The Right Floating Dock Can Really Set Things Right
By: Stefra
Submitted: 2010-02-26 20:18:12 | Word Count: 554
You have the perfect cabin by the beach but you’re still not out there, having fun in the water. The answer is quite simple. You don’t have a dock. Choosing the right dock for your cabin is as important as having one. It is always a good idea to draw a list of your requirements because there are a lot of options to choose from and you don’t want to be stuck with the wrong dock!
There are two main things that you should keep in mind before deciding which type suits you the best. The first would be the kind of shoreline you have access to as well as the place most easily accessible to water. The kind of lake or water body is the next thing you need to consider. Under this would come underwater topography as well as the prevailing conditions of the Lake/ River. Putting all this information together would give you a fairly clear picture of the kind of dock you need.
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One of the best kinds of docks is the floating dock as they are not just easy on the pocket but also simpler to install. They are basically floating platforms hoisted by vertical poles. The poles are attached securely to the lake/river bed. A large floating dock mostly has a ramp that lies on the shore. They can be made of a variety of materials ranging from plastic to Styrofoam and even steel. They stay afloat on the water and the freeboard, which is the space between the dock and the water, remains stable. This makes sure that the dock does not either go underwater or become elevated. They can be tailored for particular environmental conditions, and are especially great in places with fluctuating water levels. Stability tends to be an issue sometimes but can be easily countered by paying careful attention during the installation process. Wider floating docks are safer.
Though manufacturers suggest that to maximize capability of floating docks they should be kept in the water throughout the year. However, if need be, they can be removed seasonally.
Standing docks is the other alternative you have for your cabin. They are essentially platforms supported by legs. The height of the dock remains constant thus. Fluctuation in the water level could cause problems, as the height of the leg support cannot be changed easily. One of its main advantages is that it is eco friendly as it makes very little contact with the bottom of the water body.
Another type of dock is when you sink long logs or pipes at the bottom of the water body and create a permanent dock structure. They are referred to as Pile docks. However they tend to be limiting, as you cannot use them in icy areas or where there is deep water as they can become unstable.
Drawbridge docks and Cantilever docks are similar as they can be put over the water and fixed to the shore. They work best for those who experience strong currents in the water. Since they do not touch the bottom of the water they do not cause any damage. Areas having steep slopes are most suitable for these docks.
Equipped with all this knowledge you are now ready to go ahead and get the right dock for yourself!
