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.
Gulfport MS Blueway Gets 2 ADA-Compliant Launches
In partnership with Moran Hauling of Biloxi, MS, BoardSafe was selected by the City of Gulfport to provide two new ADA-compliant kayak launches for the Bernard Bayou Blueway.
The blueway is a meandering tidal waterway that offers a diversity of wildlife and a variety of dining and recreational opportunities. One of the launches was installed on the western side of the blueway near Gulfport Lake, while the second launch was installed on the eastern end near historic Handsboro. With the successful installation of these two new launches, paddlers can now navigate nearly the entire 10-mile length of the blueway and have ADA accessible entry and exit points at each end. Both launches used BoardSafe’s Clip-A-Launch, a bolt-on kayak chute that provides the customer with flexibility on positioning at a very competitive price.
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Boston's New Floating Restaurant Uses BoardSafe Gangways
Boston Harbor is probably best-known for the Boston Tea Party. Since then, many restaurants have opened along the harbor, but BoardSafe is proud to be part of a new venture — a restaurant floating in the harbor.
Charlie Larner is outfitting the 245-foot tall ship, Caledonia, to seat 300 people on its main deck. The fare will be typical sea fare, including mostly raw fish, lobster rolls, and fresh bivalves. Cocktails will be poured at a massive bar covered by awnings made from sails.
BoardSafe is engineering and installing the gangway that will provide safe, stable access for the crowds of diners. Because Sailor's Oyster Bar will be afloat in harbor waters that are prone to large fluctuations, tidal ebbs and flows from 9 – 12 feet had to be taken into consideration during the design process. BoardSafe's decades of made-in-the-USA experience and commitment to using only the highest-grade aluminum suit such a project perfectly. We take into consideration site variables, ecology, and other considerations.
In this case, an existing, unused set of railroad tracks sparked the idea for the perfect way to manage gangway movement for the safety of the customers. The gangway can travel and pivot safely to facilitate access to this unique restaurant, displaying BoardSafe’s ability to “go with the flow.”
The new floating restaurant will be surrounded by luxury yachts and be a part of a renewed harbor venue. The BoardSafe gangway will fit right in, giving safe, reliable access to this new venture.
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Here are some photos of the installation in progress.
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Here are some new photos of this unique installation!
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Considerations When Designing and Selecting Floating Docks for Rowing Centers
Rowing centers on the East Coast and across the United States want to ensure safety for their athletes and longevity for their rowing center investments. Not all floating docks perform well in varying situations, especially under the heavy use of a rowing season. There are several factors to be considered when a rowing club, school, college, or association, designs or purchases docks for their rowing center. BoardSafe is an expert in designing and manufacturing floating docks for rowing centers. The below characteristics are built into the unparalleled design and construction of each BoardSafe dock.
Environment
The first question for any rowing center project is, "Where is the rowing center located?" Floating docks manufactured for lakes that have little variation in water levels are much different from floating docks built for tidal waters, like bays and marshes, that see dramatic fluctuations in water levels. However, some lakes see elevation changes in water because they are river-fed or have floodgates. Rivers experience a constant downstream force and vertical movements with the change in seasons and weather patterns. These factors are calculated into the production of the docks — not only their long-term durability, but also their stability and integration. Integrating a floating dock into a rowing center includes many calculations, such as the size and location of the bulkheads, pilings (internal pilings guides or external piling guides), and gangways.
Stability
As mentioned above, stability is an important factor for floating docks in rowing centers as crewmembers board and exit their boats. Additionally, rowers must remove and carry their boats from the water. BoardSafe has a proprietary calculation for floating docks to adequately support many people, accommodate point loads, and maintain a consistent position above the water level. This includes the exact placement, size, and type of floating on the floating dock. BoardSafe rowing docks also have a 5-inch freeboard. This, coupled with the dock’s overall stability, gives rowers confidence as they enter and exit their rowing shells.
Use
Rowing centers and rowing docks are obviously used for rowing. The real question is, "How are they used?" How many crews, staff members, and others, will be using the floating docks? What are the ideal dimensions for the floating docks, finger docks, and gangways? Where are the boats stored and loaded? What is the configuration of the rowing center, floating docks, finger docks, gangways, etc.? Are the boats parallel or perpendicular to the main floating docks when they are boarded?
Safe surfaces
BoardSafe specializes in manufacturing aluminum docks with composite or synthetic lumber. Specifically, BoardSafe uses NyloDeck, a composite lumber made of recycled carpet fibers, that contains no wood flour or PVC. This means that NyloDeck is ground-rated and resistant to rot, insect damage, and other wood afflictions. NyloBoard has a slip-safe surface, and the decking is held in place by the proprietary TimberStrong hidden fastening system. There are no face-nailing, splinters, or nail pops, and boards stay consistently in place over time.
