Many lakes in the US and Canada have docks that are installed in the spring and removed in the fall. Stationary docks that sit on the lake bottom on poles generally break into sections that are fairly lightweight and can be done by hand. Sometimes large plastic wheels are permanently attached to the bottom of the pier posts. Often the fixed dock is light and stiff enough that a 30-foot long section can be pulled out of the lake and stored on the beach for the winter.

Floating docks typically use polyethylene plastic floats and are made entirely of polyethylene or have a wood, aluminum, or composite deck that sits on top of the plastic floats. Floating docks weigh significantly more per foot than fixed docks. This additional weight makes it more difficult to create a long, rigid structure that is light enough to be made by hand. Often the longest floating dock sections are limited to about 10 feet. For long docks, the 10-foot sections connect with flexible connectors. These docks are usually removed by taking the sections apart and manually lifting them out of the water, one 10-foot section at a time. If you have a quiet beach, you may be able to drag the fully assembled dock up the beach with an ATV or SUV. Sometimes people use PVC pipe as rollers under the dock so the dock doesn’t have to drag on the sand.

There are manufacturers now making floating docks that can be a single rigid section up to 32 feet long. These platforms are made of structural aluminum bolted together to form a 24″ tall frame that spans both the length and width of the platform. Polyethylene floats are caged within the frame system and most common platform materials are can be used as a platform.These frame-like structures are light and strong enough to allow the wheels to be mounted under the dock.If the dock is intended to be rolled up on the beach, the polyethylene wheels can be mounted in a similar manner to the used on stationary docks If the shoreline is too steep or If it is not convenient to store the dock along the shoreline, a road grade axle, wheels and tires can be installed One year continuous immersion. You can mount a square or rectangular aluminum tube under one end of the dock.This tube acts as a receiver for a 6′ long trailer tongue that will be inserted approximately 2′ and then snapped into place. There is a trailer coupler on the extended end of the tongue that is designed to connect to a trailer hitch with a standard 2″ ball.

The dock can be towed through the water to a standard boat launch ramp where the tongue inserts into the receiver and converts the dock into a floating trailer. A light truck or SUV is backed up the launch ramp until the coupler can float on the trailer ball. The coupler is locked and the truck pulls the dock off the launch pad like a boat on a trailer. The dock can be towed down the highway two miles or 200 miles. Temporary trailer lights may need to be installed depending on distance and terrain traveled.

This new “rolling float dock” technology has dramatically reduced the hassle of installing and removing floating docks. Oceanfront sites that are very steep and have little or no beach especially benefit. Floating docks are available that are up to 17′ wide, but can be folded down in the launch ramp parking lot to just 8.5′ wide, so no special highway permits are needed. Some docks may also include a large second deck. Large docks that are easy to install and remove can make up for the beachfront many lakefront homeowners wish they had.

Some manufacturers may even license the dock as a boat allowing it to be motorized around the lake with an outboard motor and rudder. These docks become a safe, fun and mobile platform for swimming and fishing. While technology is all around us, it’s nice to see some of that technology giving us safe places to relax by our favorite lake with a peace of mind knowing that the task of closing for the winter will be quick and simple.