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The cold weather has unfortunately returned. It’s sadly time to start raking the leaves, bundling up when going outside, and before you know it, the harsh weather will be coming. For dock owners, this leads into the question: Is your gangway protected? While many boaters have prioritized dock protection above all else (and rightfully so), there’s still the importance of ensuring that your gangway can survive winter’s cruel extremities. After all, your gangway is how you’ll access your dock in the spring. One of the best ways you can be sure that your gangway will make it to the warmer months is making sure it’s made of high quality aluminum. While the wooden style no doubt has it’s traditional charm, aluminum gangways carry many practical advantages that makes them a true modern maritime solution for the freezing months.

• Resistant Surface

Aluminum planks are a clean, sleek, waterproof surface that can withstand any impact from moisture. Wooden planks on the other hand, can become dirty and show age relatively quickly. Due to its cellular structure, wood can also absorb any form of wetness which can in turn lead to swelling and rotting, causing the entire gangway to deteriorate.

• Virtually Maintenance-Free Design

Not only does a strong surface protect aluminum gangways from the effects of the cold, but it also keeps it up and standing throughout the winter with little to no effort. The most that could happen is snow and ice removal, and checking if certain parts are intact. No painting, no refinishing, and no replacing decayed dock planks. 

• Weight

Being lightweight is one of the aluminum’s main features as a metal, which has made them quite popular among gangway owners and manufacturers. Not just because it makes transportation and assembly easier, but it also keeps weight off the floating dock as a whole. This can allow the dock to stay afloat during the winter, or if you’re the type that puts your dock and gangway away for the winter, the process just got 10x easier.

Make your wait for the spring as anxiety-free as possible. Our gangways at Bristol Industries of PA are expertly crafted to match all of the above features and more. If you would like to learn more about purchasing a gangway in the fall, click here or give us a call today!