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Well, my fellow sailors, we have passed the halfway point of October, and that means winter is inching closer and closer. It also means it’s unfortunately time to truly start putting your docks and gangways away until spring. While this is an event no boater looks forward to, it can also serve as an opportunity to make sure your gangway is properly structured and safe for the upcoming season. If you’re new to the waterfront lifestyle and aren’t sure of what exactly to check, allow us to provide some advice on what you can check to ensure your gangway enters the spring as good as new.

• Nuts and Bolts

While many gangway manufacturers (Bristol Industries of PA included) always use strong, corrosion-proof materials in their products, with the nuts and bolts being no different, they are still a crucial part of our structure at the end of the day. If we are ever in a situation where we need to unscrew these parts, it is important that we make sure that they are in the same, intact condition. It’s also important that we ensure that it can be screwed on correctly when we reinstall the gangway in the spring.

• Hinges and Pins

Much like the nuts and bolts, hinges are another vital element of the gangway. They are what connects your gangway to the dock, after all. It’s also important to make sure that the hinge’s pins are unharmed too. When your hinges connect to the dock, it’s the hinges that make sure the link is tight enough to not break off. When removing these parts for winter storage, ensuring they are undamaged is not only routine, but also assurance that your gangway is even designed for more than one season.

• Transition Plates

If you like to ensure that your gangway is accessible to as many people as possible, you may add a transition plate to the end. The smooth surface gives passengers a guaranteed safe walk onto your dock or boat. If you want to continue guests have an easy time stepping into your waterfront, make sure that when you remove the plate for the offseason so it remains completely intact.

As daunting and sometimes complicated as it is, making sure your gangway is ready for the spring can be just as important as ensuring it’s safe and secure during the winter. If you still have questions about any of your gangway’s parts, give Bristol Industries of PA a call at 215-493-7230.