Dock Flotation Calculation

It is always important to be comparing “apples to apples” when doing a dock flotation calculation.

Dock Flotation Calculation: The Richardson Advantage

Our pontoon floats run either the entire length or width of your dock or raft. Without any gaps, flotation is consistent giving more stability, strength and buoyancy. A single sixteen foot (12″x 2′ x 16′) float has 32 cubic feet of foam medium. Our larger float (22″ x 2′ x 16′) has 58.7 cubic feet of foam medium.

Dock Flotation Rule of Thumb

Regular dock floats they will support 65 pounds per lineal foot. Considering an 8ft x 16ft dock has three 16ft floats it will support 3 x 16ft x 65lbs = 3,120lbs. The actual dock will weight by itself 10.5 pounds per square foot. Using the same example 8ft x 16ft x 10.5lbs = 1344 pounds. So the net weight an 8ft x16ft dock will support is 3,120 – 1344 = 1776 lbs.

Our Large Pontoon Floats (22′ x 24″ x 16ft will support 130 pounds per lineal foot. Considering an 8ft x 16ft dock has two 16ft floats it will support 2 x 16ft x 135lbs = 4,320lbs. The actual dock will weight by itself 11.5 pounds per square foot. Using the same example 8ft x 16ft x 11.5lbs = 1472 pounds. So the net weight an 8ft x16ft dock will support is 4,320 – 1,472 = 2,848 lbs.

Air Filled vs Foam Filled

An air filled device and a foam filled device have just about the same flotation characteristics sitting dry. Add moisture in the form of condensation or a leak, and everything changes. Water displaces air and if enough gets in it will not support itself. In other words it sinks!
Using foam within the flotation device displaces the water up until the point of saturation. In other words it becomes water-logged.
So – then it becomes an absorption issue of the foam.

Dock Flotation Calculation Absorption Issues

Absorption rates of foam are calculated as a percentage if its total volume exposed to water. In other words, it is not a percentage of the entire float, just what is exposed to the water. So the less flotation you have, the more your float will be under water. You can see, more flotation is better than less. Always look at the flotation data sheet for water absorption percentages.

Pressure Treated Lumber Considerations

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Dock Corner Brackets

Dock corner bracket should be considered in every dock building project. Typically they are used in at least the four outer corners of the dock, however they should be considered at every structural joint intersection.

Galvanized Dock Corner Brackets

Dock corner brackets are either made of 1/8 or 1/4 in bent plate. If you are using 2″ x 6″ construction materials you would consider the 5″ x 6″ bracket on the inside or a 5″ x 8″ bracket on the outside. At Richardson Docks we like to use the heavier 1/4″ galvanized plate on all the inside corners. You should always consider using galvanized brackets and galvanized nuts, washers and bolts. They will last for ever and always look good over time. Square backing plates are a good idea especially if you are not using carriage bolts.
Dock corner brackets can also be found as a joining bracket combination. These obviously would be bolted to the outside corners of two adjoining dock sections.
When you are using dock corner brackets on the inside cross pieces you can get away with 2″ galvanized angle brackets. These can be lag bolted as apposed to regular bolts.

Dock Corner Brackets as Attachment Points

When we build a dock or raft that we want to put a transom on we like to employ an eye bolt in place of one of the regular bolts. This can be used as a safety tie for the motor.
In addition to this you can also consider attaching an anchor bracket to the one of the dock corner brackets.

From an engineering perspective dock corner brackets used through out will prevent your dock from racking and flexing causing corners to want to pull away. They also give that additional strength required when attaching larger boats or aircraft.

At Richardson Docks all of our do-it-yourself packages come with the appropriate dock corners and attaching hardware. We pre-drill the holes so all you have to do is bolt it together. For more information on our DOY project see our dock projects page.

Don’t forget to visit our face book page as we will be posting projects this year that might help you with some ideas.

Pontoon Docks and Floats

We supply Pontoon Docks and Floats at any length for Your Project

Bring us your project. Our pontoon dock floats can be custom made to match your project need. Whether it’s 6 feet or 60 feet we can deliver an economical solution to your build. We can manufacture your pontoon docks or simply provide you with a do-it yourself solution.

