New Town Dock Built Too Low . . .

[tpenfield]

This is literally a dockside chat . . .

Today as I was taking out my 8 foot tender for the season from the town dock, I happen to notice something odd. The town replaced the dock about a year ago, as the original dock, which probably dated back into the 1930's was falling apart.

It was right at high tide and I noticed that the dock sub-structure was partially submerged, and the ramps were on an upward slope, which they are not really designed to do. . .


Ramp to dinghy float . . .


The wheels on the end of the ramp were suspended off the float . . .


The ramp on the other side of the dock was no better . . .


The front of the dock did not look too bad, but the ramps seem to struggle at high tide.


It was then I realized that this dock was probably built at the same level as the original dock, which from an engineering standpoint, seemed odd since sea level is about 6" (15 cm) higher now than when the original dock was built. I would have thought that the engineering aspects would have accounted for the current sea levels and built the dock a bit higher. :noidea:

 

[Grub54891]

Just by looking, the floating dock extends to far under the ramp. They need to shorten that one a bit. Mother nature is an unpredictable animal, in a couple years it may be a lot lower? The lake levels up here are higher that average also, but the ramps don't drag on the dock as the picture shows. Simple fix if they do it.

 

[tpenfield]

Just by looking, the floating dock extends to far under the ramp. They need to shorten that one a bit. Mother nature is an unpredictable animal, in a couple years it may be a lot lower? The lake levels up here are higher that average also, but the ramps don't drag on the dock as the picture shows. Simple fix if they do it.

Ocean waters . . not lake. There is about a 5 foot tide . . . maybe 6 ft on a 'spring' tide. So at low tide the floats go down about 5 feet and the ramp rolls back on the float. I think the length of the ramp is such that at low tide the incline is not too steep to inhibit walking up/down safely.

 

[Grub54891]

I'm looking at the guides for the rollers, if at low tide, the rollers stay within the length of the guides, the floating section could be shorter.

 

[tpenfield]

I'm looking at the guides for the rollers, if at low tide, the rollers stay within the length of the guides, the floating section could be shorter.

Yes, you are right, the floats being shorter (or moved out from the main dock) would probably help. I'm wondering if the town will get much feedback on having just built a dock and the main platform is too low for the ramps

I don't think I've been at the dock at absolute high tide since it was rebuilt, so I never noticed the problem until now. I'll have to see what it looks like at a 'spring' tide, as the floats will be about 6" higher

 

[GA_Boater]

Tomorrow afternoon Nate is due up there, you may not have to wait 'til Spring.

 

[tpenfield]

I don't think Nate will raise the water level any for us. . . the worst storms for my locale is if a hurricane goes right up between Narragansett Bay and the Cape Cod canal. When Sandy hit . . . we got no surge . . . it all went into NYC.

 

[tpenfield]

Just checking the tide charts . . . it looks like November 5th, December 4th, and January 3rd will be the next set of 'spring' tides, the highest being on December 4th where the tide will be about 4" higher than what the photos show.

 

[dingbat]

Just checking the tide charts . . . it looks like November 5th, December 4th, and January 3rd will be the next set of 'spring' tides, the highest being on December 4th where the tide will be about 4" higher than what the photos show.

Don?t know about up there, but prevailing winds can have a big effect on our tide heights.

A good eastward blow will push water in the parking lot. Like wise, a good westward blow will push it out