Gibson Marine Construction

How to Make the Most of Your Waterfront Lifestyle

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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.

For Waterfront Property Owners, It’s All About ‘Safety First’

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Owning a waterfront property in Florida, or other coastal towns throughout the U.S., can certainly feel like a privilege; but with great perks, comes great responsibility! Keeping your waterfront property, and all that comes with it, well-maintained can help keep your friends, family and visitors safe, allowing you to enjoy all that mother nature has to offer.

Keep Your Waterfront Property Safe

Having worked in the marine construction industry for over 30 years, we here at Gibson Marine have truly “seen it all.” From failing, or dilapidated seawalls, rotting or leaning docks and decks, rusted or broken boat lifts, and worse, we have seen what can happen when outdoor structures are ignored or neglected. Each of these conditions, mentioned above, not only create eye sores for your neighbors, but grave safety concerns for anyone attempting to use or walk on these structures. However, we’ve yet to come across a seawall, dock, deck or boat lift we couldn’t fix! Below, we’ve compiled some of the major concerns we face as waterfront property owners, and when you should leave the repairs to the experts!

Seawalls

A seawall acts as your first line of defense, and is an invaluable structure for homeowners on the water. While we recommend regular cleaning, maintenance and monitoring of your seawall, a major storm or invisible damage can result in a severely compromised seawall that needs professional attention ASAP. If you feel that your seawall might be damaged, it’s always better to call an expert to come out and take a look at it – better safe than sorry!

Common causes of damage to seawalls:

Example of a damaged seawall in need of repair

  • Natural wear and tear over time
  • Storm surge/hurricanes
  • Lack of maintenance
  • Changing water flow
  • Improper installation

 

 

Docks and/or Decks

While seawalls act as the first line of defense for your waterfront property, they oftentimes go unnoticed. However, your backyard deck, (and if you have one) dock are often where most the activity happens in your outdoor space, and is usually what guests and visitors see first. Docks and decks can rot or break after time and if they aren’t protected with pressure-treated lumber or built with quality materials, they immediately become a safety hazard to your family or visitors.

While there is a lot that a homeowner can do to protect their dock or deck against damage, if rot sets in, it’s time to call in the professionals. Some common signs that it might be time to call the professionals are:

Example of damaged deck in need of repair

  • Rotting or broken wood
  • Bowing or loose beams
  • Termites
  • Nails or screws won’t hold

 

 

 

Boat Lifts

Every good boatowner knows just how important it is to take care of your investment with regular maintenance, cleaning and long-term care. If you’re fortunate enough to live on the water as a boatowner, it’s imperative that you invest in a boat lift. Boat lifts are central to upkeep and is one of the best ways to proactively maintain the hull. A boat’s hull is obviously subjected to the most potential abuse; particularly if left in the water for extended periods of time. The eventual corrosive effects of elements like algae, moss, and salt water can wear away at the finish, something no boatowner wants to see.

Protecting and maintaining your boat lift is one in the same with protecting and maintaining your boat. Here are some of the common causes of damage to your boat lift:

  • Excessive chafe on the cables
  • Over-extending the life of your cables
  • Improper maintenance/care of lift beams
  • Cracked bunks
  • Improperly greased gears, drive units, pulleys, etc.

If any of these warning signs sound familiar to you, it might be time to give us a call. Safety is something that should be on the forefront of every waterfront property owner’s mind, and maintaining your seawalls, docks and decks, and boat lifts is a big part of staying safe!

 

 

The Best Platform for Relieving Stress

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We are marine structure contractors. Besides getting to spend every day designing, engineering, and building docks and decks, we even get into the water to conduct inspections on seawalls and repair those mightiest of barriers. The environment in which we work is one of the most beautiful; it beats the four walls of an office, any day!

So while everyone is not as lucky perhaps to work for Gibson Marine, or even to live in the homes by Florida’s coastline; it’s all out there. In other words, if life is getting stressful, go take a walk!

Stress in Our Lives

It’s everywhere. The stress we put on ourselves and the contribution to it by others. Then there’s that consistent accessibility by our clients and our employers and our jobs, permitted thanks to technology. No one is every off the clock. All of these factors add up to the statistics that support the impact of stress on body and mind.

There are however, ways to manage stress naturally.

Outdoor walking: Walking is an inexpensive, low-risk and easiest accessible form of exercise. It significantly contributes to enhanced mental health and well-being.

Exercise: Studies have proved that daily physical exercises help protect brain from stress-induced depression. One should ensure physical activity like walking, jogging, playing games like tennis or football on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes as it rejuvenates one’s mind and senses.

Whether or not your dock has a boot moored to it, don’t forget about it. Never take it for granted, but look at this space as one in which to unwind. Pop in to earbuds and enjoy the view. Or pack a cooler, grab a few chairs, and invite some friends over. Having a front row seat to this kind of scenery is what your doctor would order if a pharmacy could dispense this kind of stress therapy.

We as a culture are so connected to our technology and streaming Netflix we forget about communing with nature. We are missing out on that primordial connection which preceded the WIFI ones. The ones that strip away everything external with the exception of the landscape.

While Gibson Marine can’t take totally take the credit for removing the stress from your life, we are experts at building the structures that provide the literal platform on which to do just that.

