RDS Dock, Deck & Bridge Hardware - Field and Stream, July 2000

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Field and Stream, July 2000
By John Decker

A well-maintained dock should last 40 years or more. Key to that longevity, however, is the hardware system. Hardware is also an important factor when it comes to ease of removal and installation. We chose RDS dock hardware from Quality Castings of New Hampshire (800-934-1943). RDS makes complete hardware systems for floating and stationary docks. The system we selected employs heavy cast-aluminum side brackets that connect dock sections together. The brackets also hold 1 1/2-inch-diameter galvanized water pipes, which serve as dock legs. A single stainless-steel bolt (supplied with bracket) clamps the leg to the bracket, which makes installing and leveling dock sections a one-man operation.

Because our lake has a soft, sandy bottom, we selected RDS's 10-inch-diameter bases. You drop the leg through the base, then drive the leg 18 inches into the bottom before clamping the base to the leg so it rests on the bottom. This makes for an extremely stable, level installation because the base prevents the leg from sinking farther into the bottom during the season. RDS also makes spike bases that can be driven into hard bottoms or placed between rocks. A malleable cast-iron drive cap from RDS fits over the top of the pipe to prevent damage when the pipe is being hammer-driven into the lake bottom. After driving, an aluminum trim cap finishes off the top of each leg. RDS corner brackets fasten the dock to the deck and also support the inside corner of the end section.

For greater ease of operation, we constructed the dock tread sections to be easily removable from the stringer sections. This allows the stringers to be carried into the lake, bolted together, and leveled by one person. Then the treads can be installed one section after the other by wheeling them into place using a hand truck. To remove the dock, you simply reverse the process and stack the stringer and tread sections on the deck or a level surface for the winter.

good reading
What's the difference between a "dandy dock" and a "berth of the blues"? According to Max Burns, consummate dock builder and author of The Dock Manual ($34.95, Storey Books), it's planning. And this cleverly written, well-illustrated guide shows the reader how to plan and build docks for the most challenging shorelines. From simple crib docks to complicated lift docks that winch from the water, Burns offers a journeyman's insight into the dock-building process. He also offers a healthy dose of reality: He refers to permanent docks as a human concept that nature often refuses to recognize. To order, contact Books Now at 800-266-5766, ext. 8000, or www.booksnow.com/fieldandstream, 24 hours a day. --J.D.