New Accessible Adaptive ADA Floating Dock and Launch Access at Wright's Landing Marina in Oswego, NY
In September 2022, the City of Oswego, NY, installed a new adaptive kayak launch, floating dock, and gangway at Wright's Landing Marina. Wright’s Landing is a popular boating destination that provides access to Lake Ontario's prime salmon fishing waters. The launch offers universal accessibility similar to those required by the ADA to ensure that everyone in the community can enjoy paddling outdoors.
The project was competitively bid and BoardSafe was chosen based on their products’ structural durability and best-in-class adaptive features. This was important because the eastern shores of the Great Lakes are subject to strong winds and pounding waves. BoardSafe was hired to design, fabricate, and install the project. The BoardSafe engineers incorporated two existing pilings that were in place from a previous dock, and the gangway was attached to the existing seawall using the BoardSafe bulkhead mounting kit. The floating dock was also designed so power boats can approach it from the side of the concrete boat ramp, while kayakers safely use the opposite side for launching.
The components of the project include:
- 40-foot aluminum gangway and a 40-foot kayak chute
- 60-foot floating dock secured with 2 existing piles
- standard BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak launch
- aluminum gangway attached to the existing seawall using our standard bulkhead mounting kit
Please watch a brief video below, highlighting the installation.
For more information and project profiles, visit BoardSafeDocks.com.
Ames, Iowa, Increases Accessible Amenities at Ada Hayden Heritage Park with a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch
The Ada Hayden Heritage Park, located at 5205 Grand Avenue in Ames, Iowa, just announced the addition of another accessible amenity to its beautiful park. The mayor, city council, Parks and Recreation Commission, and city staff, are pleased with the addition of a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch. This additional amenity adds to the endless recreational opportunities already available at the Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Additional park amenities can be found in the link below:
Ada Hayden Heritage Park | Search All Parks & Facilities | City of Ames, IA
The lake already has a reputation as "a great place in Ames for Kayaks,” and now with their newly-installed adaptive kayak launch, it will be even better. The launch provides adaptive paddlers, including those in wheelchairs or experiencing mobility issues, a safer and easier transition into their canoe or kayak because of the stability and adaptive features it offers to all paddlers.
The city has been planning for the launch since last year, and has done an amazing job seeking and gaining the community’s support for the park's additional accessible amenity.
The adaptive kayak launch project was funded by the city’s Capital Improvement Plan funds, and over $36,000 in grants and fundraising donations through Access Ada Hayden.
A significant portion of the funds for the kayak and canoe launch was donated directly by Ames athletes and local sponsors. They were happy to contribute to a project that would improve access for everyone and improve the Ada Hayden Heritage Park.
Access Ada Hayden was a joint effort among the Skunk River Paddlers, Friends of Ada Hayden Heritage Park, the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, and JAX Outdoor Gear. The money they were able to raise through fundraisers and donations is evidence of the support the city of Ames has from their community. “We started looking at the accessible dock and launch systems early in 2019 to make the lake accessible to all,” said Rick Dietz, a member of the Skunk River Paddlers and primary contact for Access Ada Hayden.
JRM Construction, of Ames, Iowa, was selected to complete the site and concrete work and began excavating around the second week of August 2022. Once the site work was completed, the city’s maintenance staff was able to accept the launch from BoardSafe Docks, who designed, engineered, and manufactured the custom-designed launch. City staff from the Public Works Department received instructions on the easy assembly and installation of the floating launch system.
Joshua Thompson, Ames Parks and Facilities Superintendent, was present for the installation and described the accessible kayak launch as “very easy and straightforward to install.” He said the launch was incredible and well made and offered compliments to BoardSafe Docks for the quality of the kayak launch.
The Board Safe Adaptive Kayak Launch features an aluminum floating dock, an ADA-compliant gangway, and an adaptive kit with specific adaptive features that allow paddlers in wheelchairs the opportunity to enter their kayak safely and easily. The kayak launch cradle stabilizes the canoe or kayak as one enters, and the step-down bench, overhead grab bar, optional grab straps, and grab rails accommodate people with a wide range of physical limitations. Here is an informative video of an adaptive paddler using the launch independently.
“One of our goals in improving our recreational amenities is to ensure all residents can enjoy being outdoors,” said Ames Parks and Recreation Director, Keith Abraham. “We continue to seek ways to expand parks, facilities, and programs to be inclusive, and we encourage everyone to explore our offerings and share ideas with us for new options.”
