Five Accessories Every Dock Should Have

When a marina includes amenities beyond the ordinary, it is a delight for all captains and their mates who enjoy being pampered.  Whether it is electric power, fresh running water, lighting, fire protection or locker boxes, those little extras make any boating and docking experience that much more enjoyable.

Are you considering adding some niceties to enhance your own dock-site?  If so, you might want to consider the following accessories that can add ambiance as well as practical functionality.

Solar Dock Lights

Solar-powered dock lights can be easily installed with a power drill and are available wherever boating supplies are sold.  These little wonders are weatherproof, very durable and long-lasting.  They provide coveted lighting to the dock, itself, as well as illumination in transition areas such as from-dock-to- shore zones.  Solar dock lights are available in a wide-variety of sizes and shapes to cater to anyone’s individual preferences.  Depending on the brand, dock lights can offer:

*** ultra-high intensity LEDs that are much more powerful than typical solar garden lights

*** easy installation on dock posts

*** up to 20 hours of operation when fully charged

*** usability in salt and/or fresh-water environments

*** an overall lifespan of 100,000 hours

Dock Bumpers

Dock bumpers come in a variety of designs and materials and provide needed protection to one’s water craft as well as shielding the dock edge from expected impacts.  Many models of dock bumpers include angled edges to optimally deflect the craft.  Commercial-grade varieties can be constructed of rigid PVC vinyl with air-filled walls along with integral inflation valves; and heavy-duty urethane foam or rubber materials are, also, available.  Some models offer excellent gunnel protection due to above-the-dock-surface designs.  In some cases, bumpers can be easily cut with a hacksaw, electric saw or snips if a bumper’s length is more than needed. 

Dock bumpers provide the needed bump or rub-protection your coveted craft deserves; and with options that include 90-degree corner pieces, your boat will be fully protected!  

A Portable Toilet

Not too many private docks include restroom facilities; but when the need arises, having a portable commode on hand can be a lifesaver!  Constructed of sturdy polyethylene, certain models utilize a bellow-type flush and include sealing valves to lock in odors and prevent any leakage.  Some portable toilets will hold over 5 gallons of water and provide powerful, push-button, pressurized flushes where less than one pint of water is utilized with each use. Easy-to-read tank-level indicators reveal when the tank is full; and when it’s time to clean, built-in rotating pour spouts for the waste-water tank make the job as easy a 1-2-3. 

Whether your mobile commode costs $50 or over $100, you can eliminate any ‘dock dilemmas’ that could, otherwise, arise!

A Boat Dock Ladder

The advantages of having a boat dock ladder on-hand speak for themselves; but when the design is of the telescopic kind, the benefits are enhanced.  These rust-resistant, stainless-steel or aluminum ladders are compact, lightweight, provide easy storage and can be mounted under the boat deck or dock.  Folded lengths can be as small as 14 inches yet expand to around 3-feet in length. 

Other models include stationary styles as well as folding ladders which are designed to flip out of the water when not in use and can, easily, attach or detach from the dock.  Large steps with anti-slip treading add an extra dimension of safety to the boating experience. 

Dock Furniture

If you can’t get enough of the outdoors even after the boating fun is over, why not add furniture to your dock environment?  You can relax and entertain on the water with swivel/rocking chairs, foot rests and tables with umbrellas that can, all, be anchored in place.  Style and comfort is the name of the game with weather-resistant aluminum frames and all-weather fabric designed to combat UV rays and precipitation.

Permanently-attached benches are another furniture option for your dock–complete with armrests and cup holders.

With dock furniture, you can make room for friends and family and enjoy your own ‘water world’ until the wee hours of the morning or have coffee and breakfast before you start your boating experience the next day.

Boat dock accessories add convenience, functionality and fun to your recreational world!