BoardSafe Featured in Industry Newsletter
Bethlehem-based insurance carrier, HMK Insurance, featured their client BoardSafe Docks and gave them accolades for their dedication to making aquatic sports and activities more accessible. Below is a snippet of the article:
HMK Client Spotlight: Northeast Products & Services Inc.
How does one manufacture state-of-the-art aluminum boating docks and rowing centers in the middle of a cornfield in rural Pennsylvania? HMK client, Northeast Products & Services, Inc., has certainly figured it out. At their Topton, PA, location, they specialize in engineering and manufacturing floating marinas, rowing centers, gangways, and adaptive docks. Northeast Products & Services, Inc. has been called upon by rowing associations, universities, and cities, to create their unique one-of-a- kind products branded as BoardSafe Docks. In looking closer at the Boardsafe Dock products, the expertise and innovation of this business have an impact far greater than those requiring a water-facing structure. Their projects directly affect the well-being and lives of the general public. Click here to read the article.
What Makes a Dock a Rowing Dock?
Not all docks are created equal. Just as there is a multitude of outdoor activities that one can enjoy at a lake, river, marsh, or other waterfront, there is a plethora of equipment options to help you enjoy those activities.
Rowing docks are docks especially designed for rowing, sculling, crewing, or paddling. Oftentimes, rowing centers are built on lakes and rivers and managed by universities, rowing clubs, or government agencies (local municipalities, parks, etc.).
What Do Low-Profile and Freeboard Mean for Rowing Docks?
We often receive phone calls asking, "What is low profile or freeboard for rowing docks?"
Those not familiar with rowing, sailing, and other aquatic sports, often ask, "What is a low profile dock?" or "What is freeboard?" This is a very important quality of an aluminum floating dock for rowing centers and a vital consideration when designing a rowing center.
Imagine boarding or exiting a boat or a boat's cockpit. The larger the height differential between the rowing dock and the boat, the more difficult it is to get in and out of a boat. Factor in a poorly-designed floating dock that is unstable, as well as a boat floating on choppy water. Moving from dock to boat becomes increasingly difficult, especially when the rower is squeezing into a narrow racing shell with other rowers also moving about. Rowing is best enjoyed without falling in!
Rowing Dock Manufacturers for Rowing Centers
Owners and managers of rowing centers, as well as rowing and paddling clubs, want heavy-duty aluminum-frame floating rowing docks at their facility. Rowing docks are designed for long-term performance with the rower in mind.
BoardSafe's floating rowing docks can be found at numerous rowing centers around the United States. The BoardSafe rowing docks are made in America and designed for commercial and residential applications.
Successful First Adaptive Paddling and Picnic at Lake by BoardSafe Docks
In the fall of 2015, BoardSafe Docks installed a new ADA fishing pier and adaptive / ADA kayak launch at Leaser Lake in Kempton, PA. The floating docks and applications were designed and constructed by BoardSafe Docks, completing an ADA and adaptive park area that already included paved nature trails and ADA picnic tables.
On Sunday, May 22, 2016, a group of 12 adaptive paddlers and 30 volunteers, including 6 ACC instructors, enjoyed their first adaptive paddling event.
The Leaser Lake Heritage Foundation coordinated the parking, food, and programming, while Team River Runner handled the adaptive boating program. This was the first event of its kind since the unveiling and trial run on the adaptive kayak boat launch in November. Paddlers were taught water safety, the proper way to enter and exit a boat, and the basics of paddling.
Northeast Products Is Exclusive Distributor of Pearson Pilings
Customers who live or work in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, and want Pearson Pilings for their commercial or residential project, need to purchase them through Northeast Products and Services, Inc. (“Northeast”). Northeast is the exclusive distributor of Pearson Pilings in the Mid-Atlantic states.
Pearson's fiberglass composite pilings are the ideal building materials for waterfront foundations, docks, piers, and bridges. The composite pilings are stronger than wood, steel, and concrete pilings, and because they will not rust, rot, or crumble, they will last virtually forever. Containing no chemical preservatives that leach into the water, Pearson sustainable fiberglass composite pilings are environmentally-friendly and are the choice of “green” developers of clean marinas and waterfront properties.
Commercial applications include pilings for marinas, piers, docks, bridges, and more.
New marinas and docks, fishing piers, municipal bulkheads, and bridges, demand the strongest, most durable pilings available. Pearson pilings require no maintenance and will rarely need to be replaced, even after several years of hard use. Demolition and removal of old pilings may also be avoided by installing Pearson pilings over existing pilings.
The unique properties of fiberglass composite pilings make them an ideal building material for a wide variety of applications where superior strength and durability are required. From artificial reefs to elephant retaining walls, from bridge fendering systems to commercial building foundations, engineers and architects are finding new and unusual applications for Pearson Fiberglass Composite Pilings every day.
Best of all, Pearson pilings are environmentally-friendly. If you're building "green," you'll want to specify only Pearson Fiberglass Composite Pilings.
Residential applications include pilings for home foundations and residential docks and piers.