Watch a demonstration of Ada Hayden’s new launch:
The Ames Parks and Recreation Department manages 38 parks and offers approximately 180 athletic, aquatic, instructional, and wellness programs to residents of the Ames community. Indoor programs are provided year-round at the Community Center and Ames/ISU Ice Arena.
For more information, visit the Ames Parks and Recreation homepage at amesparkrec.org.
The City of Ames has won numerous awards over the years for being a progressive and innovative city. These awards highlight the wonderful aspects of Ames that residents have enjoyed for years. They are known for a stable economy, friendly people, beautiful parks, great shopping, quality schools, growing cultural and entertainment venues, comprehensive healthcare, and acres of recreational opportunities that are available during every season. Throughout Ames, there is evidence of growth, commitment to the environment, and quality of life. Ames is located centrally and conveniently in the heart of Iowa and the Midwest. Iowa State University is located in Ames.
Ames has the feel of a small town but the heart of a big city. Their population is a little more than 65,000. It offers cultural, recreational, educational, business, and entertainment amenities more common in bigger cities. As a growing city, Ames continues to focus on building a strong community filled with opportunities for all. The slogan they’ve become known for is Ames, Iowa, the Smart Choice!
Since 2020, Ames has received many awards and recognition for its progressiveness and improvements:
- #1 River Town of the Year (Iowa Rivers Revival, 2021)
- #1 in the 10 Best States to Retire in 2021 (MoneyRates, 2021)
- #2 - "State Parks That Rival National Parks" (Livability, 2021)
- #5 - "Best Iowa High Schools" (U.S. News & World Report, 2021)
- #21 Most Livable College Towns (SmartAsset, 2021)
- #22 - "Top Cities for Shorter, Better-Paid Hours" (RewardExpert, 2021)
- #37 - "Best Small Cities for Small Businesses" (Go.Verizon, 2021)
- #1 - "10 Best States to Retire in 2021" (MoneyRates, 2021)
Ames Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new accessible kayak/canoe launch recently installed at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the north side of the lake at 5205 Grand Ave.
The Parks and Recreation Department is hoping the community stakeholders who offered financial support for the launch will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and find the adaptive features a welcome amenity for entering and exiting kayaks. For those using the launch, please post more pictures to the Access Ada Hayden Facebook page, and share with others how these features help enhance the user’s kayaking experience and so spread the word about the adaptive launch.
Click here to read about other BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launches:
- Lake Loramie State Park, OH, Installs Accessible Kayak Boat Launch - BoardSafe Docks
- Minsi Lake Wilderness Area, PA, Proud of Their New ADA-Accessible Kayak Launch - BoardSafe Docks
- Mandarin Park Adaptive Kayak Launch
Communities who are looking to increase accessibility for all paddlers and are considering adding an adaptive kayak and canoe launch to their local lake or stream should click here for more information:
Since every site location and application is just a little bit different, BoardSafe Docks has become the industry expert in location selection, site work, design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of floating docks, piers, and adaptive kayak and canoe launches.
To discuss your project and learn more about BoardSafe Docks, our specific adaptive features that work for the widest range of users, our durable and long-lasting construction, and long-term maintenance suggestions, please call us at 610-899-0286 or contact us at BoardSafeDocks.com.
BoardSafe Floating Dock System at Pickwick Dam in Tennessee
In July 2022, BoardSafe Docks installed a project for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at Pickwick Dam in Tennessee.
The floating dock system consisted of
- 10’ x 200’ main dock
- three (3) 5’ x 30’ gangways
- three (3) 6’ x 10’ connecting docks at bottom of gangway
- composite decking
- 20-inch freeboard
Not only will Pickwick be a great floating fishing pier for locals, it is also a prime location for professional bass tournaments, such as the Bass Master Elite Series scheduled for the fall of 2022.
BoardSafe Docks is a premier manufacturer of floating docks, aluminum gangways, pedestrian bridges, rowing docks and centers, adaptive kayak launches, and similar water access applications. BoardSafe custom manufactures products for all locations and engineers products for site-specific applications, whether the location is a river, tidal water, lake, or other area with dynamic and numerous environmental factors.