Our floats are ice resistant meaning in most cases it is absolutely safe to leave your dock, barge or raft in the water all year round. An exception to this may be in areas where pack-ice is so intense it will literally destroy anything in its path. This of course does not apply to most inland lakes and rives in Canada.

We Can Deliver Your Pontoon Docks

• Completely assembled docks
• DIY easy assemble packages
• Pontoon Floats only 2’x12″ at any length
• Pontoon Floats only 2’x22″ at any length
• Project hardware and peripherals

Pontoon Docks – Delivered On-Site – Installed – And Do-It-Yourself Packages

We warehouse completed docks, individual pontoon floats, DIY (do it yourself) packages and peripherals for most regions of Ontario and Northern Michigan (upper peninsula)

• Ottawa
• Kingston
• Sharbot Lake Region
• Pembroke Region
• Nipissing Region
• Timmins Region
• Sudbury Region
• Sault Ste Marie Region
• Chapleau Wawa Region

Large Capacity Floats

If you require more flotation or extra height off the water for your floating pontoon docks, we also have a standard sized 2 foot wide x 22 inch high pontoon float. Like the 12 inch float, this typically comes in a 16 feet length, however, they can be made longer or shorter to match your requirements.

Typically these bigger pontoons are used for commercial applications or the cottage/home owner with a larger boat or special need.  If you are considering a boat house or floating building these make an excellent maneuverable floating support.

Durability

One of the most appreciated features of our floating pontoon docks is their durability. Made to withstand normal ice conditions you never have to remove them from the water.

Custom Built

At Richardson Docks we custom build all of our floats.  Whatever length or configuration of support your project requires, please consider calling us.

We will be soon be booking orders for the 2015 season. Please email us with your requirements. Give us your exact location so we plan on a delivery schedule. As long as there is a public access to your lake or river that we can launch on we should be able to deliver you your floating pontoon docks.

Dock Billets Limiting Uses

According to one Ontario resort owner dock billets are “okay but not very functional”. The problem with dock billets says Sharon Provencher at Lake Lauzon Resort Algoma Mills Ontario is that they are for a single use only. If you use enough of them they provide good flotation, however you would never think about maneuvering them around for other uses. At our lodge we want visitors to be able to go out and use a “pontoon dock” as a roomy fishing platform one day and a swimming raft on another. We can throw an electric motor on our platform and away we go. At the end of the day we position it sideways on the end of our stationary dock where it provides an excellent wind break for parked boats.

Dock Billets Winter Storage

Most dock billets are not designed for ice conditions. This means cottage and home owners have to remove their docks and store them over winter. This can certainly be a challenge on uneven shorelines where space is limited.

Building with Dock Billets

The biggest mistake people make when building docks is underestimating their flotation requirements. It is a natural instinct to want to spread them around to maximize the coverage and minimize the expenditure. The result is uneven flotation and instability. The better way to go is to calculate your need and build to that specification. Unbroken perimeter flotation is hard to beat. Going big; simply use larger floats or add a third section down the middle.
Dock Billets are often sold at price points attractive to low budget projects. While this may prove cost effective on the front end it won’t be long term. If you are going to use dock billets insure they are foam filled using a high density product with a low water absorption rate. These are definitely more expensive than the air filled dock billets, however the added expense is well worth it.
More information on Pontoon Floats
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Toronto Boat Show

The Toronto Boat Show started this year on January 10th and runs through to January 18th. We were able to visit the show this year on the first Saturday. The crowd was large but we managed to see all the exhibits and talk to some of the exhibitors and see what is new on the water for 2015. It is a great place to browse and see up close what you sometimes only imagine. The high-lite for us was the massive indoor lake and Aquarium loaded with fish. It is really interesting to see various lures perform in somewhat real conditions. There were some pretty exciting outboard and electric motor technology on display at the show this year. For us it was a great opportunity to reconnect with some old friends and meet some new ones.

