guy48065
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2008
- Messages
- 427
I'm seeking help from members familiar with the type of dock I have:
Last fall I bought a cottage that came with this dock & old but working boat. The dock was hastily disassembled for winter storage & now I want to put it back in place. I know how everything goes together but I'm not clear on the best procedure to assemble it. My cottage is 200 miles away and other obligations have kept me away--including this holiday weekend--so I won't have the benefit of watching my neighbors install their docks like I had hoped.
Each 8 or 10-foot dock section is made up of 2 rails that the 2x6 PT decking is bolted to. Each rail sits in 4-hole brackets attached to a crossmember between each pair of aluminum poles, so each "H" support is shared by 2 dock sections. The poles have sand augers on the bottom that screw into the lake bed.
The poles can't be screwed into the lake bed unless the crossmember clamps are loose so it looks to me like there are only 2 ways to put it together:
(A) Drive in ALL the "H" supports & then drop each dock section into place in the brackets. This requires great precision in getting the supports the right distance apart & in line. Strings, levels, lasers, long straight 2x4's....etc. probably required.
(B) Drive in the 1st support assembly to approximate depth, secure one end of the first dock section to it & raise the crossmember into position under an existing wooden stairway hanging over the water. Let the other end of the dock section sink in the water. Raise that end up & attach to the next "H" & level with the first end. Continue adding supports & dock sections to end.
So for the experienced dock assemblers: Do I have these choices correct and which works best? Is there yet another method? Any tips to make it go smoother?
Also--each dock section is very heavy and I don't think my wife is up to the task of lifting her end. Any tips on how to muscle them around? Right now they're stacked in the yard near the steps & the "H" supports are in the shed...waiting for me
Last fall I bought a cottage that came with this dock & old but working boat. The dock was hastily disassembled for winter storage & now I want to put it back in place. I know how everything goes together but I'm not clear on the best procedure to assemble it. My cottage is 200 miles away and other obligations have kept me away--including this holiday weekend--so I won't have the benefit of watching my neighbors install their docks like I had hoped.
Each 8 or 10-foot dock section is made up of 2 rails that the 2x6 PT decking is bolted to. Each rail sits in 4-hole brackets attached to a crossmember between each pair of aluminum poles, so each "H" support is shared by 2 dock sections. The poles have sand augers on the bottom that screw into the lake bed.
The poles can't be screwed into the lake bed unless the crossmember clamps are loose so it looks to me like there are only 2 ways to put it together:
(A) Drive in ALL the "H" supports & then drop each dock section into place in the brackets. This requires great precision in getting the supports the right distance apart & in line. Strings, levels, lasers, long straight 2x4's....etc. probably required.
(B) Drive in the 1st support assembly to approximate depth, secure one end of the first dock section to it & raise the crossmember into position under an existing wooden stairway hanging over the water. Let the other end of the dock section sink in the water. Raise that end up & attach to the next "H" & level with the first end. Continue adding supports & dock sections to end.
So for the experienced dock assemblers: Do I have these choices correct and which works best? Is there yet another method? Any tips to make it go smoother?
Also--each dock section is very heavy and I don't think my wife is up to the task of lifting her end. Any tips on how to muscle them around? Right now they're stacked in the yard near the steps & the "H" supports are in the shed...waiting for me
