The Best Strategy for a Healthy Dock Above and Below the Water

It may be murky and dark, there may be creeping weeds or unfriendly wildlife like snakes or snapping turtles, however, with a highly trained diver on the job, underwater dock maintenance doesn’t have to be scary.

Any dock owner will tell you that regular maintenance is imperative to keeping the structure looking good and operating efficiently. More often than not, the parts of the dock that can’t be seen need the most attention. With the constant push and pull of waves, temperature changes, and high winds, the underwater parts of a dock can be most susceptible to damage. Dock anchors, underwater truss, cable, and brackets can all be compromised without intervention.

Beyond weather issues, docks may experience changes in salinity, algae, rust, barnacles, or intense water pressure from flooding. When this happens, the best line of defense is underwater repair done by experienced personnel with certified Scuba divers. “We decided early on that we wanted to provide every level of maintenance for our customers, whether they are commercial or residential,” said Kyle Morley, owner of Dock and Marina Services, located in McAlester, Oklahoma. “Having Scuba certified repair personnel on our staff allows us to provide an extra level of service, without sourcing out contract workers.”

In addition to general maintenance and repair, Scuba divers are instrumental in preparation for the underwater portion of dock construction. Identifying underwater obstacles and assessing the unseen underwater landscape is crucial to creating a solid scope of work.

The Key to Success
Whoever said preparation is the key to success could easily have been talking about the construction phase of the underwater portion of any dock. Combining traditional dock building practices with the proficiencies of diving experts is imperative to establishing a scope of work. Throughout maintenance and repair phases, there are numerous jobs that should only be done by certified divers.

One of the most important maintenance jobs underwater is inspection of the anchorage system. That is an area that can be overlooked because of the cost and difficulty. However, as a cornerstone of the dock, this is another area that should be serviced by qualified divers.

While underwater maintenance is crucial, maintenance above deck can be just as important. It’s best to use an experienced eye to catch issues before they escalate to affecting the appearance and stability of the dock. Despite the highest-quality materials and workmanship, docks won’t last forever. Staying ahead of problems is imperative.

“Maintenance is a cornerstone of our business,” said Morley. “People are always excited when putting in a new dock whether for their lake house or a commercial business venture, but it’s our job to make sure we stay on top of the inevitable issues that will come with a structure that sits on water.”
Having a plan for scheduled maintenance and repair is one way to ensure that dock problems won’t seemingly arise with no warning. A company that is skilled at not only construction and design, but also places an emphasis on maintenance