BoardSafe's design, engineering, and quality manufacturing make them a preferred product for long-term value and durability. Since 1989, we have specialized in high-end construction. Many marinas, rowing centers, and other commercial locations, seek our experience and attention to detail for their projects.
BoardSafe has become the trusted aluminum dock provider when quality and expertise are the priority. We define quality as skilled craftsmen, high-quality materials, and a vast understanding of site variables, ecology, and engineering considerations. Our dedication is evident in all our products, and we are proud to be made in the USA.
For more information about this project and other projects, our capabilities, and other information, visit us at boardsafedocks.com.
New Dock System Solves Riverside Park Dock Flooding Worries
BoardSafe Docks was contracted to come up with a design for a new floating dock system on the Schuylkill River across from Pottstown, PA, in North Coventry Township. The site included an existing boat ramp and signs of a previous dock system that was washed away in a flood years ago.
The customer asked if we could design a new dock system that would hold up during flooding conditions. It had to be ADA-compliant and not project too far into the river.
Our solution was to install a foundation that supported a cantilevered deck that projected out over the river. A concrete foundation was excavated, and forms were installed, then poured. The cantilevered steel deck was then bolted to the foundation and decking was installed. The gangway was then connected to the side of the deck running parallel to the river bank. Supplemental flotation was placed at the bottom of the gangway to provide adequate buoyancy for its weight and to maintain a freeboard of 16 inches, the same as the floating dock. The gangway was connected to the floating dock via a piano hinge. The use of the hinge means there is no step from the gangway to the dock, allowing the dock system to move up and down as the water levels fluctuate. The floating dock was made of two 8’ x 20’ dock sections connected together with a piano hinge. A rubber dock bumper and adjustable cleats were installed on the docks.
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Dimensions
Foundation 8’ x 10’ x 4’ with rebar cage and drive steel pilings
Cantilevered deck 8’ x 20’ steel construction, steel railing, and composite decking
Gangway 5’ x 54’ with an expanded section at the top
Floating dock 8’ x 40’, manufactured in two sections
The project was completed on July 14, 2022.
https://youtu.be/Lft3diU6AaE
BoardSafe Cosponsors the 2022 SOBA Education & Training Symposium
The 2022 States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) Education & Training Symposium will take place August 29–September 1 in Cleveland, Ohio. The SOBA Annual Conference brings together state boating officials, consultants, engineering firms, manufacturers, suppliers, publishers, and other businesspersons interested in boating access.
Scott Tihansky, Sales and Engineering Director at BoardSafe Docks, will present an education module on "Adaptive vs. Accessible."
The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) would like to thank BoardSafe Docks for their platinum sponsorship for this year's SOBA Education & Training Symposium and SOBA Awards Luncheon. BoardSafe Docks is the premier designer, engineer, and manufacturer of aluminum floating docks, adaptive kayak launches, fishing piers, gangways, pedestrian bridges, and collegiate rowing centers. In 2012, a group of adaptive paddlers partnered with BoardSafe to make a local lake accessible for all paddlers. From this collaboration, BoardSafe created numerous adaptive product innovations to empower paddlers to transition safely and easily in and out of their vessels. Since then, BoardSafe continues to champion adaptive accessibility for waterfronts across the USA. This commitment to education and advocacy has made BoardSafe the trusted expert in aquatic recreation accessibility for design and engineering, as well as the manufacturing source for the best-performing and highest-quality launch systems available. Parks directors, landscape architects, marine engineers, and paddlers, seek BoardSafe Docks' products to ensure the inclusion of all abilities and benefit the widest possible range of users. Click here to view the BoardSafe adaptive launch system.
BoardSafe Docks is proud to be a sponsor of this important event as we continue our tradition of advocacy and community education regarding adaptive access for paddlers.
Offer ADA Inspired and Adaptive Accessibility at Your Marina
The Village of Fairport on the Erie Canal recently redesigned its waterfront to improve accessibility for its adaptive paddling community. The Erie Canal Boat Company is proudly equipped with a custom BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch, part of a complete waterfront redesign at its Erie Canal entry point. GPI, the design engineer on the project, sought out BoardSafe Docks for their assistance in developing a design solution for the Fairport Village Boat Launch and Marina.
