Dock question: how do these sections hook together?

[guy48065]

I just bought a new lake house & it came with a roll-in dock. The sellers had already left the state so they weren't around to ask how to join the sections together. The plastic decking is flush to the aluminum frame below, and the gap looks to be too narrow to allow the thick hook to angle in.
Does anyone have a doc like this and can tell me what the trick is to joining the sections together?

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Looks like it slides over the dock till that hook is flush.

 

[Scott Danforth]

You can see the witness marks where the angled hook bits butted up against the frame.

Sort of like a drunk congo line where you have to hold the belt of the guy in front of you

 

[DeepCMark58A]

You can see the witness marks where the angled hook bits butted up against the frame.

Sort of like a drunk congo line where you have to hold the belt of the guy in front of you

Those are not scratches on my boat those are witness marks.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Does that hole next to the witness mark serve any purpose? I'm wondering if the sections get loosely bolted together. It seems that if the dock is held together only with that angled hook section, a bit of rough water could easily cause the sections to separate.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Does that hole next to the witness mark serve any purpose? I'm wondering if the sections get loosely bolted together. It seems that if the dock is held together only with that angled hook section, a bit of rough water could easily cause the sections to separate.

there should be some hardware that goes thru that hole to keep them together thru the season.

I do not miss putting in or taking out docks.

 

[Alumarine]

The decking should come off in sections giving you access.
There should be a corresponding hole in the hooks that don't show in the picture.

 

[guy48065]

The decking should come off in sections giving you access.
There should be a corresponding hole in the hooks that don't show in the picture.

Of course the plastic decking bolts on--i was hoping it wasn't necessary to take the decking off to assemble the frames.
Are you saying that's how this works?

There's no mfr name on this dock and none of the videos I've watched use hooks to join the sections. None of the videos show a need to remove the decking.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I don't think you need to remove the deck

 

[JASinIL2006]

It looks like once the sections were joined together using that hook thingy, that you could reach the holes (by standing beside the dock) that are adjacent to the hooks to attach the sections more securely using whatever hardware one uses with that kind of dock.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Actually, the more I think about it... if that's not a floating dock, it might be that those hooks are really all that hold the sections together.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Its a roll out dock. You most likely pull the wheels when you get it where you need

Bring the section without the hooks first. Level, set, etc

Bring the hooked section up behind it. Lift so the top side of the angled hook hits the bottom side of the deck, and the hook clears the angle.

Then push together, gravity will do the rest.

From the sides (working blindly because you're usually in hip waders in 38 degree water) put the bolts in. If you drop the bolts or wrench, you're going to get wet

Remember....the hooks are angled.... that slot in the first section is almost twice as high as it needs to be

Then adjust placement as needed.

Then move on to next dock.

Assuming it's a 4 piece dock....2 guys, 20 minutes tops. 3 guys, about 10 minutes.

Usually charge $100 for put-in, $200 if there are boat lifts.

 

[Alumarine]

Actually, the more I think about it... if that's not a floating dock, it might be that those hooks are really all that hold the sections together.

I thought it was a floating dock as well.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Its a roll out dock. You most likely pull the wheels when you get it where you need

Bring the section without the hooks first. Level, set, etc

Bring the hooked section up behind it. Lift so the top side of the angled hook hits the bottom side of the deck, and the hook clears the angle.

Then push together, gravity will do the rest.

From the sides (working blindly because you're usually in hip waders in 38 degree water) put the bolts in. If you drop the bolts or wrench, you're going to get wet

Remember....the hooks are angled.... that slot in the first section is almost twice as high as it needs to be

Then adjust placement as needed.

Then move on to next dock.

Assuming it's a 4 piece dock....2 guys, 20 minutes tops. 3 guys, about 10 minutes.

Usually charge $100 for put-in, $200 if there are boat lifts.

Scott, old numbers $200 no boat lifts. I watch the dock go in and out every year, funny I pay to have my dock put in then I help my neighbor put his dock and lift in.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Scott, old numbers $200 no boat lifts.

could be... bud still charged the same a few years ago when I helped, used to be $50/$75 up to about 10 years ago. He does about 20 docs and about 17 boat lifts shortly after ice-out, and brings them in the months of October/November. also makes a killing putting in pontoons with his scissor trailer.

although he just turned 65, not sure he will be doing it too much longer.

 

[guy48065]

I resorted to calling the guy who has been installing & removing this dock at this house in past years.
He made it look easy--but it was necessary to unbolt the end of the plastic decking to get the hook thru the narrow slot.
I'll be doing it myself in the future IF I can find a helper. This thing has big steel wagon wheels & is pretty heavy to wrangle into position working alone. I gave up after one section. There are 4.
I also find I don't need 4 sections (80'). A deep-V might, but my pontoon is fine tied to the 3rd section.

I'm finally ready for Michigan's short boating season--and tomorrow is supposed to be cool & rainy. Figures.

 

[guy48065]

One thing about this dock that doesn't feel right--There are NO auger posts at all.
It just sits on the wheels, plus a pair of small feet in the middle of the 3rd section right where I'm tied.
I think I'll replace the small feet with augers.

It's apparently been used like this for many years but I always thought a few augers were normally used on a roll-in to keep it in place during bad weather and crazies zooming by way too close/fast.

 

[cyclops222]

My neighbor has that same type of dock. 3 young big guys IN A CALM water day. 6 hours . As the guys stop and leave 1 at a time.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Won't need auger posts unless you leave your pontoon tied to it in a big wind storm. The pontoon will act as a sail and pull the dock

 

[DeepCMark58A]

My dock is in 16' of water, auger posts are a must the end and mid section and a cross bar at the end. I also installed plates on the outer dock section connections for stability. The joys of having a dock on stilts.