After resigning yourself to the reality that summer has long past and you won’t be boating anytime soon, you’re ready to winterize. You can take care of the boat with antifreeze, shrink wrap, dry storage, or whatever means you prefer. But what about winterizing a dock? You don’t want to discover that ice or wind has shifted or damaged your dock, slip, and lift while you weren’t looking.
In the Knoxville, TN area, some winters are worse than others. Every year, though, there’s enough change in water levels and temperatures to warrant dock winterization.
Easy DIY Dock Winterization Tips
Most importantly, you should clean and inspect your dock. If you don’t know what to look for, a dock repair specialist can help. A brief checklist for dock winterization would include:
- Look for signs of wear or damage on dock cables
- Clean up and store toys, furniture, and accessories
- If possible, raise or remove swim ladders, slides, and ramps
- Tighten any loose bolts and screws
Some of these tasks are easier said than done. Make sure to have a helper with you and consult the owner’s manuals for a boat lift or other piece of equipment to see what the manufacturer recommends for winterization.
Dock De-Icing for Winter
Lakes and rivers in Tennessee can ice over in the middle of winter. Especially so if you have a shallow shoreline. Sometimes it gets just cold enough that the water sitting around your dock might freeze up, applying a surprising amount of pressure that can make the dock or pilings lean or even dislodge.
That’s why dock builders recommend that you add a de-icing machine. These are often called “bubblers.” They mount under your dock and work by circulating the water with a propeller to prevent ice formation. It’s a simple solution for dock winterization that can avoid a nightmare scenario. As a side benefit, using bubblers can protect the fish and water quality of your lake.
It’s possible to install a dock de-icer yourself, but only if you have professional-level experience with contracting and outdoor electrical work. Most people leave installation to their preferred Knoxville dock builders.
Knoxville Dock Winterization Services
Taking care of your dock and boat can be rewarding, but there’s not much fun about dock winterization. Knoxville Barge can perform a thorough dock inspection to find small repairs and do the grunt work of prepping your dock for winter.
To schedule an appointment for dock winterization in Knoxville, Fort Loudoun Lake, Lenoir City, and the surrounding Tennessee River communities, call 865-588-0537 or request dock services online and get a free estimate.