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Docks and Lifts 101

By Cathy Shouse

Summer is prime time for fun in the sun, and hassle-free docks and lifts at the lake are a musthave. The Pier Place’s Brook Vande Zande, owner and president, along with his wife Sue, who handles bookkeeping and human resources, gave us the scoop.

Q. For the inexperienced, what are docks and lifts?

Brook: A dock or pier is what you walk on and a lift or boat lift is what lifts your boat out of the water. I quote piers and docks and the discussion begins with budget and placement.

Q. What should we know about piers?

Brook: I will come out to their location and get in the water to see how we will install the pier. The pier can be made from wood, aluminum or vinyl. Vinyl is the most asked-for since its life span is so long, so it is literally the last pier you will have to buy. If the water is too shallow, we will put the pier on stands. If they have adequate water depth, we will install pods. Pods are steel pipe that stay in the bottom of the lake and the pipe you see above the water slides in and out for easy installation/ removal. If the water gets deep, we will install sockets; the same theory as pods, just a longer pipe so we can find them in the spring from sitting on a float, versus having to dive down to locate them.

Q. What considerations are there for a boat lift?

The first questions: Is the lift for a speed boat or pontoon, and what is the weight of the boat? There are 4000, 5000, 6000 or 7000 pound lifts. Soon, Shore Station will have an 8000 pound, 120” wide lift. Since the boats keep getting bigger, the lifts have to adjust.

Then, how long is the boat for the length of the canopy frame? Next, it’s all about the placement. Longer legs or added wood below the feet might be needed to help support the lift. We bring the lift by water with one of our barges and install the lift, put the boat on and install the canopy cover. When we leave, you are ready to use the lift and enjoy the lake.

Q. What are available product choices?

Brook: For piers, the Brock Dock vinyl pier, with its 25-year warranty and the fact that it cannot get hot, makes it the most popular pier. Shore Station is the best in the industry as far as boat lifts go. Because of the quality and its hydraulic system, it is the most reliable lift. If you go with wood, there is no guarantee; it may get hot or warp. Aluminum is a good option as it is anodized to help keep it cool.

Q. Anything else?

Brook: The biggest mistake I see is consumers buy a property that doesn’t have enough frontage for all their toys or they do not inspect what the water is like where their cottage is. Not all shorelines have clean water to swim in.

Note: There is a shortage on product for both lifts and piers this year. Hopefully, more product will become available as the season progresses.