The 268-slip renovation, undertaken by contractor Bruce Lunde of Skipper Marine Development, replaced 40-year-old fixed piers with a rustproof ShoreMaster aluminium dock system constructed with 12in and 16in trusses, a pressure treated deck and polyethylene-encased flotation units. A floating dock system was selected as Lake Michigan’s water levels vary as much as six feet from year to year.

As winters on the lake are harsh, the pontoon anchoring system was designed not only to accommodate the water’s ebb and flow but also to protect the installation from ice damage. According to ShoreMaster, when the lake freezes, ice can lift fixed piles and destabilize the dock. The pontoons were, therefore, anchored using sunken piles and chains. Lunde described the method as “a sophisticated but easy-to-operate system that allows docks to be self-adjusting as environmental conditions change.”

As McKinnley is a public marina, access was a priority in the design of its renovation, which includes a lakeside walkway for non-boaters. To ensure accessibility for all, ShoreMaster designed the dock system, including a 60ft bridge, to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).