The initial plan was to provide universal access to the water. The community is proud to be working together to make inclusion happen. Our customer was looking for an adaptive kayak launch that would be placed in an area that rests next to their newly-designed boat ramp. BoardSafe was able to work with the design engineers on their initial concept and came up with a unique design solution.
The adaptive launch system was designed with a concrete trench at the top of the launch and included a bulkhead angle and a related hinge pin that attached to the floating dock system. The space allowed for the pin to be easily installed and removed if necessary and provided a secure attachment of the floating dock system to the concrete wall.
Bulkhead angle attached to launch
The scope of this customized project included an 8-foot-wide gangway that fit into the designated launch space. The kayak chute was designed to be 8 feet in length. The adaptive system included an 8-foot by 20-foot floating dock and Clip-a-Launch 20S (designed for entry from one end). The loading and unloading area was designed to accommodate multiple wheelchairs and is welcoming to adaptive paddling groups. The cost of this project was in the $50,000 range, and it was installed at the location of the Erie Boat Company, Inc., operated by Peter Abele.
8-foot-wide aluminum gangway
The beauty of a project like this is its ability to be used in almost any unused marina slip. BoardSafe Docks will work with its customers to design the floating dock system to any length and width to add these accessibility features to your existing marina. The desirable features of the BoardSafe inclusive launch system are that it offers boaters the ability to kayak, canoe, or SUP, safely and easily from the launch, and serves the widest range of users, from those who are able bodies to those who are in wheelchairs. It will allow your guests another option to see and explore the villages and towns surrounding your marina.
What draws boaters to this marina
The Erie Canal Boat Company is known for its kayak rentals and excursions along the Erie Canal. There are plentiful walking and bike trails along the canal to explore. The boat company offers accessible kayak, canoe, paddleboard, pontoon, and bicycle rentals to people of all abilities. The launch offers universal access for its residents and visitors, making it a popular tourist destination and a solid revenue stream for the town, marina, and businesses located along the canal.
Boaters may dock their boat in one of the marina’s boat slips and use all of the additional recreational opportunities available at the marina. The additional activities beyond boating take visitors to places they may not be able to get to with their boats, and allow visitors to enjoy the sites, both on and off the water.
The BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch supported the Erie Canal Boat Company with its mission and has helped make Fairport an inclusive destination for boaters and paddlers of all abilities. Tourism is on the rise in Fairport, and it’s receiving many praises, being recognized for its ability to provide universal access.
Not far from Fairport, the Village of Brockport also installed a BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch. The adaptive system is located in downtown Brockport along the Erie Canal, and the popularity of the launch has been good for the town as showcased in this link: http://ow.ly/rSEv50IRMIm.
You can learn more about BoardSafe's exclusive adaptive products here.
Take a video tour of the Fairport accessible kayak launch at the link below.
Village of Fairport, NY Accessible Kayak Launch with ADA Features
Contact BoardSafe Docks at 610-899-0286 if you're looking for ideas on making your marina more accessible to your users or for using an existing boat slip to offer an adaptive kayak launch.
The Supply Chain Impact on Floating Docks and Kayak Launches
What This Could Mean for Your Project
The supply chain shortage has affected every business and consumer on the planet—and over the past year or so, we’ve all seen and experienced what happens when it breaks down.
You have probably walked through your local grocery store and seen the empty shelves. Whether it’s toilet paper, paper towels, foodstuffs, or toiletries, the supply chain shortage has also caused havoc with the materials used in manufacturing.
These days, you’re more likely to see shortages of parts, materials, and stuff that makes other stuff, like building materials and mechanical parts. For example, car lots are empty and both new and used car prices keep climbing higher. We’ve all heard about the chip shortage that every car manufacturer is experiencing. Demand has overrun supply, which is unprecedented in the auto industry. The chip shortage has limited the production of every make of automobile.
The marine and boating industry has been impacted by the same issues in massive ways as well. This is why BoardSafe Docks wants you to understand how the supply chain may affect the manufacturing and pricing of your kayak launch, marina, rowing center, gangway, or pedestrian bridge. A confluence of two major factors has created a situation for everyone where demand is greater than supply.
- The interest in kayaking, paddle sports, and adaptive recreation has seemed to reach an all-time high as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Paddlesports have proven to be a wonderful exercise for the mind, body, and spirit. Paddling is a way for people to be together yet remain safely distanced from each other. Its interest took off when the pandemic was shutting down our world.
