The 3 Most Important Accessories for Any BOAT DOCK

Below are my top 3 accessories that I think are a MUST HAVE for any dock:

1. tacos – Dock Cleats are by far the most important accessory for any dock. Made from a variety of materials and styles to choose from, cleats ensure the boat and its passengers are safe while docked. Cleats not only ensure that docking and undocking are done safely, they also ensure that the boat remains as stable as possible while passengers are getting on and off. A loose dock line can allow the boat to drift farther from the dock and create an unsafe boarding situation. A dock without cleats could leave you struggling to find an object to tie off to as the boat bumps into its dock. You also run the risk of the dock rope coming loose when it’s not properly secured in a cleat.

The most common types of keys include:

• Galvanized Steel – Cast with 2 holes for installation with hex bolts, it’s an easy installation for any DIY project. They are available in various sizes with the most common size ranging from 4″ to 12″.
• Hinged or Collapsible – The mounting holes on these slats are recessed so the bolts stay clear of the attached lines. Simply lift the cleat up to use and fold it down into the low-profile base when not in use. Also available in many colors and sizes, you can find one to suit virtually any area.
• Angled Aluminum Rail Dock Cleats (Dock Builder Cleats) – Easily slide into place and fit most OEM style dock builder docks with an aluminum extrusion.
• Solar Powered – Attractive and functional with powerful solar charging performance and lashing strength. The lights are built into the cleat, are waterproof, and turn on automatically at dusk.

two.
Turning on – Once again, there are thousands of products to choose from and so many ways to enhance your dock with lights. But at a minimum, you need to have enough lighting, in the right places, at the right time. What you MUST have is enough light for all pedestrians to safely step while on the dock and to safely board and access the dock. the far end of the pier.

Here are some simple lighting tips to help provide that safe environment:

• Solar motion lights can be mounted virtually anywhere. Be sure to test them before mounting to ensure motion is detected at the required distance. Some can be mounted on poles, posts, walls and some have their own pedestals. You can select the height and the distance at which to place them with respect to the area you want to illuminate.
• Solar dock battens are a great way to provide simple lighting in the right areas. Use solar lit slats in the area you need to illuminate or use more to enhance the character of your dock space.
• Flexible string or strip lighting is a very inexpensive way to provide lighting in any area. They are flexible and can be shaped and placed almost anywhere. Choose solar charging to eliminate tripping hazards like cords and plugs.

3.
ladders – Make sure there is a way to access the dock from the water. No one wants to think about an incident with a small child or an animal falling into the water and not being able to get out. Stairs are available in a variety of materials, lengths, and prices.

• Fixed ladders are securely attached to the platform surface and remain stationary for safe ascent.
• Flip-up ladders attach securely to the dock surface, but swing up and out of the way, locking in place when not in use.
• Slide-in ladders attach securely to the dock surface and have convenient ropes for going up and down the steps.

Now that you’ve installed the 3 MUST HAVE for your base and are sure your base is secure, you can think about how you want to customize your base space to fit your lifestyle. You can use your dock space as your outdoor social area and you may need additional lighting, some extra dock protection around the perimeter, as well as dock pilings or a dock box to store your boating supplies. Whatever your needs, you are sure to find the product of your choice.