Toronto Boat Show January 10 to 18, 2015

Saturdays (10th & 17th)	10am to 7pm
Sundays (11th & 18th)	10am to 6pm
Mon. to Wed. (12th to 14th)	11am to 8pm
Thurs. & Fri. (15th & 16th) (Late-Night Shopping!)	11am to 9pm

The Toronto International Boat Show takes place at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place:
100 PRINCES’ BLVD., TORONTO, ON M6K 3C3.

Toronto Boat Show World’s Largest Indoor Lake for Boaters

The Ricoh Coliseum holds the worlds largest indoor lake made specifically for the Toronto Boat Show. According to the Toronto Boat Show staff at the lake it took over six days to build. The lake officially holds in excess of one million gallons of water pumped in from Lake Ontario. It is a pretty awesome site especially with some of the horsepower on display.

Toronto Boat Show “The Great Canadian Fish Tank”

This 40-foot long 5,000 gallon aquarium contains loads of Ontario’s stocked fish. You can actually see how some fish react to various lures and techniques as presented by some of the shows top anglers. Great place for folks of all ages to hang out and learn something they can take back to the cottage or favorite fishing hole.

For More Highlights Visit the Toronto Boat Show Official Website

If you would like to chat about your water front project and how our pontoon floats can be used please Contact Us

Docks on Bobs Lake

Richardson Docks is looking forward to helping cottage and home owners with their water front projects in the Sharbot lake and Bobs lake region this summer. One of our first project this year is a set of new docks on Bobs Lake. We are now starting to take orders for this summer’s building season so if you are anywhere near Perth or Sharbot Lake we can probably get you in early this season.

Bobs Lake May Long Weekend

We will be on Bobs Lake on Thursday May 14th or Friday May 15th with a newly built floating dock/barge. We will be near the Bradshaw Road boat launch so if anyone has a building project or large load they would like taken to their cottage we will be available to help you out. As part of our 2015 promotion we will do this at no cost for you. Just fire off an email to us richardsondocks@gmail.com

Bobs Lake Docks

One of the challenges some folks have on Bobs Lake is the rugged shore line. With some pretty inaccessible spots, our docks make an ideal solution. They can be built and actually driven into location. With our pontoon floats, it is only natural to want to use your dock for multiple purposes.

Fluctuating Water Levels on Bobs Lake

Each summer water levels on Bobs Lake drop dramatically from the spring high. Stationary docks are somewhat problematic since they can be several feet off the water by the end of the summer. Floating docks remain constant so they are an ideal solution for these conditions. Our floating pontoons are also designed to withstand the ice conditions in winter, meaning you do not have to remove them. This is a huge deal since very few systems are meant to be left over winter. Anyone putting in and taking out docks can appreciate this fact.

Our docks come completely assembled and ready to use or they can be purchased as a do-it-yourself package. Since we manufacture the floats they can be made at any length. The do-it-yourself package is easy to assemble with all the components partially together for easy shipping. All you have to purchase is the decking and put it together with our easy instructions.

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Sudbury Docks

In Sudbury docks are an important fixture on Lake Ramsey. In fact, it can be argued Northern Ontario’s exploration and developed was driven (literally) from companies like Austin Airways operating out of Ramsey Lake.

The largest of all Sudbury dock systems though are found at the yacht club. With a magnificent display of sail boats this truly is an impressive sight.

A short ways out of the city of Sudbury docks both large and small can be spotted on many of the regions beautiful lakes. Whether you are on Ramsey This year we hope to add to that with a great selection of products from Richardson docks.

Richardson Docks – Sudbury Docks

Supplying Sudbury Docks in 2015 will be a big priority in our Northern Ontario business plan. We can easily deliver a pontoon dock completely built and ready to use to any lake in the region with public access. For your Sudbury Dock we can also deliver a do it yourself package with a wide range of options suited for your needs and budget.

