Posted on March 2, 2023
How Are PolyDock Systems Anchored?
How Are PolyDock Systems Anchored?
Written by PolyDock Products Marketing
Your floating dock might not float out to sea and get lost forever if you don’t anchor it, but anchoring your dock will keep it safe from collisions as well as make it more stable under your feet.
- Think about your water conditions when choosing an anchoring system, just like you thought about them when choosing your dock.
- Make sure you have the right anchoring system components to complete your system.
- Learn about all the anchoring system options on the market, and discuss your choices with a dealer who knows your water.
If you’ve decided that a floating dock is right for you, you need to decide which floating dock anchor option is suitable. Without an anchoring system, your dock will float off — maybe not as drastically as miles out, never to be seen again, but annoying enough to collect and possibly get damaged along the way. Some dock owners choose to secure their floating dock by using a gangway to connect it to the shore. But to achieve maximum stability and security, an anchoring system underneath the dock in the water is the best option.
Factors to Consider When Securing a Floating Dock
Just like when you decided to purchase a floating dock, you’ll need to think about your water conditions and other factors when deciding on the anchoring system you’ll use for your floating dock. Among the most important things to consider is the water depth and whether it fluctuates, which determines the length of anchor chains you need and how much slack to give them. The level of protection that your water has from strong winds or heavy traffic, which affect the waves and water movement, is also important to consider. Dock configuration, seasonal weather changes, the number of people using your dock, local regulations, and more are the other factors that will affect the type of anchorage you use.
Anchoring Essentials and Options
The specifics of the tools you’ll need depend on the exact anchoring method used. However, there are a few basic anchoring essentials that you’ll likely use, no matter what your layout or anchoring system.
- Concrete anchoring blocks should weigh at least 125 pounds and have 1’x1’x1’ dimensions (although they come in weights up to 3,000 pounds). Anchors can come in other materials if your area doesn’t allow concrete.
- Galvanized chains: most waterfront properties can use a ¼ inch chain, although larger bodies of water should use ⅜ inches, and some owners opt for 5/16 inches.
- Eye bolts attach to a chain quick link and bolt to the main structure.
- Quick chain links to link the chain to the anchor’s rebar or dock system’s eyebolts.
As with nearly any metal components on the water, your anchoring system must be regularly inspected for signs of rust, biological growth, and other potential damage.
Anchoring Methods from PolyDock
PolyDock has five different anchoring options for your PolyDock system based on what would work best for your dock.
- Pipe brackets mount anywhere along the perimeter of the PolyDock system. They anchor the dock in place with enough slack to allow it to float up and down for water fluctuations. We recommend using these in water depths up to 12 feet.
- Chain anchor guides are for heavy-duty needs. These contain a pipe bracket with a galvanized steel tube insert for the chain to slide through, which locks into place with a key slot. It’s one of the two chain anchor options best used in deep water installations where using pipes isn't possible (water depths of 15 feet or deeper).
- Chain anchor plates are the second of the two chain anchor options for the PolyDock. They are lighter duty and our most popular mount option. They attach to a six-inch accessory plate. The chain plate has a key slot machined into it, allowing it to adjust and lock the chain in place.
- The stiff arm uses a pole anchored on the shore that extends out to the side of the dock to anchor it in place. The arm pivots up and down when the water fluctuates to keep the dock in place.
- Pile guides are used when permanent piles are installed to anchor the dock. They’re similar to pipe brackets in function.
If you’re looking into floating dock systems and want help choosing the best options for your waterfront, PolyDock can give you the advice you need — get in touch!
