Modular floating dock / finger pier

Mightychan

Member
Oct 8, 2016
157
Panama City FL
Boat Info
2005 DA 420, AB Dink
Engines
Cummins 6CTA
The problem: I have a 42 foot boat with a blue hull, moored in a slip that only has a finger pier on one side, that only extends about 10 feet. I want to be able to get all the way around my boat to clean the hull and keep it pretty!

I have tried laying on the deck, hanging over the side with a long handled brush, but that is awkward and uncomfortable. I have considered using a paddleboad, but it is going to want to move out from under me as I try to wash the hull.

I am thinking that a floating dock between the pilings (concrete, about 15 feet apart) might do the trick. One of the plastic modular ones would be light, easy to install, and easy on the hull if they made contact. A potential downside might be stability. It could only be about 3 feet wide, I could imagine it being tippy.

Anyone ever done anything like this? Positives, negative, comments, and advice are all welcomed.

Thanks
 
Where you are located, the marina operator leases the ground under the docks and piers from the state of Florida. If you permanently affix the floating dock to pilings, then you will be violating FL law and the land lease requirement. If your added pier is not permanent, like a jet ski dock secured with lines to pilings, then you might get by with it. Just count on the DEP or FWC examining what you are doing relative to the land lease law.

Most of the folks who have colored hulls and who need more than a long handle brush can give them use a lay along dock……Treasure Island has one, plus the travel lift slip, St. Andrews transient dock is a long lay along dock, if they have not leased the space for the day you need it. They are usually good to work with. And the City Marina may have transient space, but their situation tends to change from time to time.

Good luck with it……….
 
what the hell is a lay along dock?
 
Is there any reason you couldn't use a dinghy to access all sides while in the slip? Run a line bow to stern to secure the dink and pull it along while you move? Not ideal but I suspect you can stand in most dinghy's so long as you keep the adult beverages to a minimum before and during the process...?
 
Stee6043, I could do it from the dink, it's just a PITA to launch and squeeze around the pilings. I was looking for an easier solution, but it may be the best.
 
Stee6043, I could do it from the dink, it's just a PITA to launch and squeeze around the pilings. I was looking for an easier solution, but it may be the best.

Understood. I have a similar issue. I can't get my dink inside the pilings with my boat in the slip. I wasn't sure if you'd have a little more room with the finger pier arrangement. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for me I'm in a fresh water, northern climate. I wash/wax my hull sides during winter when on-hard and that gets me through our rather brief summer season. Only the topside really needs regular attention in my case...
 
I tried the dinghy trick yesterday to wax the hull ITS A PITA. Wish I had 2finger docks aalso.
 
Chan,

THe newest trick at the marina these days is a rinse water filter that really does eliminate water spots. Wash with your normal brush and boat soap, but rinse the boat with the filtered water. It isn't a water softener but is charged with some kind of resin filter media. The detail guys at the marina swear by it and some owners of colored hulls are even mounting smaller versions in their transom lockers. I have only seen the large version and it had no labels on it, so the above is the extent of what I know, except, even Isinglass panels don't show any water spots.

Contact Kevin Sears thew owner of Emerald Coast Cleanwerks for more info. I think Kevin is going to become a dealer....850-235-2244
 
Its probably ((( rinse water filter that really does eliminate water spots))) a- ion exchange resin- in a filter cartridge, that produces extremely soft water, which by chemistry leaves nothing left in the water to "spot". These work great but use caution- if the water is tap water from city it probably has chloramine and chlorine in it and these will exhaust the resin prematurely. Well water should be fine.
 
I've often wondered how you guys polished the boats with a single finger pier. Also didn't realize Treasure Island has this as well. George is awesome there.
 
I’ve tried cleaning my boat with while standing in a Dinghy. Not fun at all.
 
has anyone thought about using a 'rinse aid' such as this to minimize water spots?.....I have a dispensing nozzle like the one below that works very well for washing the boat....I was thinking I could keep a separate storage bowl full of the rinse aid to use after I wash the boat.....I remember seeing the TV commercials that claim this product eliminates water spots for dishes cleaned in a dish washer....

cliff

https://www.amazon.com/Cascade-Rins...-6&keywords=cascade+rinse+aid#customerReviews


81kCYo9hqML._SY355_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AAK6YZE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

51v6gH0hl6L._SL1000_.jpg
 
I did a little more research on dish washer rinse aids and got a little concerned the chemicals may not be safe on all surfaces such as isinglass and they may also strip off wax from the boat....

but this product looks interesting....it is a car wash that contains rinse aids that are safe for all car surfaces and will not strip wax.....might be worth a shot next time I clean the boat.....

cliff

https://www.rainx.com/product/washes/rain-x-spot-free-car-wash/#.WwVvD8mWxRo

RX_620034-Spot-Free-CW-48oz_100-605x1024.png
 
30+ year chemical industry guy here....Cascade and Rain-X work on different principle than the ion exchange resin. These are surfactants which lower the surface tension of the water making it want to "sheet" off the surface as opposed to leaving a standing water bead. The theory is to eliminate the bead and therefore the "spot". The opposite effect of looking at a wet freshly waxed surface with hundreds of little beads welled up on it. The sheeting makes it want to run off the surface.
 
Not a tree hugger by any means but are the runoff of these products harmful to fish or aquatic wildlife?
 
Last edited:
as usual I have been doing more research on the Rain-X spot free car wash to insure it is safe for aquatic life....I accidentally posted a link to the wrong SDS above....here is the correct link... https://www.rainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rain-X-Spot-Free-Car-Wash.pdf

what is very confusing to me is the fact that section 15 of the SDS claims this product is not a water pollutant....however in section 3 one of the main ingredients is listed as 'COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE'....a quick Google search of this chemical indicates it is extremely toxic to aquatic life....so if this car wash contains a known toxic for aquatic life how can it be considered safe to use in water?......I also wonder if this chemical is safe for all surfaces such as isinglass windows...

i think i'll just stay away from it and continue to use my regular Meguiars marine boat wash and wax.....

cliff
 

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