Dock Problems? It’s the middle of July and the sun is high, doing its best to incinerate the mere mortals scampering about on the earth below. You ‘re standing on your deck, looking out at the water and dreaming of how great it would be to be out on it, or in it. But there is one problem; your usually convenient path to your boat has been turned into a medieval torture device. In the glare of the sun you can [...]
In part one, we discussed the basic details that you will encounter when designing and installing a new dock on your lake or river. Here, we will discuss, in detail, the variations or options that are available to you when designing and planning the installation of your lake dock system. We will cover the configuration (span and layout), the types of systems available, connection type, and the available decking options. Some of these decisions will be based on your technical needs, [...]
The 2013 boating season brings with it some changes that are bound to make your life on the water a bit easier. In this article we will focus on one specific change in the way some aftermarket canopies are attached to your boat lift canopy frame. For a while now these canopies have used rubber grommets and o-rings, sewn into the canopy itself, to provide anchorage for the springs, bungees, or strapping that ultimately holds the material to the frame. However, [...]
If you are in the market for a dock system for your waterfront you will quickly discover that there are quite a few designs out there. Wading through the different dock systems and variations can be daunting and you will need to determine your specific needs before deciding. We will cover these options in two articles that will outline the available choices and the basic considerations you will need to address when making your decision. In this article we will outline [...]
After last summer’s blistering temperatures and the relative lack of winter snows the last few years, it’s very hard not to notice that some changes are underway. If you spend any time on or around the Lakes of Michigan or the Great Lakes in general you have no doubt noticed that things are not as they used to be. The water levels are down all over and property owners as well as whole communities are being affected. The cause of the [...]
Great Lakes Basin Management With record low water levels on the Great lakes, as well as many of the inland regional lakes and record high temperatures in 2012 and again projected for 2013, the environmental impact on the ecology and economies of the Basin loom large in the view of those who call it home. In light of these broad sweeping changes, federal as well as state, and local governments in the region are deploying plans to address these changes. In [...]
Great Lakes Basin If you spend any time at all on the Great Lakes you may have noticed one of the most obvious indicators of change. Many of the waterfront docks that populate the Great Lakes basin are high and dry or at least showing more “leg” these days. The main causes of these changes are clear and widely acknowledged as record temperatures and lack of seasonal precipitation have led to record low water levels all over the Great Lakes Basin. [...]
Running aground is no fun, just ask the captain of the Exxon Valdez. Over the last few years there have been some significant changes to the environment of Michigan’s lakes that directly impact those of us who own one of the 800,000+ boats registered in the state of Michigan. Michigan ranks third in the nation for boating population and recent developments in weather, both natural and political, have placed this crucial economic past time directly at the center of action. With [...]
When planning a solar charging set up for your boat lift there are a few things that you should know. These details may save you time and money, getting you the charging system you need and avoiding any potential damage to your battery or good time. In this article we will discuss the proper voltage and wattage for the solar panel you need, the different ways in which you can set up your battery array, and some conversions that can be [...]
It was hot last summer. The weather was so extreme that it set records all across the country, leaving the powers that be looking for a widespread solution to the problem. There has been a significant emphasis by those who are monitoring the situation, on the historically low precipitation (rain, snow) and excessively high temperatures in spring and summer over the past few years. These two factors have created a situation in which high evaporation during the summer is not being [...]
