How to Frame a Floating Boat Dock
When living on a lake or a small pond, a boat dock may be needed to tie up a small boat, have a place to fish or use as a swim platform. One type of dock that you can frame is called a floating dock, which can be attached to the shore and anchored to the ground. A floating dock does not need to be very big and can be built in sections to make the dock longer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Circular saw
- 1 x 8 boards
- 1 x 6 boards
- Buoyancy billets
- Power drill
- 2-inch screws
- Hammer
- Nails
- Table saw
- Carriage bolts
- Socket wrench
Instructions
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1
Determine the size of boat dock that you need and how big each section will be. If you want to have a dock that is 16 feet long and 3 feet wide, two 8-foot sections will be needed.
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2
Measure out 3 feet on a piece of 1 x 8 lumber and make a mark with a pencil. Cut along the mark with a circular saw. Repeat this step for another 3-foot section of 1 x 8.
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3
Measure out 8 feet on a piece of 1 x 8 lumber and make a mark with a pencil. Cut along the mark with a circular saw. Repeat this step for three more lengths of 1 x 8 boards.
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4
Create a box frame out of two 3-foot 1 x 8 boards and two 8-foot 1 x 8 boards. Secure the ends of the boards together with screws using a power drill. If you do not want to use a drill, you can use a hammer and nails.
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5
Drill holes for carriage bolts every 2 feet into the center of the two extra 1 x 8 boards with the power drill.
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6
Measure each end of the frame 6 inches inwards from the outside edge and make a mark with a pencil. This will be the location of the floor joists for the dock.
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7
Place the 1 x 8 boards on the marks and secure them with screws or nails.
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8
Cut one of your buoyancy billets so that it is 8 feet long, 2 feet wide and 8 inches deep. Use a table saw to cut the buoyancy billet to the correct depth.
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9
Place the buoyancy billet in between the floor joists.
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10
Insert the carriage bolts into the holes in the 1 x 8 boards and tighten them with the socket wrench.
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11
Cut 16 3-foot sections of 1 x 8 lumber. Make a mark every 3 feet on a 1 x 8 board and then cut along the mark with the circular saw or table saw.
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12
Trim 2 inches from the width of one of the 1 x 6 boards with the table saw.
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13
Lay the pieces of 1 x 6 along the top of the dock frame and secure them with nails or screws. Leave 1/4 inch in between each 1 x 6 board to allow for expansion. Use two nails or screws on each end of the 1 x 6 board.
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14
Repeat this process to build a second section of floating dock.
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Tips & Warnings
One cubic foot of the foam billet can support 55 pounds.
Use a framing square to make sure the box frame is square.
Pre-drill holes when using screws or the 1 x 8 wood can split when securing the screws.
