Floating Bridge and Dock Components

Manufacturers offer floating docks made from many types of materials. Wood and metal are the most common materials, although docks made of plastics, fiberglass, and structural composites are becoming available.

Any floating structure is made up of three parts (figure 2):

Deck—The deck is the upper portion of the structure that actually supports the user.

Frame—The frame provides the structural support for the deck.

Floats—The floats replace the bridge abutments or foundation. They provide the buoyancy needed to keep the dock and its users dry.

Figure 2—Most floating structures are composed of three main
parts: the deck, the frame, and the floats.

The three main parts of a floating dock may be made of different materials. For instance, a dock may have a polyethylene float, connected to a galvanized iron frame that supports a pressure-treated wooden deck. Some parts may be combined into one piece. Steel tubing, for instance, may function as both the frame and the float.