- The entire country and every industry is now working through a serious supply chain shortage. Our most critical materials used in the manufacturing and fabrication of our aluminum floating docks, gangways, and bridges, are in high demand with low supply.
For more information and better understanding, keep on reading.
First, let's take a look at the major components of the parts and materials we use in the production of our floating dock systems.
- aluminum
- composite deck lumber
- concrete decking
- plastic encapsulated flotation
- our proprietary extrusions
- protective rub rail trim
- tools used in the fabrication and maintenance of these systems
- and much more
Material shortages have not only stretched out the timetables on many of our projects but they’ve also (unfortunately) made many elements of these projects cost more than originally anticipated. The increase in the cost of these materials has been passed on to us and also our customers.
We wrote this article to help you understand the specific reasons behind the longer timetables we’re experiencing as a manufacturer and to explain the higher costs you might be experiencing in 2022.
All dock manufacturers, including BoardSafe Docks, have been dealing with the same supply chain issues, which we’ll explain in the rest of this article.
Material shortages and price increases exist in all facets of our production (aluminum, composite and concrete decking, flotation, extrusions, rub rail)
Aluminum, which is used to manufacture a wide range of durable waterfront products, suffered a severe production downturn when the initial lockdowns swept across the world about a year ago. Deliveries of raw aluminum are in short supply and prices for aluminum have been steadily increasing over the past year. To keep our pricing accurate, we’ve been tracking the steady increase in the price of aluminum starting back in 2021. Beginning in January 2021, and up through April 2022, we’ve seen the cost of aluminum increase 75 – 80% over last year’s prices. While inflation has caused prices to rise everywhere as we know them, an 80% increase is shocking to us all.
The reserve aluminum supplies across the USA are depleted. We used to be able to call our aluminum supplier and arrange for a next-day or 2-day delivery. Not anymore.
As a result of the pandemic and material shortages, product delivery of our custom extrusions orders can be as far as 8 months out. Our distributor’s products are stuck out at sea on shipping containers, waiting to be unloaded and delivered across the country. Before the pandemic, we all took the supply chain for granted; we didn’t even think about the logistics industry. The supply chain shortage has changed the way warehouses, manufacturers, trucking companies, and distribution centers, conduct their business. The Wall Street Journal recently noted that aluminum producers are now seeking new avenues to get their hands on scrap metal like old cans.
Composite decking prices have increased by about 25% since January 2021. However, we’ve been very fortunate in that our composite decking supplier has been able to meet our order requests in a timely manner. With decking, our only concern has been the increase in its pricing.
Plastic encapsulated flotations are the floats that are attached under our floating docks and gangways that keep them afloat. From the time of order, we’re now experiencing 8 – 12 weeks in lead time, about 3 months. Flotation has also experienced a 25% price increase since we began tracking these costs.
Rub rail is the rubberized trim attached to the perimeter of our dock systems that serves as the protective guard around our floating docks. Our supplier of this extruded product has informed us there’s about a 12-week (3-month) turnaround for them to get the rubber compounds they use to make the custom extrusions for our systems. The pricing for our rub rail insert has increased by 20% since 2021.
Unexpected disruptions
The COVID-19 lockdown felt like the mother of all supply chain disruptions when businesses were forced to shut down early in 2020. Only those deemed “essential” were allowed to remain open. We’re all paying the costs for it now. Everyone continues to experience the consequences of the pandemic with no real end in sight. Inflation is on the rise and we’ve seen increases in the price of homes, cars, gasoline, and food. Our products are not immune to these increases.
Severe weather, hurricanes, and employment shortages, add to the consequences of the pandemic. Since many of our producers of raw materials are overseas, the shipping standstill has deprived manufacturers of our most critical supplies.
Aluminum is in the middle of the greatest demand surge ever seen or experienced in its industry. This high demand is happening despite its 80% increase in cost. And prices continue to go up without lessening its demand.
What this means for manufacturers and their customers
In short, the market for kayak launches, marinas, gangways, and rowing centers, (with their main material being aluminum), has been hit by the perfect storm of perfect storms. However, we’ve survived the pandemic shutdowns, COVID, employee shortages, weather disruptions, supply chain shortages, and increased pricing for our main materials.
If you look at these events as a whole and look at the big picture, none of us ever imagined we’d experience events like these in our lifetime.
