Construction Material

ALUMINUM FRAME: 

Our Aluminum Frame is 100% welded 6061 Aluminum alloy t-6 This Type aluminum is flexible and more than tough enough to withstand the roughest water conditions. This is the same alloy that is used in aircraft wings.  We also use a 10” C channel in the floor and the roof. In the floor plan our Beams are on 4’ spacing.  The stringers for the decking are welded in on 16” centers to accept composite decking.  Most of our competitors use a Maximum of 9” in the floor and even smaller in the roof.  We feel that the roof is a very integral part of the dock and should not be overlooked when designing a dock.  When a dock comes down off of a wave the slip opening will flex and that is why the roof beams are critical.  Many (Kit Dock) manufacturers, that are bolted together, use smaller beams in the roof compromising the strength for pricing. We use a MIG welding process to achieve our high quality welds.  All the corners and handrail systems are TIG welded for a super smooth finish.

Our Roof Support System is 4" x 1/8" (as of 11-01-2011) wall square aluminum tubing made from 6061 Aluminum Alloy t-6.  Our 4” support system consists of up to 30 post including knee bracing and supports.  We feel that the 4” post is good mix of Aesthetics and strength.      

ANCHOR SYSTEMS ON ALUMINUM FRAMES:

Cable Anchor systems are excellent for keeping your dock safely secured.  Our cable anchor system consists of 3/8"  stainless steel cable.  The cable is routed from an 3200# winch is mounted on a 3” x 3/16” wall square tubing that is welded to the frame.  From the winch the cable is routed down to a pulley block that is through mounted to the frame.  The pulley block transfers the stress from the cable to strongest part of the frame.  The winch post allows the winch to be used easily while standing on the dock.  It is important to maintain a 45 degree angle on the cables so that the dock can’t be blown around easily.  We recommend as the water level recedes that you move the shore pins so that the 45 degree angle is maintained.  If the dock is moved too far without moving the pins the 45 degree angle is compromised and you may have your dock blown around more easily.

Pipe Anchor Systems are a great anchor system in the event that 45 degree angles can’t be achieved with the cable anchor system.  A Pipe Anchor System Consists of two 4” x 20’ Stainless steel schedule 40 pipes. We use 3200# 2 speed winches mounted to the aluminum sleeve and the cable is run straight down to the bottom of the pipe.  We weld a stainless chain link at the bottom of the pipe to connect the stainless steel cable to the pipe. All of pipe anchor systems include stainless cable and clamps so there is no rust.  The pipes are held in place by a 5” diameter aluminum sleeve with a ¼” wall.   If you are on a point that would not allow the shore pins to be driven on dry land, a Pipe Anchor System may be the best alternative for you.  There are situations where pipe and cable anchor systems combined may be the only answer.  When the two systems are used in conjunction with one another it is imperative that the cable system be kept “slack” so that is does not create tension between the Pipe and sleeve hence the pipe tries to bind in the sleeve. Martin Docks will put our 50 years of experience into designing the proper anchor system for you.

DECKING ON ALUMINUM DOCKS: 

Composite: 

We feel this is the best compliment to an Aluminum Frame dock.  We offer Latitudes Composite decking.  We have been using Latitudes Composite decking since 2004 and found it to be an excellent performer in the marine environment.  Composite decks are very low maintenance and the weight of composite decking offers excellent stability on the water.  The dock truly rides through waves rather than bouncing over them.  This decking features a 15 year warranty.

We also offer Aluminum, Hardwoods and other decking upon request.

ROOFING SYSTEMS: 

Dry Panels Under Sundeck:

Our dry panel roofing installed under the sundeck is a 16” inch wide panel that has 3” Interlocking standing seams.  The roofing is coated through a process called “hot Dipping”. This process uses an Aluminum-Zinc alloy that is known as GALVALUME coating.  This product has a warranty of 20 years and has been an excellent performer for our company.  The dock is designed to channel the rainwater off the lake end of the sundeck which allows a dry environment under the sundeck.

Roofing for Gables and Hips:

Our Roofing features a 26 gauge 3’ wide panel that features a 25 year warranty.