A well-built, quality steel dock is a must for waterfront properties throughout Muskoka. But before building, Mark Seehaver says, property owners should think about the future as well as the present.
“The initial planning process should always look at least five or ten years down the road,” says the owner of Over & Under Welding.
Will there be a boathouse added? If so, how big is it going to be and will there be a living area as well? Do you need more dock slips or are you planning to buy a bigger boat? Will you be storing personal watercraft on the dock? Are you putting in a hydraulic boat lift? If so, what kind of lift?
These and other pertinent questions are key to understanding what type of foundational structure is needed.
“It’s partly to understand how much steel is needed, and what extra supports need to be added under water to carry the loads or allow for easy add-ons when the time comes,” says Mark, a steel fitter by trade and experienced dock builder. “You don’t want to be doing a retrofit or finding out later that a lot more work is needed because you didn’t plan ahead. Do it right the first time and it will save you money and stress in the future.”
Mark has spent many years installing steel docks, first as a subcontractor for other businesses and now as the owner of Over & Under Welding. That working knowledge combined with growing up in Muskoka provides great insight into how to create quality structures while considering important environmental factors.
Decide on the depthLocal knowledge and experience are essential when planning the steel dock build: knowing how deep the foundational piles need to go to be driven into bedrock is the first step.
In some places, piles only need to be driven down 10 or 15 feet deep before hitting bedrock. Others can be up to 100 feet and require bigger piles. Mark is working on a project in Torrance this year where the piles needed to go down 90 feet.
“But those are extreme situations,” he says. “The average cottager’s dock doesn’t require us to work at those depths.”
A range of resources are used to determine the depth of the bedrock and the depth of the water, ranging from well drilling reports to marine charts. It can also include talking to neighbours about their dock structures and exploratory diving to assess the nature of the lake bottom.
“All of this will give you a good idea where bedrock is too,” he explains. “Especially on deep dock builds, you have to do multi-tier bracing. So, for every 10 feet of water, you have to do a set of vertical braces. If it’s 30 feet deep, you’ll have three sets of braces.”
Over & Under Welding also has a structural engineer on retainer to create architectural renderings for the project when needed.
“The engineer will design everything to hit our point loads or capacities.” These can vary widely – a simple swim dock does not need the same structure as something that will support a two-storey boathouse, he says.
Building betterMark has seen some incredible improvements in dock building over the years, including stronger and more versatile materials.
“People used to put piles 14 feet apart. Now we have eight feet in between, which tightens everything up and provides more stability,” says Mark. “We’re also hitting the piles harder than ever before, running 20 tons more power while driving. When a pile gets hit that hard, it’s hitting the bottom and is dead set: there is no movement.”
The increase of product quality and updated techniques are setting up steel docks to last 30 to 50 years or more. This provides excellent return on investment, as buyers know they’re getting a dock they can start using right away – and potentially for many years to come.
One thing Mark notes is that he’ll provide a proper quote based on accurate data, including materials, equipment, and time needed to do the job right.
“I want my clients to know they’re getting as close to an exact quote as possible right up front,” says Mark. “That’s all part of the planning process and knowing what they’ll need now and in the futu
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
overandunderwelding@outlook.com