At Richardson’s, we do not use billets, but rather pontoon floats designed specifically for docks, rafts and barges. Most units can be literally driven to their final location. In Sudbury docks that rely on floatation devices no longer have to be removed for winter storage. Our pontoon floats are designed to withstand the freeze thaw cycles that most manufactures will not guarantee against.

In Sudbury docks can be found in some pretty remote locations only accessible by air, atv or snowmachine. With access being an issue, it is paramount that that we get the most out of our effort and investment. Having the ability to use a dock as a barge or floating platform that can be driven is pretty revolutionary. Fishing and hunting from a large platform maneuvered with an outboard motor provides an enjoyable experience.

In Sudbury docks and dock packages are only
a phone call away. 1-888-356-5495.

When planing your project be sure to check out our Data Sheets

Also check out some images we took in December along Ramsey Lake on our facebook page

North Bay Docks

In North Bay docks are a very prominent part of the local landscape. The Nipissing district itself is one of the largest cottage areas in Canada bordering the Algonquin Park and Muskoka regions.

Richardson Docks – North Bay Docks

Supplying North Bay Docks and dock supply packages are a big part of our 2015 Northern Ontario business plan. We can easily deliver a pontoon dock completely built and ready to use to any lake in the region with public access. At Richardson Docks we do not use billets, but rather pontoon floats designed specifically for docks, rafts and barges. Every unit can be literally driven into location. In North Bay docks that rely on floatation devices no longer have to be removed from the water in winter when employing our pontoon floats.

In North Bay docks can be found in some pretty remote locations only accessible by air, atv or snowmachine. With the accessibility issue being understood, it is paramount that that we get the most out of our efforts. Having the ability to use a dock as a barge or floating platform that can be driven is pretty revolutionary. Fishing and hunting from a large platform maneuvered with an outboard motor provides an enjoyable experience.

Build it Yourself Dock Packages – North Bay Docks

In North Bay docks and dock packages for the do-it-yourselfer are available from our storage warehouse. If you have a project please give us a call and we will work with you to provide the best custom fit solutions. We manufacture each pontoon float so you are not restricted to any particular length.
All of our dock packages are assemble ready. Our floats come prepped ready to be bolted together to form the main dock structure. All you have to do is assemble the framing and add what ever decking material you choose. Included in our custom package will be all the peripherals such as bumpers, cleats, chain etc that you request.

In North Bay docks and dock packages are only a phone call away.
1-888-356-5495.

Things you should know about pressure treated wood
Tips on using Galvanized Chain for anchoring your project

Micropro Sienna

There is a new option in Canada for dock builders relying on wood that is approved for fresh water applications. Based on its low VOC emissions, MicroPro Sienna pressure treated wood has been awarded GREENGUARD Children and Schools Certification for use in sensitive environments.

With no staining required, MicroPro Sienna gives a natural look of cedar without any additional cost.

An industry first in Canada, the technology infuses a warm, cedar-tone pigmentation into treated wood. This process complements and enhances the wood’s natural grain and character. The result is a durable wood product that has never looked so good, or been so environmentally responsible. Once the pressure treated wood has been installed, all you have to do is put on a good water repellent finish.  This will reduce UV impact, while preventing checking, splitting and colour deterioration.

Mary-Anne Dalkowski, Vice-President of Timber Specialties, says, “The MicroPro technology has gained a 70% market share in the US since it was launched six years ago. Now available in Canada, it’s gaining rapid uptake.”

HOW IT WORKS

MicroPro Sienna is pressure treated using a patented wood preservative process.  This method uses micronized copper to provide durability to wood intended for exterior applications. Solid copper is injected into the wood at a microscopic level without the use of solvents. For this reason, less of this material is released into the environment. At the same time, the lumber’s rich colour is achieved by a similar process that injects iron oxide pigments into the wood.

Were excited at Richardson Docks to use this new environmentally friendly product. If you are obtaining our floats and building your own project, be sure to use MicroPro Sienna pressure treated wood. Remember, not all brown coloured  treated lumber is using this technology. Be sure to check your suppliers information sheets.

Visit the MicroPro Sienna Website for more information and technical data