The desirability of a dock is often judged by what we can see on the top – the decking. It’s what we walk on, dive from, tie our boats to and set our chairs upon. Yet the most important aspect of a dock is the supporting structure – which is hidden underneath (except perhaps to swimmers!). Piles, I-beams and bracing are all critical elements of a good dock.
Muskoka lakes are acidic and in order to ensure a dock will last, the foundation not only needs to be thick and strong enough, but a protective coating significantly adds to the longevity of the structure. Corrosion occurs in Muskoka lakes at a rate of approximately 1/4 inch per 25 years on unprotected steel, so if you want your dock to last, you need pile walls to be a good 5/8″ thick and the supporting I-beams to have good tensile strength (60,000 pounds per square inch, for example). Ensure your supplier has engineering information that supports solid design and structural strength. This is particularly crucial for those who want to have a boathouse or structure built on top of the dock.
Muskoka dock building has some variables – for example, the type of lakebed. Sometimes there is bedrock near the surface and the dock can be directly secured to it, but most commonly there is some overburden (soil, sand or gravel, for example) on top of the bedrock. In that case, the pile is driven through the overburden to the bedrock and it sits on the bedrock and is secured and strengthened in place through bracing.
The ice plays havoc with any structure on the water and so bubblers are used in winter to protect the dock from damage. By using a strong pile, the dock will have a better chance of surviving the rigours of ice, should the bubbler malfunction.
In summary, when considering at a steel dock, look for strength and durability through good engineered design, solid structure and protected surfaces.
For more than 20 years Nordcap Steel Docks has been building steel docks throughout Muskoka, ranging from simple swim docks to large projects such as the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre. With our special attention to the structural integrity of your dock, we’ll help you choose the optimal location on your waterfront and design a dock for your family’s long-term plans.
Nordcap Steel Docks
Philipp Spoerndli
(705) 687-7851
[email protected]
muskokadocks.com
