Tried and true convenience
Some simple approaches stand the test of time. A container or rack for swim noodles can keep them orderly, ready to be quickdrawn from their quiver by swimmers about to take the plunge. Find a place in the dock house to store life jackets on clothes hangers. A simple closet pole or wire shelf usually works to keep them hanging orderly and free to air dry after use. Fenders permanently affixed to your floater (keep them above-water to avoid mildew and slime!) and “guest” docking lines make short-term tie-ups easy for
you and friends who stop by. Outdoor carpeting—Lowe’s offers some made from recycled plastic soda bottles—improves footing on floaters, protects from sun weathering, and keeps decking splinter free and cool under foot. A newer solution: WEARDECK TM, a just-introduced durable HDPE-over-fiberglass decking alternative, comes in eight colors that reflect UV rays and stay cool to the touch of tender feet. Swim ladders are a must for enjoying SML’s cooling waters, and an updated design called “Clean Ladder” rotates up out of the water to keep scum from forming on steps. Plus, its wide, sloped
steps are easy for children and elders to climb. Dock Solutions can install one on your floater for $199. Thinking through how you wish to use your dock and taking steps to prepare for those occasions will make lakefront living more enjoyable for all. And since dock owners and their guests age into different use phases as years pass, designing the ideal dock is not “once and done.” Evolving needs suggest evolving solutions to best fit how a dock is being used each summer, and updates to equipment and storage solutions should be ongoing. ✦
THINKING THROUGH HOW YOU WISH TO USE YOUR DOCK AND TAKING STEPS TO PREPARE FOR THOSE OCCASIONS WILL MAKE LAKEFRONT LIVING MORE ENJOYABLE FOR ALL.
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