Product Questions
Q: Q: For the tip in dock, how do I adjust the dock height without getting in the water?
A: First time set up can be a bit of a guessing game. Suppose you tip a dock in the water and it's 12" too low. There's not much you can do except pull it out, adjust up, and tip it in again or get in the water and adjust. It should be noted that this guessing game is typically a one time problem. Most users find that if they put the dock in the same place every year that the dock needs very little adjustment. To adjust, simply loosen the set bolts on the legs and raise or lower the dock. The leveling winch is a great tool for this. If you like to remove your dock legs every season, be sure to number and mark the legs so you can put them back in the same place the following season!

Q: How do the aluminum docks connect to one another?
A: The Cottage Style dock uses a Quick Clip tip in system. Once the dock has been flipped into place, just slide the frame back slightly and pinch it with the supplied set bolt to keep it in place.

Q: Can I connect and tip in docks side to side as I can end to end?
A: Absolutely. Because our frame is uniform on the sides and ends, you can connect the Quick Clip tip in brackets to the 8ft side of the dock just like you can the 4ft ends.

Q: How many and how long of dock support legs come with your boat docks?
A: The length of support pipes that are provided is dependent upon water depth at a given spot in a dock system. For example, at the end of a dock where the water is 4ft deep, 6ft legs are typically used. We provide you with the support pipe lengths you need for your docks at no additional charge to the per section price. We stock legs in 1ft increments from 2ft to 8ft

Q: Can I cut my dock legs to be a consistent height above the deck surface after the dock is installed?
A: Definitely. Because we provide legs in 1ft increments, unless your lake had a perfectly gradual drop your leg heights above the deck will vary. For example one leg may be sticking 12" above the deck surface while another is 19" above. A battery powered sawzall with a fresh metal cutting blade or a pipe cutter will make short work of trimming posts. 6" is about the minimum height above the deck you should maintain.

Q: What types of dock layouts can I create?
A: We can provide a dock system in most any layout you would like. The Quick Clip tip in brackets can be positioned in an infinite number of locations to create a variety of dock configurations. The patio dock is by far the most popular dock layout.

Q: Should I anchor my dock to shore?
A: This has a 2 part answer. If you have a shore deck that you'd like to connect to for the purposes of ease of installation and continuity to your bank, we have a fascia mount which can be fastened to your shore structure (customer's responsibility) so it's as if you're connecting to another section of dock at the start. Supposing you were just using a ramp section coming off of a beach or rocky bank and were considering driving posts right there that would not be a requirement of the system, but you're welcome to do it if you like.

Q: What keeps the dock in place?
A: Provided you keep the decking surface out of the water the weight of the system is enough to keep the system in place as wave action will easily flow around the dock legs without causing an issue. If you're mooring a boat for the season, you should consider adding anchor posts (2 for small lakes and boats 4 for bigger lakes). Anchor posts are additional dock legs with auger tips that clamp to the side of the dock and twist into the lake bed to keep your dock in place even with a boat tugging on it.

Q: I see you offer a ramp section. How is that different from any other section?
A: A ramp section is actually just a Cottage Style dock but sold with a bar and pin hinge package and no dock legs. Supposing you ordered 4 docks and a ramp, you'd have 5 identical frames and could pick anyone to be set up as the ramp. A hinge will connect the ramp to section 2 which will accommodate a change of angle. A ramp is a great option when you have to change grade from where you get on the dock to where you'd like the dock to be over the water. For example you could pitch down from a break wall or up from a beach to your finished deck height. Be advised when using a ramp that section 2 (a 4-leg section) has to go in the water first, and then the ramp (no legs) is supported by that. This is particularly noteworthy if using a tip in dock because it may mean getting your feet wet at the start of the dock. Ramps do not need to be anchored to shore.