Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

The backstory is last fall I bought a cottage that came with an old but working pontoon boat & a dock. The dock was hastily disassembled for winter storage and I'm not sure how to put it back together. I know how all the parts go together but I'm unclear of the process. It's aluminum poles with sand augers, cross-members and rails with 2X6 PT decking on the sections. There's a 3-step wooden stairway cantilevered out over the water & the first section of dock needs to go under & support the end of it.

Is the procedure to install the first (shortest) "H" support under the stairs & carry out the first section, attach that end & let the other end hang in the water until the next "H" is brought in under it....OR...try to install ALL the "H" supports in a straight line & somehow spaced properly so the bolt holes line up with the section rails? Or maybe another method I haven't considered?

The cottage being 4 hours away means I don't have the advantage of being there to watch other neighbors install theirs.

Despite all the metal being aluminum the sections are very heavy and my wife may not be up to the task of carrying one end. Any tips on how to muscle it around would also be very appreciated.

Are the poles still in the water?
From the pic it doesn't look very deep, I would start from the shoreline and work out. measure the spacing between the H supports Then drop the sections on top. Add the steps last, once your satisfied with the dock. I would use a hand truck to wheel the sections around. I do think you will be getting your feet wet at some point.
I'm sure if you look under each section you can tell where it sat on the H supports to get an idea of the distance between supports.
Hope this helps, Good luck.
I like the toon, what motor does it have?

That makes me glad I have a floating dock.

+1 on the floating dock!
Even though I have to rig up a de-icer every winter I am so glad I don't have to remove anything, especially since my dock is covered, 2 wells with a fairly large swim dock.

Im not sure how to put it together, but.....

i'd sure number/label each part after it's finished, so next year will be easier!

Jeez I thought this was a commonplace dock & I'd get a bunch of experienced advice...

I'd say you had it right with start from shore and work your way out first with the brace then the wood...

and number for next year!

guy48065 wrote:Jeez I thought this was a commonplace dock & I'd get a bunch of experienced advice...

Lol, my dock is owned by the marina. I don't touch it. (although I have to spend a lot of friggin money to keep the boat tied to it during the summer)

If its the same style I think it is, the best method is to pre-assemble the metal frame work in the grass at the shore line. There should be short cross bars to go between the auger poles and longer support rails the support the wooden sections. Clamp the auger poles semi-tight, you want them just tight enough they wont fall down when you pick it up. If you have a few pool rafts or inner tubes, use them to hold the frame work up while your screwing the augers in place. Whatever wrench you use, make sure you tie a string to one end and tie the other end of the string to your belt loop, it's a pain trying to locate a 1/2" wrench under 4' of water. I used to get it done with myself and 1 other guy, as long as you stand inside the frame work and not stand out on the ends, you should be able to do it with your wife.

Interesting idea to take each section out to the water already assembled. Won't work in my case. The only "frame" are the rails the wood decking is bolted to. Each pair of dock sections shares an "H" support. Each crossmember has a pair of brackets with 4 holes in opposing pairs for the bolts that secure the dock rails.

The poles can't be screwed into the lake bed with the crossmember clamps tight so it still appears to me that there's only 2 choices for installation:
(A) Install ALL the "H" supports, then drop the rails in place. This requires precision in locating the poles & leveling. Strings, lasers, long straight 2x4's...etc.
(B) Install one "H", level it approximately to meet the existing stairs, then attach one end of a dock section & let the other sink in the lake. Then lift the sunken end & bolt the next crossmember to it & screw in the poles til approximately level with the first...and so on.

I'm looking for help from members who have actually done either A or B with this type of dock.

You added your post after I started. "B" is the ticket.

I’ve put this same dock in many times, at my parents place on Houghton Lake. No way my wife and I could do this alone. We always got with the neighbors and put all our docks in the same day. I suggest you get with your neighbors and ask them for help, in return for your help with theirs. Get four guys, in the water. That’s why we have waders. Another on shore to get you things (like tools or beer). I’m sure you are starting at a seawall or on shore. The length of the dock section determines how far out to put the first set of supports. A set of supports is two auger pipes and a crosspiece. Have all the bolts and nuts very loose, to start. Not sure if the brackets you set the dock sections on are connected to the crosspieces, or on the end of the dock section itself. I’ve seen it both ways.
Screw down a pipe, using a section of dock held by two guys to show you where, about a foot into the sand. More, if into mud, but if you have augers on the pipe, I’m pretty sure it’s sand. You can drop your end of the dock into the water, while you turn the pipe. Add the cross member and the other auger pipe. Screw the auger down a foot, using the crosspiece to show you the distance between the two auger pipes. Tighten the bolts, holding the crosspiece at the height you want it –IMPORTANT-TIGHTEN THE BOLTS THRU THE PIPE (THE LONG BOLTS) FIRST. If you tighten the short one on the outside part of the bracket first, you break the bracket when you tighten the long one (expensive to replace, I know). Pick up the section of dock and put it on the crosspiece. You have one section in place. Take a break, have a beer, and repeat. Put a section of dock in the brackets on the first section and have two guys hold it up, so you can judge where to put the next set of supports.
Should be no need to number things, as all parts should be the same. We had three lengths of auger poles, as the water got deeper at the end, so we used longer poles the farther we got from shore. You could use a measuring stick, instead of holding up a section of dock, to determine the placement of the supports, once you find out how they all go together.
Hope this helps.

Go with plan "B". I have the same basic style of dock, I have nineteen, 10 foot sections that I have to take in and out every spring and fall because of ice. I have pads on the bottom of my poles instead of augers, this way I can leave the cross member tight and I then number the H sections so they go out in the same order every year. If you have to auger then you just have to loosen the clamps and eyeball it section by section as you go. YOu said it right, attach one end and work your way out. I float each section out from shore instead of carrying them on the dock from shore. Easier on the back!

Good luck

RJF--your BTDT post is MUCH appreciated. Especially the part about picking up the end of the dock & setting it on the crosspiece already installed & tight(ish). I wasn't sure if there was enough "wiggle" in the support to allow that but it does seem reasonable since the sections meet at the crosspiece with very little overhang. I think a length of string anchored on shore should do the trick in getting the poles on one side all straight.

Johnboy--I like the idea of floating each dock section out to the supports. Will these heavy buggers float on their own or did you use innertubes, chunk of foam, etc? Maybe my wife & I can manage by dragging each section to the water's edge (4 feet away) and ease them in.

Since I can't go up this holiday weekend I'm not sure who might be around to help when I can get there. It's normally pretty dead there except for holidays. The peace & quiet is one of the things I like about my lake after visiting other more "manic" lakes during the shopping phase.

Guy48065,

The sections will float just fine for you. Just take your time it will go well. I am just up the road a bit from you in the U.P. in Curtis MI. It is actually snowing with flurries out my office window right now in Marquette! Going to be a bit chilly this weekend. I sold my pontoon boat and will be giving it to it's new owner Saturday. I am waiting to take delivery of a new pontoon, so the cold weather makes the wait a little easier.

Good luck

The sections will float, even with twenty pounds of fun loving cockerpoo onboard. She always rode the sections out.