If you are building a new waterfront home, adding a new dock, or need to repair your existing dock or bulkhead, you'll want to use today's strongest, most-durable pilings. Pearson Fiberglass Composite Pilings will never rot, rust, or crumble. They'll last virtually forever. They're incredibly strong, too — stronger than wood, steel, and concrete! Their attractive, smooth, natural finish will look good year after year, never developing harmful, unsightly splinters.
Ask your contractor or architect to specify Pearson Pilings. Your investment today will pay off in the long run by eliminating replacement costs and increasing the value of your waterfront property.
If you are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or Maryland, and would like to discuss your projects using Pearson Pilings, call Northeast at 610-899-0286. Northeast has decades of experience in residential and commercial construction as well as marine construction. Northeast also specializes in manufacturing aluminum floating docks, piers, gangways and rowing centers.
Adaptive Boat Launch, Piers, and Rowing Products
Adaptive Boat Launch, Piers, and Rowing Products
BoardSafe has developed a line of ADA-accessible products specifically for the adaptive athlete. These products include an adaptive kayak, canoe and boat launch, accessible piers, and floating docks with ADA features, as well as adaptive rowing docks for adaptive rowing (See links below). These products were developed in conjunction with adaptive athletes and conscientioulsy designed to meet their needs. Because adaptive rowers and paddlers had input on the products' proprietary designs, BoardSafe knows that their adaptive boat launches, fishing piers, and adaptive rowing docks, are the best-performing and highest-quality products on the market. All of our adaptive products are made with the same best practices, features, engineering, and quality measures used in all BoardSafe products. Each adaptive rowing product is specifically designed with the rowers in mind.
If you need an adaptive kayak launch, fising pier, or adaptive rowing dock, BoardSafe will customize your product by adapting their standard designs, engineering, and product sizes, to build a product that fits your needs.
Follow these links to learn more about our adaptive products:
> Adaptive kayak, canoe, and boat launch
> Accessible fishing pier and floating dock
Need help with fundraising? Read our recommended best practices for fundraising for your accessible project.
Conshohocken, PA, Rowing Center Features BoardSafe Aluminum Docks and Products
One of the centers of the rowing community in the United States is Boathouse Row in Philadelphia. Rowers from the boathouses compete at every level, including local clubs, high schools, colleges, summer racing programs, and international-level athletics. The newest and finest facility in the area is not at Boathouse Row, but a few miles upstream.
Conshohocken is located just north of Philadelphia, PA, on the Schuylkill River. The Conshohocken Rowing Center was unveiled in October 2014. The state-of-the-art facility is a 6-bay building that houses The Haverford School , Malvern Preparatory School, and the Borough of Conshohocken. The operation of the building is a public and private relationship that encourages local and youth rowing. Because rowing is serious business in Philadelphia, the members of Conshohocken Rowing Center wanted the best dock builder they could find.
They did not have to look hard to find Pennsylvania-based BoardSafe, a trusted and expert dock builder with projects up and down the east coast. BoardSafe custom-designed, manufactured, and installed the docks and the observation deck.
The observation deck is an aluminum frame dock with Nylodeck synthetic wood, featuring the TimberStrong fastening system. The large observation deck was designed to provide great views and accommodate several hundred fans. The deck runs along the rear of the rowing center building and was engineered to cantilever over the riverbank. It measures 24-feet by 122-feet and features:
- a concrete foundation system (engineered by Innovative Marine Solutions , a sister company of BoardSafe - PE stamped drawings).
- a galvanizedstructural steel support frame (also engineered by Innovative Marine Solutions - PE stamped drawings).
- fifteen (15) 8-foot-by-24-foot aluminum joist system panels.
- a 42-inch high ultra aluminum rail - powder-coated black.
- docks designed to provide a 6-inch freeboard under no live load. The docks are BoardSafe Commercial Aluminum, featuring NyloDeck (Desert Spice color) attached to the frame with the TimberStrong fastening system.
- steel frame components, aluminum panels, decking, and railings, installed by Innovative Marine Solutions employees.
As impressive as the observation deck is, the floating docks and structure are unparalleled (scroll down to watch aerial videography of the project).
The floating docks project includes:
- one main aluminum dock measuring 10-feet wide by 360-feet long.
- six finger piers and three support arms.
- a 42-inch high ultra aluminum rail - powder-coated black
- The docks were designed to provide a 6-inch freeboard under no live load. The docks are BoardSafe Commercial Aluminum, featuring NyloDeck (Desert Spice color) attached to the frame with the TimberStrong fastening system.
All of the steel frame components, aluminum panels, decking, and railings, were installed by BoardSafe.
BoardSafe specializes in manufacturing aluminum docks, gangways, and rowing centers, all in the USA. If you have a rowing center or marina project and you would like to learn more, visit BoardSafeDocks.com or call 610-899-0286.
Boat Rack Systems
Aluminum Boat Rack Systems
Rowing centers and kayak launches need a functional way to easily store and access their boats, kayaks and rowing gear. BoardSafe has built numerous rowing centers and understands the uses and needs of rowers, kayakers and adaptive athletes to offer the best options for boat storage. Aluminum boat rack systems can be freestanding or built as an addon to a floating dock, pier or adaptive kayak launch.
