Dock Box Suggestions

G

ghgcpa

New Member
Aug 7, 2012
2
Green Cove Springs, FL
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 230 Select
Engines
Mercruiser 350 MAG MPI
I am looking to buy a fiberglass dock box. I have come across at least 4 different brands in researching them (Dockmate, Taylor Made, West Marine, & Dock Boxes Unlimited). I want one sturdy enough to sit on, but not necessarily one with a seat design on top. I am interested in feedback based on experience with owning or selling these dock boxes. Appreciate any feedback.
 
I went down this decision process last year. Had sticker shock when I saw the prices on the boxes at West Marine.

I understand why thier boxes ( and other sources of Fiberglass boxes are higher) - they are much more secure. I thought about what I was going to store in the box, what would happen if it was cleaned out.

My decision was to do two boxes, total cost less than half what a fiberglass box would cost.

One box, is a Stanley rolling toolbox from Home Depot, about $80. As secure as anything I have seen, security comparable to the fiberglass boxes. The limitation is size. Mine is about 40x25X30. I use it for canvas primarily, and some tools I keep dockside. I can fit the summer cockpit cover when I am leaving for overnights on top of a tool bag in the bottom.

The other box is a backyard deck box from Home Depot. Huge, and its got cleaning supplies, a 40$ vacumn cleaner is the most expensive item in it. It locks, but its plastic and if you grabbed the top of it and pulled really hard, you could pull it apart.

My thought is, if some did that - and they really wanted to steal the brush, 303, boat soap, etc - I could replace the supplies and the box for less than a more expensive box. Have looked at it, I think if someone did that the box might press back together and I am only out the cleaning supplies.

Both boxes are anchored to the dock with 5/16 lag screws into the dock - primarily for wind.

Reason for sharing all this - is just to introduce the thought of how secure do you need?
 
Bought a used job box of Craigslist refinished it and it is the hot of the dock , the first one got smashed by Sandy and spent two weeks underwater , a few hundred bucks and some metal primer and paint looks great,
Also fabricated a dinghy motor mount to the side to lock the 6hp up to everyone loves it !! Here's what they look like before I painted mine beige
5usy3eze.jpg



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I second using the deck boxes from a non-boating store. We got ours from Sam's club. Much cheaper than a boating dock box and bigger. As FF stated above, we don't routinely keep very expensive items in it. (The most expensive thing in it is the Magma, but that is only about 30-40% of the time.). It does have a lock, but is less secure than the fiberglass dock boxes. Our marina is the most secure around - locking gates on the docks and 24 hour video surveillance. That's not to say that theft can't or won't happen, but it helps. If you keep the expensive stuff onboard, then you can spend less on the box.
 
Before you go too far in one direction check the by laws of your marina as well. It is definitely more efficient and practical to go out side the marine industry for a storage solution. However many marinas will have regulations that address the size and or style of a 'dock box.'
 
I bought two Suncast hybrid deck boxes. $200 each. They are made of plastic and cedar. I love them because the bugs (spiders) don't like the cedar and stay away.
wrdb9922-400.jpg
 
Suncast and Rubbermaid both make good stuff. I have examples of both around the house. The Suncast is a bit more rigid, but the Rubbermaid goes together easier.
If you go with the Rubbermaid it might be worth the extra few bucks for a tube of silicone, especially for a dock box.
I just put together a Large Vertical Rubbermaid storage cabinet down at my dock. I anchored it to a wooden deck with lag bolts, and used clear silicone in the grooves when I put it together, and then again in all the seams when it was finished. I'm hoping the silicone will help it stay together in high winds. It does feel a lot more solid with it.
 
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I like the suncast boxes also, had them all (Rubbermaid) also but they all blew down eventually
Fortunately my marina has no regulations on dock boxes yet but they will someday its a dockominium.


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Thanks for all the great feedback. I ended up with the Taylor Made deck box. Expensive, but well made, looks good, and will do exactly what we were looking for.
 
Glad you went with the real deal. I can't stand rolling into a beautiful marina with beautiful piers and walking down the dock, only to see a hodge podge of different storage boxes be it Rubbermaid or whatever as opposed to real dock boxes. Sorry, this thread just hit a nerve I didn't realize I had. I'll get off my dock box now...
 
For those that have seen me post this before, please forgive.......just walk down a dock and find a boat for sale that has a box sitting beside it. Call the number, and offer to buy the box. This has worked for me twice, and I bought 2 Betterway boxes for $100 each. Good luck,

Don
 
Southpaw II said:
For those that have seen me post this before, please forgive.......just walk down a dock and find a boat for sale that has a box sitting beside it. Call the number, and offer to buy the box. This has worked for me twice, and I bought 2 Betterway boxes for $100 each. Good luck,

Don
Click to expand...
+1 on this technique. I eyeballed a big, heavy dockbox of a fellow yacht club member after he listed his boat for sale. He was selling due to health reasons, so I let him know I was interested in the box when the boat sold. Bottom line, I got a 96" heavy duty box for $200. Cleaned it up, good as new.
 
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