What components of floating dock hardware will you need to build your own dock? The answer depends on the size and shape of the dock itself, but a few key pieces of floating dock hardware are essential for all projects. These pieces may include:
- Equipment, such as a saw to cut lumber, a drill with different sized drill bits, carriage bolts, nuts, washers along with screws and/or nails
- Section Connection, “Section Hinging Brackets” to affix the dock sections together
- Dock Anchoring, “Floating Straight Brackets” with rings or pipes. ( Or “Chain Retainers” for dead man weights.
- Bracket Support, “Backing plates” ( Optional, but do give added bracket support! )
- Other optional types of Brackets for different dock layouts and support.
Before starting your floating dock project, read through your plans carefully. If you need a free plan, there are many sources online such as the plans at Remove and Replace and Instructables. Each plan provides guidance to build different sized docks, and you may need more floating dock hardware depending on the size or layout of the dock itself.
Some plans call for using barrels or drums as flotation devices, while others suggest foam filled plastic floats. Barrels work fine for small, private floating docks, but if too many people are on the dock at once, they can sink and the pressure can push in the barrels. Foam filled plastic floats tend to work better for most floating dock projects because you can choose size of floats based on the weight you want to support and the opening on the underside of dock frame you are mounting it to.
For those folks trying to choose between a stationery or floating dock, consider first where you live. The U.S. Coast Guard suggests floating docks for both freshwater and saltwater needs in hurricane-prone and tidal water areas. A floating dock will ride up and down with the water in the event a hurricane threatens or tide going in or out. Stationery docks may be more stable or look prettier, but they do tend to splinter apart when under hurricane-force water and winds and will stay at a set height when water level fluctuates.
Ve-Ve Inc. manufactures and carries a large selection of galvanized, Made in the U.S.A. Floating Dock Hardware for residential use (Not recommended for large commercial docks ). Visit our website and browse our selection. Compare it to your plan, and purchase directly from our online store. If you have any questions about your purchase, we also have an online form where you can submit your questions for a prompt answer. Visit Ve-Ve Inc. today. Hardware is shipped nationwide and into Canada.
