Here along Florida’s famous gulf coast, those consistencies will bode well for staying dry as you make your way onto shore!

Fixed docks are of course a more permanent structure so will not be as adaptable to water height, but they instead present as a true extension of your property and can be uniquely decorated while supporting any number of accessories including ladders and railings and genuine support to safely move from water to dock.

If you know your neighbors well enough, take a survey of what they like and potentially dislike about the docks on their properties. A professional can give recommendations, but you will receive valuable perspective from current owners and what they may have done differently when they had their install done; or even what modifications they may be contemplating.

At the end of the day, it comes down to the right price point for your budget, and a dock solution that is going to meet your needs for its use. We suggest you take your time, do some research, call us with any questions, and enjoy the exciting process of building a dock for your home!