Experience with BulDock floating dock?

[CherMac]

I would like to buy a floating dock for my RIB. I've read good things here about Tetradock and Versadock. But I live in the United States, and I haven't spotted a distributor of those products here sadly.



I just came across a product called BulDock that is made in Italy and has a US distributor. Has anyone here had any experience with it or an opinion?


Thanks!

[lakelandterrier]

I'd have thought a quick Google search would turn up US manufacturers / suppliers of drive on docks.
Very quickly I found these 2:
https://www.ez-dock.com
https://dock-blocks.com
There must be lots more in USA.
Good luck

[CherMac]

Thank you for the input! There are several here in the US as you point out, but they are priced rather salty. For example, Wave Armor shows a $5,100 (US dollar) price on their website for a 16 ft long/7 ft wide one capable of handling 1,500-2,600 lbs.



There are also used ones, but mostly down in Florida, which would be 15+ hour drive from my house. Since I have no experience with them, I'd be nervous about what could be wrong with a used one that I didn't know about. The Buldock price on the internet seemed a lot(!) better than the established others. Didn't know if company was using price to crack into the market or it was an inferior product.


In my opinion, generally people view (and use) RIBs a whole lot differently in the United States than they do in Europe. Thus, the floating dock companies market their products more for jet skis than RIBs. The "boat" floating docks that they advertise appear largely targeted to non-inflatable boats. Since I have never used a floating dock, I don't know if I could just lengthen a jet ski one or really need to buy a boat one for the width or whatever. My marina won't let me permanently attach it to their docks, so I am nervous about that too.

[lakelandterrier]

I havea Tetradock in the UK and am very pleased with it - far better than trailer launching every time.

The plastic cubes these docks are built from seem pretty standard and are generally pretty robust. I think the only prblem with a 2nd hand one would be if a cube was split. The variances in designs seem to in the central "keel channel", not the standard cubes

I see no reason why a marina would not let you berth a dock - you will of course need strong fenders round it to to protect both it and the pontoon / finger.

I don't think it mankes a difference if it's a rib or a sports boat on the dock, the principles are the same. I talk to potentail suppliers - even if just to gain the knowledge you want. If your marina won't let you have one, it'sa bit acedemic, unless you find a marina that will.

I'm sure there's a sloution out there. Maybe look up companies that used these types of cubes to create pontoons as well as just dock suppliers.

[CherMac]

Thank you so much!! My marina will let me have one, but I have to attached it with ropes and cleats only.

[lakelandterrier]

Yes that is normal - the dock needs some "give" to absorb the froces od driving on / off. Strong lines - at least 18mm and stout fenders are required.

How were you thinking of mooring the dock to the marina?

[CherMac]

I need to drive over to the marina and measure everything. I have the dock spot highlighted in the picture (Dock spot.png) in yellow, which is a bit narrower in width than some of the other docks.

The marina owns some jet ski floating docks that are attached with poles through the floats. When I talked to the marina on the phone, they said that I could not permanently attach my floating dock to their wooden dock, but I didn't think to ask about whether or not I could use a pole to attach my floating dock to the bed of the marina. My guess is they will not permit me to do that, but I will ask since that looks like the best way to go.

I though I would attach my floating dock using the cleats on the finger of the marina's dock and whatever holes/cleats that are on the floating dock (like in picture dock spot 3.png). I have emailed two floating dock firms for quotes and mentioned the "no permanent attachments" restriction to them, so that they can make sure the floating dock will work at that marina location. I've got lots of dyneema and boat bumpers.

[lakelandterrier]

As long as you have room to line up behid the dock you should be OK. In UK docks are moored to pontoons / fingers with lines, and fenders (as would be a boat). Pic attached of mine on the old pontoon - the double fenders are against the only pontooon block on the berth - now replaced with single a high quality F7 twice the diameter of the 2 in the pic.
Not heard of securing docks with vertical rods - no need. Consider the dock is the boat from a berthing point of view, and the Rib is secured to the dock.

[CherMac]

You have a beautiful boat and a great looking float dock setup! Attached is a picture of a Candock floating dock that uses a pipe to secure the floating dock to the channel bed.


Thank you again for all your advice! I really appreciate it. You are a very kind person for helping me.