Dock Features and Amenities to Consider When Building a Marina
If you're building a marina, the dock is one of your main considerations. As you plan the dock, there are a huge range of decisions that you get to make. Consider asking your marina builder about the following dock designs and amenities.
1. Floating Docks
Floating docks are advantageous in a lot of cases because they make it easier for your future customers to get in and out of their boats. If the docks are fixed, the water levels will change with the currents, but the docks stay at the same height. As a result, your customers either need to jump up or down from their boats to get onto the dock. If you opt for a floating design, your dock is at the right height all the time.
2. Position With the Current
A marina builder should know how to work with the current. In that vein, you should ask the marina builder if they can position the dock so that your customers can use the current to their advantage. In particular, you want fairway momentum to push the boats toward the dock, rather than working against the boats.
3. Depth Gauges on the Docks
As you work with different customers, they are going to bring in boats that need different depths of water. They may have to measure the water with a stream gauge or an electronic data logger that assess depth. You can save them the effort if you opt for a dock that has built in depth gauges on it or installed next to it.
4. Module Systems
In some cases, you may want to consider a module system for the dock at your marina. That way, you can commission the size of dock you need when you first open your marina, but then, you can easily add onto the dock with minimum labour and expense.
5. Hook Ups for Power and Water
To attract customers to your marina, you need to offer amenities, and power and water is part of that. Talk with your marina builder about installing power and water hookups along your dock. You may want to do that on all the docks or just a portion, depending on the services you are offering.
6. Spacious Slips
Finally, depending on which types of clients you are trying to target, you may want slips that are relatively spacious. In particular, you may want slips that can easily fit both a sailboat and a dinghy or a personal water craft. Many customers demand that type of flexibility.