Like other dock builders and producers of goods and services, we’re working as hard as we can to design and manufacture each individualized project that we’ve planned with our customers. The simple reality is that we can’t work any faster if we want to maintain our industry-leading standards that BoardSafe is very proud of. Nor can we overcome supply chain issues and increased costs when they’re simply out of our control — regardless of our desire and efforts to prevent them.
One change we’ve been forced to make as a company regards the bidding and quotes of our marine products. We can no longer hold the price of our bids for longer than 30 days. In the past, when there weren’t drastic changes and increases in the cost of raw materials, our bid remained the bid. While we work hard to keep our prices fair, we must keep a close eye on what we’re paying for materials and their delivery fees.
Educating our customers and communicating these changes are important to us. If at any time you feel you need more information to make an informed decision about your product’s pricing, our sales team is always available to answer your questions.
How customers can help keep our industry moving forward
If you're planning to do business with us, we've explained the length of time it’s taking to get our materials for production. The length of time is not something we or any other dock builder can control. Please don’t wait until the last minute to confirm your order with us. There’s a new game in town, and with demand being so much greater than supply, aluminum suppliers are requiring upfront payments for their orders, as well as a customer’s signed purchase order to show evidence that our order is designated to a specific job. You see, demand for aluminum is so high, suppliers do not want to see manufacturers stockpile aluminum like many people were doing with toilet paper, paper towels, and disinfecting wipes in 2020. The price increase of manufacturing materials has also caused material suppliers to proceed with caution to ensure they’re getting paid in a timely manner for the materials they sell.
Working together on payment terms
The deposits we need to pay to material suppliers guarantee our place in line for the raw materials we need to build your job. Our deposit helps keep our supplier’s cash flow flowing. And since we need to pay for your materials in advance of receiving them, a deposit from you on your project is a reasonable request in today’s market. We understand that this can sometimes create hardship for all parties involved. However, due to increased material costs, we want our customers to understand why a deposit and clear payment terms are necessary.
BoardSafe Docks has absorbed a massive increase in up-front costs for all of our jobs. Therefore, our ability to be flexible with our terms has been greatly reduced. Final payment for our projects is expected upon delivery and installation. Our employees need to be paid, our overhead costs need to be satisfied, and our trucking companies and installation teams expect the same courtesy from us. Therefore, we appreciate you working with us to support these terms and prompt payment for the quality products and services that BoardSafe stands behind.
We’ve already entered the spring season of 2022. Kayaking and rowing season is just a few weeks away. We know our customers want their launch, gangway, bridge, rowing center, or marina project, to be installed in a timely manner and ready to go for the approaching summer season.
Every dock builder and manufacturer is doing their best to meet customers' installation wishes. But the obstacles identified in this article will likely continue to affect our entire industry (and many others) for the foreseeable future.
So, whether you’re planning on getting your launch, gangway, pedestrian bridge, rowing center, or marina from BoardSafe Docks, we can only say this:
Let’s keep pushing through this together, with everyone doing what they’re responsible for to get the job completed in a timely manner. BoardSafe offers high-satisfaction products that can improve the quality of life for those who like to kayak, canoe, row, or SUP.
At BoardSafe Docks, we manufacture world-class aluminum-framed floating docks, adaptive kayak launches, rowing docks, marinas, gangways, and pedestrian bridges for our customers all across the USA. If you're shopping around for quality, feel free to take a look at, or request custom pricing through, our website: BoardSafe Docks.com.
Mandarin Park Florida Adaptive Kayak Launch
The City of Jacksonville, Florida, recently installed its fourth BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch at their Mandarin Park location in December 2021. The fully-accessible launch is located at 14780 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32223-2650.
Jacksonville is home to the largest urban park system in the nation, and is committed to making its park system an equitable and inclusive destination for its city’s residents and visitors. Enjoying the outdoors and taking advantage of the available activities offered through the city’s parks and recreation department have been a priority for the city’s administration.
Jacksonville is proud of its accomplishments in supporting adaptive recreation. Their rivers and waterways also support a wide variety of outdoor activities that include boating, fishing, bird and wildlife viewing, and a slew of special events that now can include and be attended by everyone. History and tourism also attract visitors to their city. Over the last several years, the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department has striven to improve its park facilities by making them equitable and inclusive destinations for people of all abilities. They’re hoping others will help spread the word about their adaptive facilities and recreation programs, including their adaptive kayak launch systems that can be found at the updated Mandarin Park facility and other parks around the city.
