A boat dock is essential if you are going to be using your pontoon to fish throughout the year and need a stable area to access and secure the watercraft. The depth of the body of water that you will be using for fishing purposes and whether or not the current will fluctuate a lot may have a lot of bearing on the boat dock supplies that are used during the construction phase.

Piling Dock

A piling dock contains thick wooden poles that are inserted into the base of a body of water, to prevent the dock from shifting. The portion of the dock that you will be walking across can contain wooden planks or metal sections that are secured by fasteners. A piling dock will not move when water rises, which could result in water occasionally spilling over the dock's surface.

Before you choose this type of dock, have the edge of your property inspected, including the depth of the water that rests near the shoreline. If the current of the water fluctuates regularly, your contractor may suggest that the dock is built at an elevated height and that long wood pilings are used to anchor the structure.

Floating Dock

A floating dock creates the illusion of a structure not being supported, but this type of dock actually has a series of watertight drums underneath it. The drums act as an anchoring device, but will not hold the dock down when water rises toward the shoreline. A floating dock is designed to rise and fall with the water.

This type of dock will work well in an area with strong currents, which would result in the water level fluctuating on a routine basis. With this type of dock, you can choose the wood or metal type that is used to comprise the dock. For added stability, a safety railing can be installed along the sides of the dock. 

Suspension Dock

A suspension dock will contain a metal frame, which will provide support. The surface of the dock will be elevated well above the water line. This type of dock is suitable for calm or choppy waters and may also make a nice addition to your property if you want to fish from the dock and need a little bit more elevation for your fishing line to hang down from.

If you choose this type of dock and will be both spending time on it and using it to enter the water, choose a ladder design that will descend from the side of the dock, so that you can safely climb into your watercraft.

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