High quality
All BoardSafe docks use the highest-quality materials. These include marine-grade 6160 aluminum, a proprietary extruded-aluminum frame, and plastic-encapsulated foam floats. The NyloDeck composite lumber decking on the floating dock is the only 1-inch composite deck board rated to span joists at 24 inches on center and at 16 inches on diagonals. It is twice as strong as other leading decking materials. Lightweight and easy to work with, NyloDeck is impervious to moisture, mold, mildew, and insects. The NyloDeck boards are fastened with a unique hidden fastener system developed by TimberStrong. Additionally, the hinges on the floating docks are mechanically attached to the dock. This means they are stronger. There is no welded connection holding the floating docks, like on competitors’ docks, that can compromise the integrity of the dock. It also means that dock sizes can easily be increased by connecting additional floating docks together.
Options
BoardSafe docks are built smart. They are environmentally-friendly, offering a float-through-float design that allows light to pass through to vegetation and water, and debris and plants and wildlife to pass underneath unhindered. We recommend that rowing centers work with experienced dock manufacturers who can anticipate needs and issues as well as offer solutions that make the rowing center the best it can be.
BoardSafe manufactures aluminum floating docks, piers, and gangways. We have designed and manufactured numerous specialty projects, including rowing centers and ADA docks and boat launches. For more information on your rowing center project, marina, and commercial or residential docks, call 610-899-0286 or visit boardsafedocks.com/.
100-Foot Aluminum Gangway Built for Boston Harbor, MA
Lovejoy Wharf is in Boston's North End waterfront neighborhood. It is a newly-renovated section of the city that is enjoying a renaissance. The neighborhood is home to the Boston Garden, Converse's world headquarters, restaurants, bars, and downtown shopping. It now is also home to a brand-new BoardSafe aluminum gangway.
At Lovejoy Wharf, there is ferry service that whisks passengers throughout the harbor. Passengers board and exit the boat from a barge that is accessed via a 100'-long x 5'-wide aluminum gangway that has a landing and steps. This huge gangway was manufactured at BoardSafe's Topton, PA, facility, and shipped in two truckloads. This is a project that we are very proud to say is ours.
To learn more about our aluminum gangways, click here.
Urban Outfitters Floating Garden
Urban Outfitters, Inc., is a large clothing and accessory retailer offering the brand names of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Leifsdottir, and Terrain. Urban's corporate headquarters is located at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River.
As part of the master plan for their facilities, they desired to construct floating hydroponic gardens in Dry Dock #1. The challenge was to create individual gardens in the shape of 4 distinct letters: URBN (this is Urban's designation on the Nasdaq).
The completed letter assembly would need to be nearly 30 feet high and 150 feet long. In addition to the gardens, a trash boom spanning nearly 100 feet long had to be installed at the mouth of the dry dock to prevent debris from entering the dry dock.
To accomplish their vision, Urban contracted with BoardSafe to make their plan a reality. The initial concept drawings were completed by the landscape architectural firm D.I.R.T. Studio of Charlottesville, Virginia. BoardSafe then took the concept drawings and designed a floating structure that not only included the floating letters, but also a massive underwater support structure connecting the letters together.
In addition to holding the letters together, the support structure allowed the entire assembly to move up and down with the fluctuation of the tide. The challenge was to make the entire structure "non-permanent" so the use of the dry dock could be changed at any time. The trash boom presented the same challenge. To facilitate the easy removal of the assemblies, powder-coated steel I-beams were attached vertically to the side of the dry dock in 6 locations, providing an attachment point for the underwater boom assemblies.
On the end of each boom, a roller assembly travels up and down the I-beams, following the tidal elevation. The letter frames, booms, underwater support structure, and trash boom, were fabricated from aluminum and then powder-coated black. Once each letter was assembled on land, a plastic Brillo©-like material was installed and the different species of vegetation were planted. A 2-foot high fence was then constructed to outline each letter. The fence serves two purposes: to keep wildlife from nesting in the gardens, and to delineate each letter once the plants began to grow.
All components were assembled on land, then installed using a crane, workers on the ground, and scuba divers.
Commercial Aluminum Piers
Commercial Aluminum Piers
Our commercial aluminum piers can be built to your specificaitons or you can chose from one of our standard sizes. BoardSafe manufacturers commercial aluminum piers and bridges using heavy duty 100 Series Aluminum extrusion. BoardSafe uses the highest quality materials including marine grade 6160 aluminum, proprietary extruded aluminum frame, and synthetic lumber featuring Timberstrong hidden fastening system. The piers and bridges are designed for marine applications at lakes, marshes, rivers and other areas with water. BoardSafe designs and manufacturers products that meet construction requirements as well as special applications like ADA requirements and accessories for accessibility for all.
Watch the below video of the installation of a commercial aluminum bridge designed and manufactured by BoardSafe. The aluminum bridge is approximately 30 feet long and has ADA accessibility features. It extends over a dam at a lake and connects a walking path that circles the lake.