A dock is the starting point of a great boating adventure. But first, you require a dock that fulfills your every necessity. Whether it’s your budget, the depth of water or aesthetics, your preferences will vary accordingly. For most sailors, it comes down to two popular choices of docks – aluminum docks and wooden docks. If you are uncertain of what dock best suits you, here’s a guide that would make your decision a bit easier.
Wooden Dock
Budget
Wooden boat docks have an affordable market value. Wooden docks essentially come in two types – treated or untreated wood. You can choose between either, where a treated wood dock would cost you a bit more than an untreated one. The decking amasses 25% to 50% of the entire wooden dock system.
Maintenance
Wooden decking generally needs regular maintenance. You might require a protective coating to seal the wooden dock once in a while or your dock will require regular pressure washing in between coatings. Wooden docks tend to get damaged with extreme weather conditions or crashing of boats if they are not maintained recurrently.
Durability
Wooden docks have greater durability and can last for years, proving their longevity. The only factor that poses a hassle is their recurrent maintenance. They are easily prone to rotting, cracking or displaying splinters if their care is neglected.
Aesthetics
On a quiet evening, you would want to get your close ones out on your classic wooden dock, soaking in the sunset. The wooden dock gives you the perfect feeling of a lazy holiday with a picnic and some soda as you retreat from your boating adventure.
Aluminum Dock
Budget
The initial price and investment of an aluminum dock, with all its strength and durability, is greater than the wooden boat dock, while its maintenance cost is much lesser.
Maintenance
An aluminum dock hardly needs maintenance. The occasional rusting would require periodic maintenance that can be arranged without much hassle.
Durability
Aluminum docks are highly durable and immune to problems such as warping or splintering, as compared to wooden ones. Aluminum docks, being made of metal, are likely to get rust or corrosion if not maintained occasionally.
Aesthetics
Aluminum docks are quite lightweight and easy to move. So as the boating season subsides, you can easily take down your dock. Moreover, aluminum is quite popular for their swim platforms, even more than wood. The chemical treatment given to the wooden docks is toxic and harmful to the environment, making aluminum an environmentally sound choice.
When it comes down to a choice, you should evaluate the factors you need and act upon them. Speaking in general terms, aluminum proves to be a top-grade choice as it requires minimal maintenance with an enhanced boating experience. However, if you are skimming on the budget, you can go for a wooden dock.
If you have finally arrived at a decision to get high-grade aluminum ones and don’t know where to get them, Beachside Docks would be your go-to dock station. We distribute an array of excellent docks with premium quality metals that will highlight strength and finesse in one.