Dock and Roll

How to choose a dock for your cabin.

By Brent Coleman Lakeside living is great, but most people agree that actually getting out onto the lake makes it better. Landscaping a lakefront cabin typically includes putting in a dock that will help you reach deeper water to allow for swimming, fishing, boating—or just enjoying sunlight playing on the waves. Sounds simple, right? You’ll just get on the Internet, surf around for the dock style you want and then go down to your local marina or big-box hardware store and get it done. Heck, you might just build it yourself! Easy does it, Captain Dockmaster. Research Your Options You better do a little homework first, says John Krogman of Connect-a-Dock Inc., a manufacturer of plastic modular floating dock systems in Atlantic, Iowa. First, consider that there might be state or local regulations and restrictions that you will have to meet. Some private lakes, for example, only allow floating docks set on encapsulated foam drums or floats. Building a fixed dock or installing a floating one might require a permit. If you’re on a reservoir, you might need to check with two maybe even three regulating agencies. Krogman suggests that dock shoppers talk it up before buying. “The first place to start if you’re buying a cabin or putting in a dock is to ask a neighbor, ‘Hey, what do I have to do here?’ ” Krogman says. “Lots of times Realtors will know.” Next, look around your lake and see what other people’s docks look like. Krogman, of course, would hope you’d see floating docks. But, he says, “If you look around and don’t see any floating docks, there’s probably a reason,” such as big waves or widely fluctuating water levels. The Right Size How you plan to use your dock will dictate the size you consider, Krogman says. If your family of four is just going to swim and fish from it, you might go with a dock that sits low in the water and is 7½ feet from the shore to the end of the dock and as wide as you feel you need. If you plan to tie your canoe, kayak or small fishing boat up to your dock, be sure the dock is longer than your boat, and wide enough to allow plenty of room to set down gear and for people to get in and out of the boat. People with larger motor boats likely will need to shop for a larger, fixed dock, the size, cost and construction materials of which can vary greatly. Krogman recommends that before deciding to build their own dock, people should get on YouTube and watch DIY project videos to learn what their getting into. Installing either a low-profile or heavier duty high-profile Connect-a-Dock product requires one tool—a 9/16-inch wrench—and can be done completely above water. Building a permanent dock from plans is quite similar to building a deck and usually requires construction experience, power tools and some standing in water. Keep in mind that your local municipality may dictate what size dock you can build. Flaunt those restrictions and you may end up facing a fine, and an order to remove the dock. You should also take care that your dock doesn’t block your neighbors’ ability to enjoy the waterfront, too. Installation and Maintenance Not Mr. Tool Time? Krogman says dealers almost always have installation crews that will build what you need. They can even put in and take out your floating dock every year if that’s a problem. Maintenance is yet another consideration. Plastic docks require an occasional power wash or scrubbing with a brush. How involved the maintenance of a fixed dock can be depends on its size, complexity and construction material. People buying a dock from a dealer should be prepared to ask a lot of questions. And, Krogman says, if their dealer doesn’t do the same, the customer might want to look for a different dealer. “We want to know everything,” says Krogman, whose company does about $3.5 million in sales a year. “We don’t want to sell you something that’s going to fail.” Costs Last, but probably most important to many people shopping for a dock system, is cost. Most people, Krogman says, “are going to spend anywhere between $3,500 and $10,000, depending on what you’re going to do with it.” But, he warned, costs can get much higher, especially for those who want electricity, running water, maybe even built-in seating and a permanent canopy. An Iowa farmer who owned a big pond paid Connect-a-Dock $100,000 to put in a plastic dock system for him, Krogman says. He admits “some people don’t like plastic; they think it’s cheap.” Others want to save money, so they pick out some plans and head down to Menards or Home Depot to get their DIY tools and lumber. “There are a million ways to build a dock,” Krogman says. “It comes down to water conditions and personal preference. But wood is a lot of work.” Decking Your Dock No matter how your dock is constructed, what most people will see is the decking that covers the top surface of your dock. Here are your material choices: Wood: The all-natural look of wood offers beauty and a soft feel underfoot. A variety of soft- and hardwood species can be used. Cedar is sometimes chosen for its natural resistance to insects and decay. Wood requires occasional maintenance and you may need to re-stain or treat the wood decking. Wood absorbs warmth from the sun and so will feel warm on sunny days—and maybe quite hot in summer. Composites and plastic materials: These alternatives to wood can be textured to be slip-resistant and are maintenance-free. Composite materials typically contain a mix of plastic and wood fibers, and may be susceptible to mildew and mold. They should be cleaned regularly. Plastic deck materials do not contain any organic materials. They are lightweight and require less maintenance. Aluminum: This material is the most lightweight choice for decking and does not decay or warp. Aluminum can be painted, powder-coated or given a wood-grain finish. Coated aluminum remains cool to the touch even in bright sun.