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So, you’ve gotten a place by the water? That’s fantastic! Not only is the view and atmosphere absolutely breathtaking, but now you can have your very own dock to enjoy it with. Now, what type of dock you choose, fixed or floating, is very important. If your location’s body of water is relatively stable, such as a small, inland lake, a fixed dock would be most suitable. However, if your coastline tends to be a bit more unpredictable, such as the wide, open ocean, you may need a floating dock. The two of them are not only built differently, but they hold up differently as well. The decision you make between the two will play a crucial role in your maritime lifestyle. Read below for some reasons as to why the two are not only different, but how a floating dock, whilst untraditional, can actually make waterfront ownership easier.

• Adaptability

The water can sometimes be an unpredictable place, especially in today’s world. The rampant extreme weather and rising water levels can create a potentially damaging environment for the dock unless it has the ability to adjust accordingly. This is one of the most important features of a floating dock. The use of buoyant floats as opposed to pillars of wood makes the dock system always be above the water levels, ensuring that you will always have access to your boat. Even at Bristol Industries of PA, we always design our aluminum docks with an exclusive non-skid surface and Rotex™ decking to guarantee that your walk across will be absolutely safe, no matter how harsh the storm the other night was. 

• Installation

One of the biggest advantages floating docks have over fixed is how easy they are to install. Building a fixed dock can be a very long, complex process. Floating docks on the other hand, are delivered in sections and are very lightweight to make installation as simple as possible. This set-up also makes the dock very easy to transport and store for when the season ends. 

• Maintenance

If something is complex to build, it is most likely that maintaining it will also be complex, and fixed docks are no different. Not just routine cleaning, but also leveling, inspecting, and sometimes even buying new materials. Meanwhile, floating docks are famous for requiring very little maintenance, being made of material resistant to corrosion, and having float drums that are very easy to replace even in the rare event of a predicament. 

If you would like to know about how Bristol Industries of PA can supply you with your very own floating dock, give us a call at 215-493-7230 or request a quote today!