Last year was the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Jacksonville was pleased to share where they stand in supporting people with disabilities. The city created a video highlighting its efforts and identified adaptive recreation as a major initiative as part of its mission to make Jacksonville an accessible city for everyone. Adaptive paddling with the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch is highlighted 5 minutes and 30 seconds into their showcase video (below). Jacksonville is a river city as well as a beachfront destination, and they continue to find creative ways to be at the forefront of providing access to their natural resources, rivers, and the ocean, for people with disabilities.
Americans With Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary celebrated in Jacksonville.
Mandarin Park is located in the southeast section of Jacksonville, adjacent to Julington Creek. In addition to an adaptive kayak launch, there are accessible picnic shelters, walking trails, and ADA-compliant playground equipment.
How BoardSafe Docks helped improve Jacksonville’s accessibility
The original Mandarin Park amenities included a boat ramp, floating docks, and a fixed fishing pier. However, prior to the existence of the ADA and Jacksonville’s accessible initiatives, its parks were not originally designed with inclusivity in mind. The Mandarin Park site contained a large amount of vegetation along the shoreline and was not conducive to safe or easy access to the water. While people were drawn to the beauty of the area and its waterfront destination, the pre-ADA facility made accessing the water very difficult and challenging. Access wasn’t safe for the adaptive paddler or their friends, family, and paddling groups who had to carry, lift, and maneuver an adaptive paddler into his or her kayak or canoe.
The upgrade to the Mandarin Park facility included increasing the number of aluminum floating docks in the boat ramp area and adding an accessible walkway along the shoreline that invites people in wheelchairs to a site they were previously restricted from using.
The BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch allows paddlers a way to access their kayaking vessel and canoe both safely and easily. The facility update allows for people with disabilities to participate and enjoy the park, its facilities, pavilions, walking trails, and adaptive kayaking on the water along with their friends, family, and other user groups who may require specific adaptive features. It’s become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
The height of the new walkway and mean low water elevations (that spanned 48 inches at its lowest and widest point) dictated that the length of the new gangway and chute be 53 feet long. Jacksonville mandates the slope of the gangways in their city to be no greater than a 1/20 pitch. Their required slope is actually more stringent than the 1/12 slope mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Under ADA guidelines, the gangway would normally have been acceptable at 32 feet. However, Jacksonville’s more stringent requirements increased the gangway length to 53 feet, thereby ensuring accessibility. What most people fail to realize or understand is that ADA standards identify minimum guidelines and standards. When structures are only designed and built to those minimum standards, they often exclude people with the most severe limitations and do not offer access to everyone.
The length of the 53-foot gangway was necessary to accommodate the 48-inches of elevation difference from the top of the water to the top of the gangway’s connection point and allows for fluctuations in the rise and fall of the tide.
Where you can find other BoardSafe Adaptive Launch Systems in Jacksonville
The City of Jacksonville has contracted with BoardSafe Docks for four waterfront projects for their city. Brian Burket, Waterfront Project Manager for the City of Jacksonville, has headed up all four of these adaptive projects. Brian has recognized the high level of accessibility a BoardSafe Kayak Launch offers to the City of Jacksonville and its adaptive paddling community. Other BoardSafe Adaptive Launches installed by the city that align with their mission of making Jacksonville an inclusive and accessible city can be found at:
- Bethesda Park, 10790 Key Haven Blvd., Jacksonville, FL, 32218
- Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, 500 Wonderwood Dr., Jacksonville, FL, 32233
- Southbank Riverwalk, 1001 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL, 32207
BoardSafe’s versatile launch system can also be used with canoes and standup paddleboards — there’s a center void down the middle of the launch saddle that will also accommodate an SUP’s rudder. The launches may be used by anyone but offer specific adaptive features so the launch can be used and enjoyed by everyone.
The cost for this inclusive and versatile launch system was approximately $85,000 and included an 8’ x 20’ aluminum floating dock, the adaptive kayak launch kit with multiple adaptive features, and a 53-foot gangway.
BoardSafe Docks is a trusted designer, engineer, and manufacturer, of all types of aluminum floating docks and fishing pier systems. Their adaptive kayak launch and design knowledge about specific adaptive features that are necessary for paddlers in wheelchairs help make inclusion happen for many cities, towns, lakes, and riverfront communities.
