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The Dock Primer

Getting Started

In the beginning ... there was a shoreline. Perhaps it already had a dock, one that no longer suited anybody's requirements. Perhaps the dock was falling apart, or maybe the shoreline was devoid of a dock, an empty beach with no place to moor a boat. For whatever reason, the decision was made, and that shoreline is getting a new dock.

Building a residential dock is not a difficult process. In fact, constructing a dock can be as easy as falling off a log, often with the same results. Fortunately, building a safe and stable dock is only a little more difficult than building a bad one, with the majority of not-as-good-as-they-could-be docks existing simply because the builder was unaware how little separates good from bad. This primer points both the confirmed do-it-yourselfer and the equally confirmed purchase-it-yourselfer in the direction of good docks and good dock-building practices. It also explains how to avoid some potentially damaging and costly errors. For the full scoop on docks - including plans and full construction techniques - you will need to buy The Dock Manual (Storey Books), the only resource that can explain all facets of residential dock construction.(See "Further Reading" ) Coincidentally, The Dock Manual was also written by the author of this primer, which explains how I got away with borrowing some research from it.

The most important thing to know about dock construction is that no dock is a stand-alone structure. A dock has to work in harmony with that sometimes uneasy marriage of land and water known as your shoreline, and with the various uses you and your family envision for that shoreline. No two sites are alike. And no two families are alike. Celebrate this uniqueness by making note of your shoreline's prominent features and hidden secrets. Then make a detailed map of it all. Graph paper is the preferred media for cartographic novices, as a scale can easily be assigned to the squares, such as one ¼" square equals 4' or whatever is needed to fit your cottage shoreline onto paper.

A detailed map of your shoreline is your most valuable tool in building a dock. For one thing, while I'm sure you are a very nice person, you probably don't want to build your neighbours a dock, which can happen when your carefully constructed masterpiece ends up on the wrong side of a property line (it happens). Also, no matter where your waterfront is located, chances are you will need to get approval from at least one government agency, probably several. Having a map of your site, with the proposed project all neatly drawn out, cuts down on the red tape (see "The Approval Process"). Yet the best reason to map your shoreline is that it greatly eases the task of choosing the location, type, and size of dock best suited to your needs and budget, whether you're building it yourself or hiring a professional.

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Begin the mapping process by locating lot lines and measuring any structures, such as the cottage or pumphouse. Mark your findings on the map. Same goes for the shape of the shoreline, the direction of prevailing winds and currents, the best views of the lake and shoreline, the topography and vegetation on the land rising from the water and the land under the water, noting its makeup (rock, sand, mud) at 12', 24', and 36' intervals. Also mark the location of submerged navigational hazards such as rocks and sand bars. Note frequently used areas such as horseshoe pits or swimming areas, along with water-intake lines, power lines, and telephone lines - basically everything.

If you are aware of shoreline nesting sites for waterfowl (remember the ducklings that swam by in the spring?), fish spawning areas or wetlands, mark these on the map too. But don't include any as-yet-to-be-constructed docks - yet. Do, however, take pictures. In the summer, definitely, but also in winter and during spring break-up if possible. While your cottage may be only a summertime retreat, the shoreline is there all year, and spring ice can tear apart anything that you might decide to add - even reinforced concrete bunkers. If you are new to the area, ask the neighbours about the ice; longtime residents delight in frightening newcomers.

A Shoreline Named Desire

At this stage, what you have is the "before" plan, the shoreline as it exists prior to any dock additions. Now, look into the future - not at structures, but at uses. Remember that the dock only facilitates your needs. Make a wish list of shoreline desires. Perhaps you need a place to moor the boat. (How big is it?) Or perhaps a place to swim, fish, launch a canoe, and sunbathe. Or maybe just a spot to sit and watch the world drift by. Or any combination of the above and more. Your needs and what you have in the way of waterfront property should dictate the shape, size, and type of dock, not what the local lumberyard happens to have in stock. Obviously, finances also play a role, but as we will see, docks are usually modular devices, allowing you to add and rearrange dock sections over time. So rather than compromise your dreams with some substandard fright the kids love to use as a floating roller coaster and older members of the family refuse to board, complete your dream in stages as your finances permit.

Any successful shoreline structure also pays homage to its surroundings. The body of water fronting your property exists because of a delicate balance in nature that has evolved over many millenniums. That narrow band of earth known as the shoreline - an interdependent conglomerate that includes the water and both exposed and submerged lands - is the most ecologically sensitive piece of the planet most of us are likely to encounter. It's also the reason we have chosen to inhabit this small piece of planet earth. Unfortunately, anything we do at or near the shoreline will inevitably disrupt the balance, sometimes destroying not only the shoreline, but also water quality and many of the countless plants and animals that depend on that shore area for existence. The goal in successful dock building is not to eliminate our impact - an impossible goal - but to minimize that impact. The preservation of a shoreline's charm and abundant life, and the realization of our waterfront dreams, need not be mutually exclusive goals. With a bit of planning and use of good dock-building practices, it can be a single, shared goal.

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