Have you used any of the many products out there designed to attach to the side or corner of your dock and protect your boat from bumps, scrapes and scratches?

I’m building a straight dock to tie up along side (dock on only one side of boat, another boat on the other side of my boat) and trying to figure out what to use.

Also, some folks at my lake will sink a length of pipe into the lake bottom near the bow and/or stern on the non-dock side of the boat to tie-up to. Good idea? It would seem to help keep my boat away from the dock, but reduces manuevering room for me and the boat docked next to me.

The dockbuilders on our lake use good old-fashioned, but new, 5-inch (I think) firehose that is folded flat, layed over a soft, less than half cylinder of foam, and then stapled along the edge of the dock with stainless staples. I have never seen it done this way, but it sure does work and lasts many years.

I take that back. Way back in the 50's my dad and Grandpa used OLD firehose without the foam NAILED onto the edge of the dock. Worked then, too, until the nails started pulling out and you stepped on one.

track,

I have designed something that works great. Will post, but need some time to get and load the pictures. If you want, I can take closer pictures of my dock this weekend and post for you.

Is your dock stationary or floating? Is it tidal or lake?

Sebago

I bought a couple of Hull-hugrs for the posts on my dock. Added a couple of grommets so I could put a fat cable tie around them. The marina won't let you put any screws, etc. into the posts, so the cable tie is the next best thing.

Got these at Boater's World last year for around $10 each.

One note - if you use cable ties, make sure you get the ones that are UV resistant (they usually indicate this on the package). Otherwise, the sun will weaken them, and they will probably break before the end of the season.

Just came upstairs from the garage where I finished 3 of the 4 ten-foot dock sections. Lots of deck screws got used tonight.

Sebago, the dock will be stationary and located on a small inland lake. More waves from the water skiers than from natural forces. :p If it's not too much trouble I'd like to see any photos you can provide that show what you've done to address this problem. Thanks a bunch!

Jack, I think I saw something along those lines at BoatUS recently. I was wondering what that material was, now I know.

Al, I'll check those out too. Thanks.

Hey Track75,

Here's what I did at our slip on Lake Texoma.
I took 6 of the Taylor Made "Low-Freeboard" fenders and used 3/4" x 3" lag bolts to screw them diectly into the planks. I placed them about 6 feet apart on both sides of the slip, and so far, they've worked great. Worth looking into. I got the fenders at West Marine, for $16.00 each.
Hope this idea will work for you as well as it did for us.

Cheers

Kev

For protecting the boat from the dock I purchased a roll of the vinyl material which is design for use on docks. It is attached to a treated 2x4 and runs the length of the dock. I also use a couple of fenders for added protection. Have used this for the past 4 years and it works good. Previous dock had the firehose and have also used 2x4's covered with carpet.

As for keeping the bow away from the dock I have tied one end of a rope to the dock and the other end across the slip to another solid point. I then attached a clip to the rope at the point that the bow eye would make contact to the rope. After docking I reach over the bow and attach the clip to the bow eye. Works good for me on the boats we have had.