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30
Mar
2019
Initially common on Mediterranean marinas and North America, the innovation known as a floating dock or pontoon has become an increasing favourable way of berthing a boat or jetski within the UK, especially by a ‘drive on’ method. Floating docks are also seen in use as walkways, jetties and pontoons, on areas that may not have been previously conducive to the more traditional type of water fixture.
Typically cubed, the plastic floats can be interlinked and therefore customised to whatever size craft needs to be accommodated, from a relatively small jet ski to up to a 3 tonne motor cruiser. These have found favour in the leisure, commercial and military sectors of the marine industry and used for both temporary and permanent ways of storing a Personal Water Craft (PWC), assembled with the simplest of tools. In addition they offer a 270 degree walk around making boat maintenance and access easy.
Highly durable the upper section is typically non-slip and invariably the interlink is fastened with a pin for security. With low maintenance and easily replaceable sections in the event of damage, this method of storage offers a useful alternative to fixed berths or moorings with the added advantage of not necessarily needing to have the vessel anti fouled.
There are a number of companies now producing this product, including Buldock, Tetradock, Aqua-Dock, Versadock and Jetdock to name a few.
It’s likely you will have seen these on holiday locations where jetski hire is in operation as these companies have found the benefit of storing their craft in this manner for quite some time now.
So if you are looking for the ease of keeping your boat on a berth but prefer greater access to board and are not keen on the hull sitting permanently on the water perhaps this method of storage is worth an enquiry
Next update: Fly-by-wire