Floating Dock Hardware Assembly Guide

Dock System Basics

• The Dock Edge hardware system is designed for use with 1-1/2" thick lumber (minimum width 6")
• All hardware is mounted with carriage bolts.
• Always use backer plates or other piece of hardware when bolting through wood along with lock washers. This will eliminate the bolt pulling into or through the wood. This will allow the nuts to become loose and fall off.
• Proper chaining of a dock is critical. Use proper dock anchors (min250lbs per anchor) and cross chains. If there is no water fluctuation chains may be pulled taut by having a few people stand on the corner while you tighten chain.
• Use a piano hinge or other arrangement for decking boards over anchor chain corners for easy access for adjustment.

Hardware Placement Guide

• All male and female dock-to-dock 3/8" connections are made with either 3/4" bolts with lock nuts or 3/4" connecting pin (96-111-F).
• For joining sections of dock use heavy duty hinge (91-112-F).
• Outside female corner (99-010-F) features two 1/2" welded tabs. Use with a male outside corner (99-009-F).
• Outside male corner features one 1/2" welded tab. Use with a female outside corner to connect docks end to end.
• Joint requires 3/4" bolt set or connector pin (96-111-F).
• Outside corner ends (99-004-F) use at ends of fingers and docks. Ideal for swim floats and ski jump corners.
• Inside corner (92-104-F) should be used with and outside corner (99-004-F) or can be used with a backer on the outside (93-122-F).
• Use heavy duty angle (99-002-F) for all cross supports.
• Female T connector (99-011-F) has two welded 1/2" tabs. Use to bolt to the side of dock to attach fingers and ramps.
• Male T connector (99-012-F) has one welded 1/2" tab and it must be used with the female T connector (99-011-F) to attach finers and ramps. Use two washer plates (99-006-F) with each angle.
• Chain Retainer (99-013-F) bolts to the side of the dock. Use weights and chains to hold dock in place. Accomodates 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" chain.
• Pipe holder (99-005-F) mounts to the outside of the dock. Carriage bolt is required for attaching. Use 2” pipe to hold dock in place.
• Anchor chain holder (99-001-F) use to anchor dock in place of the chain retainer. Hides the chain and ensures no interference with chain as it runs under the dock.
• All floats are attached to dock using carriage bolts with washer. Fastened from below upwards through slot on floats into the stringer.

How to calculate floatation

• Weight of wood and hardware = 5-7lbs per square foot (based on 2 x 6 cedar)
• Weight of people and furniture = variable
• Dock with floats should average sinking 20-30% into the water leaving 70-75% remaining floatation for "variable" before dock submerges
• Dock square footage multiplied by 25 divided by floatation capacity = amount of floats required
• Dock weight divided by floatation capacity = % dock (float) will sink with no people on it yet
• Dock weight divided by floatation required x float height = # inches dock (float) will sink with no people on it yet

Examples

Example 1 Dock 4' x 10' sq. ft. @ 6 lbs per square foot = 240 lbs Variable – 4 people @150 lbs = 600 lbs FLOATATION REQUIRED = 840 lbs Thus 40 sq. ft. x 25 lbs per square foot divided by the capacity of the dock float (Howell 400) = 3 Three Howell 400 floats @ 400 lbs each = 1200 lbs floatation Float will sink 20% or 3.42" This design would be useful as a walkway for docking only – float height 12" and should be anchored for lateral stability.		Example 2 Dock 6' x 10' sq. ft. = 60 sq. ft. @ 6 lbs per sq. ft = 360 lbs Variable 5 people @ 150 lbs = 750 lbs FLOATATION REQUIRED = 1110 lbs Thus 60 sq. ft. x 25 lbs per square foot divided by the capacity of the dock float (Howell 550) = 3 Three Howell 550 floats @ 550 lbs each = 1650 lbs floatation Float will sink 22% or 5.2" This design is a stable configuration useful for medium size docking and joining sections for combo walkway dock and can be built in longer lengths.
Example 3 Dock 8' x 10' = 80 sq. ft. @ 6 lbs per sq. ft = 480 lbs Varibable – 5 people @ 150 lbs = 750 lbs FLOATATION REQUIRED = 1230 lbs Thus 80 sq. ft. x 25 lbs per square foot divided by the capacity of the dock float (Howell 400) = 5 Five Howell 400 floats @ 400 lbs each = 2000 lbs floatation Float will sink 24% or 4.7" This design would be useful for dock/floating dock accommodating more people and accessories. 4 x Howell @ 550 lbs = 2200 lbs floatation could be used to accommodate additional weight and raise dock for easier boat access, float height 16"		Example 4 Dock 10' x 12' = 120 sq. ft. @ 6 lbs per sq. ft = 720 lbs Variable – 7 people @ 150 lbs = 1050 lbs FLOATATION REQUIRED = 1770 lbs Thus 120 sq. ft. x 25 lbs per square foot divided by the capacity of the dock float (Howell 550) = 5 Five Howell 550 floats @ 550lbs each = 2750 lbs floatation Float will sink 26% or 6.5" This design would be useful for dock/floating patio application float height 16" Adding 1 more 550 float = 3300 lbs allowing for more people, chairs, accessories chairs, etc. and keeping dock high so boat wake, wave action does not splash over top. Float will sink approx. 22% or 5.2"