Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

[middlewick]

I have recently gotten a 1976 Starcraft American 22 and have been looking into ways of docking it so that it doesn't pull my buddies dock sideways. His dock is fairly shallow, at 240' it's still only 3' deep, and when a fairly stiff breeze comes out of the NW my last boat would drag his dock sideways.
I have been considering maybe mooring out off his dock and using a small skiff to get out to it when needed. I was thinking of a barrel of cement with chain and a buoy to attach to.
I have also been considering some sort of rail/bunk system that I could pull onto to take the stress off of the dock, but cant find anything easy and fairly cheap to make.
Please give me your thoughts on these ideas, pros and cons, I am not willing to spend thousands to have a lift and really its only a couple of the larger storms each year that pose a problem.

 

[nikon]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

What about putting some anchors on the dock?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

I have been around boats and docks for over 50 years and I cannot begin to understand what you are describing. A 240' dock that can't hold a 22' boat in a breeze? I don't get it.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

So glad I wasn't the only one who had this weird mental image of a 240' long dock that can move.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

I get it- I don't think he means the boat is out 240' from shore when it's at the dock.

How about a used lift?



Don't know how cheap you mean, but there are used ones around. I found one for $700.

 

[middlewick]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

The dock is 240' straight out with the boats tied up at the end. This is the only way that it's deep enough to get to dock.
The way my buddy engineered this dock wasn't the greatest and it gets pulled around by bigger boats in the wind to the point it actually falls over.
I have looked at some used lifts but can't find one large enough for a decent price.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

The dock is 240' straight out with the boats tied up at the end. This is the only way that it's deep enough to get to dock.
The way my buddy engineered this dock wasn't the greatest and it gets pulled around by bigger boats in the wind to the point it actually falls over.
I have looked at some used lifts but can't find one large enough for a decent price.

Guess I didn't get it after all...240', WOW

What is the bottom of the lake like on the way out to the end?

It did take me a while of craigslist searching to find my lift, I even put wanted ads out in the boats section. The guy contacted me. I'm surprised there aren't some larger ones available, I had trouble finding one small enough. It could take some time if you go that way.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

First, your buddy needs to have a couple of pilings sunk to hold his dock in place. He's gonna lose the entire thing in a storm.

Have you considered mooring whips? Allows the boat to move and bounce around without transferring the stress to the dock.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

I agree with the pilings.

We want pics of this monster dock too

 

[ricohman]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

I am guessing this dock is going through mud and marsh? Big job to anchor a dock this size. We get plenty of wind around here and I don't think a 240 ft dock would last long.

 

[middlewick]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

Its sandy, and mucky bottom all the way out, great for his kids for swimming but terrible for docking.
I should have taken pictures today as we put the dock in. I'll get some this week.
I would have thought the whips would still tranfer to the dock as that's what they would be attached to.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Need advise for keeping boat independant from dock

I would have thought the whips would still tranfer to the dock as that's what they would be attached to.

I would agree.