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The boat dock industry has been around for centuries and today the industry has expanded to a massive size. Boat docks are used both by private individuals and large commercial businesses, for pleasure and for business. With so many different firms offering a variety of dock-related products, and with the word “dock” being used in so many different contexts, it can be difficult to understand everything about the industry, especially if you are looking to install a boat dock of your own, and are unsure where to begin. What follows is a reference-based article about the different types of docks in existence, and specifically the different types of boat docks available to consumers today.

The original docks (some date back literally hundreds of years) were made from raised platforms on structures made of brick or stone. These structures were extremely durable, but not terribly practical, time- or cost-efficient to build. There are some that still exist today, but for the most part, boat dock production companies have moved on to more practical forms of construction.

There are also wooden docks, many of which can be seen across the United States and the world today. These were far simpler and less expensive to build, and became a very popular means of building boat docks. However, there are some problems with wooden bridges, primarily that they aren’t great at withstanding the many years of pressure from the environment. Over time, the wood used to build the boat dock generally rots, and metal used to construct the dock rusts, due to the extended exposure to water and wind. These problems, while not a huge deterrent against building wooden boat docks, did lead to the development of alternate boat dock construction methods. Advances in technology made the development of these alternatives possible.

The alternative that was developed to the wooden boat dock model is the floating boat dock, generally constructed from plastic or other man-made materials. Modular floating docks were also created, which were a great improvement upon their predecessors because they allowed for a far greater ease of use and installation. The different pieces can be reorganized into nearly any configuration, making the boat dock far more customizable. For a lower price and shorter installation time, the consumer can create a dock that perfectly fits their needs. The new materials also had many benefits compared to their predecessors. They were very low-maintenance and long-lasting, and also were more environmentally friendly.

The various uses of the word dock can sometimes be confusing to someone who is inexperienced. Technically, a dock refers to the area of water between two piers or alongside a pier, and is used for a variety of recreational and commercial activities. The three major types of docks are marina docks, boat docks and floating docks. Some more recreational types of docks are swim floats and fishing piers. Finally, there are marina and boat launch docks. Most docks are constructed from either aluminum or wooden frames.

Maritime docks are chamber-like structures that are used for building and repairing ships. They are also sometimes used for boarding unloading commercial ships and ferries. They are usually located in a dockyard, a place that repairs and builds ships and contains one or more docks, along with other structures. Dry docks are the structures where ships come to be serviced and they can be emptied of water so all parts of the boat can be maintained and repaired.

In order to dry dock a boat, supports called “blocking” must be built. They are usually made of concrete, steel or wooden posts. They conform to the shape of the hull, and keep the ship upright even when the water is drained out of the dry dock. Tug boats help to maneuver and enter the ship into the dry dock.
The dry docks are usually free floating structures. One type of dry dock that can be carved into the shoreline is the graving dry dock. Another type of dry dock is the floating dry dock, a type of dry dock that became prominent during World War II. Floating dry docks were used to set up maintenance facilities in remote locations. In order to accommodate longer ships, they often joined several of these docks together.
Though there are many different types of docks, they serve a relatively small pool of purposes, all relating to either the commercial use or personal enjoyment of boats. They help to use, maintain, repair, and build boats, and can be great sources of entertainment as well. If you are considering purchasing and installing a boat dock of your own, all of the many terms used can be confusing at first, but a little research will shed some light on the subject. There are also many product guides available that can help you select the best boat dock for your boat and lifestyle.