My Dock Disappeared

[rheine]

This is about my dock restoration project. Home to my sweet Glastron and the kids' summer.

In October 2015 we had a nasty storm. The dock was tucked into a tight cove in a northwest corner. Steep banks go up from there. Somehow a freak wind came in from the west and ripped the two ramps clean off the shore mounts.  I look over the edge of the deck every morning to check the toys and Wham, no dock. We're talking jet skis, kayaks, pontoon, Glastron, everything gone.



I found her down the lake in a fisherman's cove. The ramps were hanging straight down. The pontoon was free. You can't move a beast like this until the lake is quiet. So four days later with my neighbor's help we we able to get the Glastron off the floats and fire her up.



Just after I hooked up the wind came up again. But not enough to matter this time. It moved along faster than I thought. In no time we were back home. Now what.

SPRING PROJECT


R

[Hyperacme]

WOW !
That would be quite a scare !
Every thing gone ...

[Plugcheck]

That would be a terrible feeling to wake up and it's gone.  I assume the ramps were the only tie in to the shore?  I would consider adding some other forms of additional anchor, maybe some concrete anchors with chains?  Glad to hear you got it home, never seen a Glastron tugboat before!

[rheine]

Most lakes around here (MO) require floating docks and floating boat lifts. A two to three feet rise after a big storm is not unusual.  Below is pictured the old system and the new plan. We are laying in 6 cubic feet of concrete in two locations as deep as possible. two 1 !/4" galvanized  pipes attached to the corners will do most of the work. It's a south facing shore so 90% of the wind is head on.






Another challenge is the electrical service. I had liquid tight running from the house. That got ripped clean form a junction box half way up the bank. We need power to run air lifts and docking lights.



What a mess.  I have more help coming tomorrow to dig holes for the concrete bases. The dock looks uneven right now because the waves pushed it up on shore a couple feet. As soon as the poles are attached we'll push it back out. Fortunately, six feet out it's six feet deep. The ramp will probably be 8-10 feet.

Most man made lakes have a deep end and a shallow end.

[Plugcheck]

What level of service did you formerly provide to the dock?  If you suspect the possibility of another break away happening maybe consider an outlet protected by gfci? Run sow or sjw instead of sealtite to a junction box on the dock, then distribute with thhn or thw in sealtite to other points like your lift pump.

[rheine]

I have a service panel in the boathouse. We are all GFI and installed by a licensed electrician friend. Dock has been there 5 years with no issues but the attachment points were very suspect. I don't count on another breakaway but if there were a detach device I would want to look at it.

[V153]

I shudder to think what such a dock would cost round here. The permitting process itself leads some to commit suicide.  (A Manatee might bump their head on one, y'know ...)

[rheine]

I know this is a public forum but I am far from MN. This is a lake owned by the county and currently there are no rules or laws on docks excepting you have to be a first tier private homeowner (not association) to have a dock. I am expanding before it changes.  We had a sad case of adverse possession across and down from me. Resulted in the largest dock on the lake.  Just outright belligerence. 

[rheine]

More lumber. Cedar was the same price as PT.



This is adding up fast.  Foam still looks good. Has to be 20 years.





Putting down more 5/4 today. Been dry for a week now. Moving forward.

R

[Oldfishguy]

Docks on water seem seem to want to wander away from home no matter where you are from.  I anchor my boat lift in with screws into the lake bed and chains to keep the canopy from acting like a kite.  Our vintage Glastrons are pretty light weight even with the vintage motors heavy weights. 

Chains and screws, every spring; as I can never get things placed exactly in the same spot.

[Jason]

Dock is looking good. I love the multi-purpose trailer.