How To Anchor Your Floating Dock

Anchoring provides a secure base for your floating dock to ensure that it doesn’t get washed away with the waves or pushed around by high winds. There are several different methods of anchoring a floating dock. Which method you should use depends on factors such as water depth and current strength. This guide from Island Watersports has some helpful tips on how to most effectively anchor your floating dock.

Pipes and Augers

If your floating dock is located in an area with a water depth of less than 12 feet, a system of pip brackets and aluminum augers can be used to secure it. The augers are driven directly into the bottom of the body of water in order to provide a secure base. If you’re using a system like this in an area with strong currents, we recommend using heavy-duty pipe brackets.

Stiff Arms

If you’re looking for a cheap anchoring system for a floating dock located near shore, a stiff arm system will work well. This system uses two or more reinforced arms to connect the floating dock to the shoreline. However, keep in mind that the stiff arm system is a poor fit for areas in which the water level tends to fluctuate.

Hinge Kits

If you plan to attach your floating dock to an existing dock, use a hitch kit. Hitch kits allow the floating dock to move independently from the existing dock, thus minimizing torsion stress. 

Deadweight Brackets

If you’re planning on installing a floating dock in an area without an existing dock structure that has water more than 12 feet in depth, use deadweight brackets. These brackets are connected via couplers on opposite sides of the dock with crossed chains that run beneath the dock. The chains are, in turn, attached to deadweights on the water bottom to hold the floating dock in place. 

Deadweight brackets are a good choice for areas that experience fluctuations in water level, and areas that are exposed to heavy winds and waves.

Shop floating docks at Island Watersports in Fenwick Island, Delaware. We’re proud to serve communities like Ocean City and Salisbury, Maryland. We also offer service, parts, financing, rentals, boat club, winterization, and a pro shop. We hope to see you soon!