With the exception of people who are naturally drawn to sports and running and hiking, there is a huge number of Americans who spend entirely too much time indoors; contributing to the national obesity number.

Getting out in the Florida Sunshine offers a tremendous opportunity to bask, to rejuvenate. There’s just something about strolling along a wooden dock with white sands to your left, and an expanse of crystal blue water to your right. It calms and soothes. Put down the iPad and go take a walk.

Five Favorite Florida Boat Dock Ideas

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Boat docks are not just for boats. Yes, the name would imply that purpose, but part of living the Florida lifestyle means getting out into the beautiful sunshine.

And just because you live on the water does not mean you necessarily own a boat; nor does it preclude you from building a boat dock for alternative recreational reasons. Perhaps there’s an existing dock on your newly purchased property that needs a little love to realize its potential as valuable square footage.

These are some of our favorite design ideas/uses for boat docks, with or without a boat:

  1. Dock Gazebos – To enjoy your boat dock during the hottest part of the day and even to weather a light rain, there’s nothing like a dock-mounted gazebo. You can outfit it with couches or lounges, or even a traditional table and chairs for dining al fresco. Dress it up in tiny, white lights to give it a little flair, and even a decorative ceiling fan for both aesthetics and comfort.
  2. Garden – If horticulture is a passion of yours, no matter how spacious the grounds, you likely never feel you have enough room to watch your garden grow. Your dock can therefore serve as the ideal palette. Depending of course on its size, and the material of which it is constructed, you can outline the perimeter with rectangular planters which make it easy to add and remove flowers and shrubbery at will and according to season. There are plenty of plants that look as beautiful pre-bloom in the slightly cooler Florida temperatures, so you can appreciate a lovely spectacle year ‘round.
  3. Fishing pier – A lover of fishing? You are living in the right place. Enjoy your favorite pastime from the comfort of your own dock and fish to your heart’s content. Weatherproof cabinetry can be installed to house your tackle and gear, and if you really want to hook yourself up, you can add extras like an Adirondack fish chair, or just stick with your lucky aluminum folding beach chair (duct tape and all!). Make it your own and enjoy the day.
  4. Dock Hammocks – Once you start browsing for accessories to make your Florida dock more nuanced, you may have a tough time deciding. For example, in the absence of trees from which to anchor a hammock, a section of the planks can be removed and hammock netting inserted to skim the water’s surface and provide the ultimate flotation device.
  5. Extension of Your Yard – Consider your boat dock an extra allowance of your outdoor square footage. The motif that begins at your screened lanai can be carried right out to the water’s edge; even with the same cushions and colors to train the eye out to the shore, while perpetuating your décor.

It is cliché to say that the options are endless, but they really are. For your Florida boat dock, you can: paint it, stain it, decorate it, expand it, or simply luxuriate on your day off enjoying a pastime, dining, or taking a lazy nap.

 

 

How to Soak Up Life at the Water’s Edge

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If you have the good fortune of living on the water, you want to enjoy every scenic aspect. By bringing the “inside, out” your backyard design can reflect an extension of your home with an outdoor kitchen, dining table, umbrella, and perhaps a hammock or two!

Whether or not you own a boat, your boat dock can also add some precious outdoor estate to your backyard oasis.

If your property doesn’t have one, consider building a dock – it will add to your home’s value while providing a space to host year-round Florida BBQs or relax with a chaise lounge and a good book.

  1. Every design plan begins with a wish list. How do you want to use the dock? If not as a boat launch, should it be floating or free standing? What materials suit the purpose and your style? A wooden dock or one made from composite decking? Pressure treated lumber? Extruded PVC? As part of this inspiration phase, take a look at sites like Pinterest for innovative uses of outdoor living space.
  2. What is your budget? With the deck materials and construction methods available, anything is essentially possible. But those materials and project scope including extras like dock lighting, fencing, railings, benches, plumbing, power pedestals, ladders, and pilings are all components which add functionality. These also increase the number at your budget’s bottom line. By comparing your budget against your wish list, you can decide what items are the most important depending on utility.
  3. What is your waterfront? Is your property on an inlet, a lake, the Gulf of Mexico? Your design must also be practical to suit the water conditions and its depth. Part of the evaluation phase with your dock contractor will include this type of survey which takes these into consideration as well as weather variations throughout the seasons and tidal patterns.
  4. Permitting and construction – while we take care of all these arrangements on your behalf, it is good to be acquainted with local regulations. Additionally, if your property is governed by an HOA (Homeowners Association) there may be compliances to which construction of any kind must conform, as well as prior authorization from the community board. Bear in mind that some of these boards convene sporadically, so it is not a bad idea to obtain the paperwork and their meeting schedule ahead of time. You’d hate to submit the application only to find they have adjourned for the summer.

Be certain to follow your HOA’s specifications about posting permits/proper authorization notices, and the hours when work can be in progress. (There’s always that one neighbor who is likely to report every infraction!)

When working with dock construction specialists like Gibson Marine, we will step you through every phase while making sure you are happy, and of course compliant with your county and your HOA. We think it is just a great idea to be prepared with all questions and considerations so you are absolutely thrilled with the final result! Call us at 727-942-3111 if you have any questions at all! We look forward to hearing from you.

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Gibson Marine Construction © 2021
2131 Range Rd.
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-942-3111 | gibson-marine.com Florida Certified General Contractor: CGC1514396