Trying to keep your boat dock in great condition? Want to avoid a future dock repair?

If you have a boat dock, it’s a given that you may need to make some repairs from time to time. However, with a bit of proper care and maintenance, you can reduce the need for major repairs and can ensure that your dock stays in great shape for a long time to come.

Fortunately, we’re here to help. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your dock well-maintained and avoid future dock repair.

1. Set an Inspection Schedule

If you want to keep your dock in great condition then it’s important that you get serious about keeping it well-maintained. This means that you should set a regular schedule for when you’ll inspect your dock and check for damage.

Be sure to put some regular inspections into your calendar and start seeing dock maintenance as a priority. By doing so you’ll be more likely to notice any problems and will be able to fix them before your dock is in need of major repairs.

2. Watch For Changes

To avoid costly future dock repair, it’s important that you stay aware of any changes that are occurring with your dock. It can be tough to recognize how your dock is changing or degrading and it can be easy to forget the details of what it looked like from even a month prior.

Get into the habit of taking a few photos of your dock every month and then comparing these photos to previous months. You may notice some dock changes or damage that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.

3. Clean It Well

In addition to scheduling regular dock inspections, you also need to make sure that you’ve set a regular cleaning schedule as well. You should clean all surfaces thoroughly and get rid of any dirt and debris that has accumulated over time.

Ideally, you’ll want to give your dock a thorough pressure washing with some high-quality equipment or hire a professional who can deep clean your dock and get rid of anything that is deeply ingrained in dock surfaces.

4. Install Dock Bumpers

While you may be putting a lot of effort into keeping the surfaces of your dock clean and well-maintained, you also need to protect the sides of your dock as well.

There are times when a boat may hit the sides of your dock while parking and this can cause damage over time. It’s a great idea to install extra protection on the corners or sides of the dock. This may mean adding some rubber material or dock guards to the sides to prevent damage.

5. Pay Attention to Safety Issues

When inspecting your dock for damage, you should make sure to take special care to examine its safety as well. Never ignore any problems that you discover and do everything you can to avoid safety issues.

You should ensure that all bolts, fasteners, and hardware on your dock are in place and that none of it is damaged. Stairs and ladders should also be checked thoroughly to ensure they’re functioning as they should be and that they won’t pose a safety problem.

6. Avoid Quick Fixes

Whenever you’re making repairs or improvements on your dock, make sure that you avoid cutting corners or making temporary fixes. Even if there is a minor fix you need to make, trying to get the job done cheaply is usually a mistake.

These simple fixes can lead to safety hazards as well as more costly repairs later on down the line. By getting small repairs done right, you’ll reduce the chance of having bigger issues in the future.

7. Prepare for Seasonal Changes

Depending on the region in which your boat dock is located, it may also be important to prepare well for seasonal changes.

It’s important to take the proper steps to winterize your dock to ensure that it doesn’t get damaged when temperatures are low. For maximum dock protection, you may want to invest in some de-icers.

8. Use a Wood Dock Stain

If you want your wooden dock to last as long as possible you should consider applying an eco-friendly stain product to it. This can help to protect your dock against the harmful effects of seawater or fresh water and can help it to stay in great condition.

It’s best to look for a dock stain treatment that will also help protect it against mold and mildew as well. Mold and mildew can lead to serious issues such as rotting, so by adding this extra layer of protection to your dock now, you’ll prevent future problems.

9. Be Careful When Sanding Your Dock

To keep your dock in tiptop shape you should also sand it regularly as well. Wooden docks may splinter over time and this can be difficult to walk on.

If sanding your dock, however, make sure that you’re using proper technique and sanding correctly. Accidents can happen, so take care to ensure that no damage is done to your dock in the process.

10. Hire a Professional

While you can do many dock care tasks on your own, it’s a good idea to hire a professional if you want to make sure the job is done well.

Whether you’re painting or staining your wooden boat dock or making minor improvements and repairs, hiring a professional can be helpful. Professional care will help increase the longevity of your dock, making it less likely that major repairs will be needed.

Avoiding the Need For a Future Dock Repair

If you want to avoid future dock repair, you need to make sure that you’re putting in enough effort on an ongoing basis. By cleaning and maintaining your dock from the very beginning, you’ll increase its life and will avoid any major problems.

Looking for more boat dock maintenance tips and advice? Read through our blog now to find more helpful guides and articles.