The year is quickly coming to a close — and with that comes lower temperatures, ice, snow, and harsh storms. And while winter conditions are beloved by many, such chilly temperatures can cause serious damage to your dock, especially if you do not take all the requisite precautions to protect your dock from the elements.

Because of these and other dangers presented by the winter, it is essential you do everything in your power to protect your assets and minimize potential losses. Below, we will discuss the steps you can take to prepare your dock for the winter season.

Winter Season Tips

If you don’t plan on using  a professional dock monitorings service like Kiwi Dock’s Dock Watch here are some tips for the upcoming winter season.

Monitor Lake Level

  • Changing  lake levels leave docks exposed and vulnerable to damage. Its critical you monitor the lake level and the depths below your dock to prevent damage. We recommend you record the minimum depth below your dock so you have an idea when you will need to move your dock in or out
  • Lake level can be viewed on the ALA website here

Check That Your Dock is Secure

  • Frequently check your connection points are secure and aren’t showing any sign of fatigue. Verify all the cotter pins are in place.
  • If you are staked to the beach, make sure the stakes are strong and all chain hardware is tight.

Monitor Gangplank Angle

  • As the lake level goes down your gangplank angle will continue to decrease until you have the dock adjusted.  Too steep of an angel can be very unsafe to use and it can cause binding points that will certainly cause a failure or significant damage.
  • At some point you will need to move your dock  down to beach before the angle becomes unsafe or close to binding. A great solution to this is Kiwi Docks stair extension systems. Call for more info.

Monitor Storms

  • Frequently check local weather forecasts
  • Prior to first winter storm, remove your boat, all canvas, and any other loose items on the dock and stow properly.
  • Check on your dock before and after the storm and look for any signs of damage or fatigue.
  • Remove any snow and ice ASAP. Fingers and main decks that are floating low today can easily become submerged under a snow load. This leads to wood rot and structural damage if not addressed quickly.

A ruined dock could cost upwards of $20,000 to repair, not to mention possible damages to your boat or neighboring structures. While there are always unforeseen circumstances, a careful dock owner will take all the necessary steps to protect their investment. With regular monitoring and maintenance, most of this damage can be minimized or avoided altogether. Don’t let preventable repairs or constant worry burden you. Kiwi’s Dock Watch program will keep you protected and worry-free.

If you have any questions about dock maintenance, repair or installation, the experts at Kiwi Docks are more than happy to help!