Boat Docks Need Love Too! Boat Dock Checklist.

One of the most important items to an avid river boater is a boat dock, a place that one can leave their boat and feel confident that it is safe and secure.

With the boating season quickly approaching or maybe for some is already here, we need to check out that boat dock. Below is a check list; check these items and correct as needed to insure that your boat dock will serve you well throughout the boating season. This checklist is for docks that are currently out of the water, I will address "docks in the water" in a separate post.

1. Turn the dock over so the flotation side is up, check all of your flotation devices for damage. Here in my neck of the woods most river folks us plastic 55 gallon barrels, check for cracks and holes, of course replace any that are not water tight or are questionable.
2. Check the banding or whatever method you have of holding your flotation devices in place, you want to be sure they will last the season.
3. Inspect the frame work of your dock, make sure there are no missing braces, bolts, angles, or broken, framing members.
4. Turn the docks over and inspect the top side decking for loose or damaged decking.
5. Make sure your mooring cleats are secure, or if you use resident dock lines check them for rot and or abrasion. If you are using poly lines be aware that dry rot from the sun is the most common cause for line failure, poly lines should be replaced every year if used as resident dock line.

Now that the docks are ready don't forget to checkout your dock anchoring system; are your cables in good shape? Is your anchor point solid? Is your walk ramp and stairs sound and solid?

Ok, so your docking system is ready for boating season! Great! Now the next question is; is the river ready for the docks? Here in southern Ohio you can pretty much bank that we will get some high water sometime in May. Not to say that should keep you from launching your docks but if the river is not fit for boating then there is no need to subject your docks to the abuse that high water can bring.

If your river or lake is not ready for boating then this would be a good time to maybe add that set of stanchions to your dock that you have been wanting? Stanchions work great to protect your boat from wake damage while docked, and are relatively easy and inexpensive to build.

Hope this helps you get ready for the boating season, because once the rivers and lakes get nice we all know that the only thing we will have time for is Boating.

Your questions and or comments are encouraged and appreciated.