Living on the water or having a summer home on the lake or any type of shoreline property for that matter can be an amazing experience.  There are barbecues with the family, fireworks on the Fourth of July, or those lazy rainy days when you sit on the porch and you try to soak it all in one last time before the summer ends.  Don’t forget tubing or waterskiing a few passes around the water.

Even if you don’t own a boat, having a dock might be something you’ll want to look into.  This can provide a place for the kids to have a free for all and practice their diving form while also allowing friends or family to bring their boats over and tie off conveniently.  You can do this with the help of a Myrtle Beach fencing contractor.

Here are some of the dock type you’ll want to look into.

Permanent  Dock

If you enjoy stability then the permanent dock is right for you.  They are very low maintenance and extremely sturdy.  They are equipped with steel framework and piping. They also provide a secure place to store your boat when not in use.  However, if you live on a lake or shoreline property that gets a lot of ice throughout the winter then the permanent dock is probably not for you.  The ice can damage if the pressure becomes too much.

Lift Up Dock

If you happen to be in a place where the water gets a lot of ice for the winter then the lift up dock is right for you.  They are what they say they are. You can lift the dock up out of the water whenever you see fit and don’t have to worry about it getting damaged by the ice.  You’ll want to make sure the lake bottom is pretty firm for these docks and they typically work best in up to 15 feet of water.

Floating Dock

Do you live on a lake or body of water where the water levels fluctuate?  Does it tend to get very little of wave action throughout the summer?  Then the floating dock is for you. They are made with either commercial steel tube floats or foam filled plastic billets.  You should keep in mind that if you don’t use foam filled billets the dock has a better chance of sinking. Another thing to keep in mind is you can still have a floating dock if your shoreline sees a lot of wave action; just make sure you get the widest floating dock you can afford.  The width of the floating docks is what determines its stability.

Pipe Dock

Pipe docks will serve you well in up to 8 feet of water.  They are also removable for the winter. They are built with aluminum framing and are very cost effective.  However, make sure your lake bottom is pretty firm before you install a pipe dock. Pipe docks are best where the water levels remain about the same throughout the summer.