BoardSafe also specializes in designing and manufacturing rowing centers for national collegiate rowing teams all across the USA. You’ll find their gangways located all across the United States in places like the TD Garden in Boston and Battery Park in New York. They find solutions to design questions that can leave architects and engineers scratching their heads.
BoardSafe is the go-to source for any project on the water. Their sales team is always available for questions, consultation, and to assist you with finding your optimal waterfront solution.
The most accessible kayak launch
To learn more about our projects, please visit our website, BoardSafeDocks.com, or call us at 610-899-0286.
5 Most-Commonly-Asked Questions About Floating Dock and Rowing Dock Freeboard
Unless you’re part of the boating industry, "freeboard" is a term not commonly used in everyday language. More than likely, most people would not be able to define what freeboard means or explain its meaning to others.
Although similar, but completely unrelated, freeboard is not to be confused with "Free Bird," the famous song released by the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973. Most people probably have at least some familiarity with the lyrics of this song.
Now, getting back to the topic of freeboard, "freeboard" is the distance from the top of a floating dock to the top of the water. For those who like to boat, kayak, or row, freeboard will have an impact on your ability to enter and exit your vessel with ease and will determine how much a floating dock stands out above the water. The picture shown below is a visual representation of the freeboard and will help you understand its meaning. Freeboard is measured from the top of the rowing dock down to the top of the water.
The freeboard of a typical rowing dock is 6 inches. As shown here, rowing docks sit relatively close to the water level.
For a floating dock, the freeboard will remain a consistent dimension. It will not fluctuate unless excessive live loads are put onto the dock. A visual representation of a floating dock’s freeboard can be seen in the picture below. Freeboard is measured from the top of the dock’s aluminum frame down to the top of the water. A standard floating dock sits higher above the water than a rowing dock.
For fixed piers that do not move up or down, the freeboard dimension may change or vary any time there’s a tidal fluctuation, a drought, or any type of flooding condition. In this case, the dock is held to a fixed location and the water level is what moves up or down.
Why are certain systems designed for a specific freeboard (ex: 16”)?
Freeboard may be dictated by a customer’s specific design requirements. For example, in a marina application, the size of the vessels being moored at the dock may dictate the dimension of the freeboard. Smaller boats may require a smaller and lower freeboard whereas larger boats may dictate a larger and higher freeboard. The dock design and purpose of the dock typically call for a specific freeboard.
Why do you need to know your freeboard when building a dock?
When a new dock is being manufactured and built to connect to an existing dock or pier, the freeboards must be the same in order for the connecting docks and piers to be level with each other when floating on the water.
Is there a standard freeboard for rowing docks compared to boat docks, kayak launches, and fishing piers?
The freeboard for a rowing dock is normally 6 inches. The reason behind this is and the reason rowing docks float closer to the water is to allow for the crew members to enter their vessel at a level closer to the height of the floating dock and use their oars to hold the boat in place when boarding their sculls.
Boat dock, fishing pier, kayak, and canoe launch freeboards are normally 16 inches but can be adjusted to 15 – 18 inches due to the size and number of flotations attached to the bottom of the dock. These dock systems typically sit higher above the water.
What's the easiest way for me to measure the freeboard of my dock?
The easiest way to measure your dock’s freeboard is to use a straightedge at the top of the dock and measure down to the top of the water. In order to get the most accurate measurement, the measurement should be taken several times and averaged. This will provide you with the most accurate freeboard measurement. Be careful not to put weight on the point which would affect your measurement.
How will my gangway affect my dock’s freeboard?
The weight of your dock’s gangway will affect your dock’s freeboard. Additional flotation will need to be put on the end of the dock where the gangway lands to help keep the dock level. Another solution would be to hinge the gangway to the dock and put additional separate flotation under the gangway.
BoardSafe Docks manufactures high-quality commercial-grade floating docks, rowing docks, kayak launches, fixed piers, and gangways. The aluminum welded frames are a product whose quality stands out from others due to their versatility and ability to withstand the test of time and elements of weather.
For more information on products offered by BoardSafe Docks — customized aluminum floating docks and other adaptive kayak launch innovations — or to schedule a design consultation, visit BoardSafeDocks.com or call (610) 899-0286.