December 12, 2024

Written by ShoreMaster Marketing

Personal Watercraft Dock Maintenance Tips to Avoid Spring Surprises

As the riding season draws to a close, most owners focus on winterizing their personal watercraft (PWC). This can make it easy to overlook the importance of preparing PWC docks for the unique challenges of winter. Below, we offer essential tips for maintaining PWC docks over the offseason so you can enjoy a hassle-free transition into the adventures of the warmer months. 

Why Winter Maintenance Matters for Personal Watercraft Docks

While the best PWC docking platforms are built to endure tough marine environments, winter can bring challenging conditions that can stress even the most durable structures. When water freezes, it expands by about 9% (IAPWS, n.d.). This expansion and subsequent contraction can strain structures and materials, causing them to crack or warp.  

Moreover, shifting ice and debris caused by fluctuating water levels or currents can grind against dock components, weakening connections and damaging surfaces over time. Combined with the corrosive effects of increased moisture and prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures, these forces can significantly reduce the lifespan of PWC platforms if left unaddressed. High winds, heavy rains, and snowfall buildup can stress PWC docks and their components even without extreme freezing conditions.

Without proper preparation, these elements can cause floats to lose buoyancy, connectors to corrode, and structural components to weaken, ultimately jeopardizing the safety and performance of these docking solutions. This is why we always recommend removing floating PWC docks from the water in regions that experience harsh winters and storing them in a dry, climate-controlled area. 

Key Areas to Inspect on Your Personal Watercraft Dock

Whether you plan to leave your dock in the water or remove it for off-season storage, a thorough inspection is the first step in preparing your PWC dock for winter. 

Focus on the following critical areas:

• Floats: Check for cracks, punctures, or signs of water infiltration in the floating structure. Even tiny cracks can worsen during winter, especially when exposed to freezing temperatures.
• Connectors and Joints: Inspect bolts, hinges, and joints for signs of rust or corrosion, and spray all metal components with an anti-corrosion solution to provide additional protection against winter’s increased moisture. If you’re leaving the dock in the water, ensure all bolts and screws are tightened. 
• Anchoring System: Examine anchor points and lines for signs of wear. Secure anchoring is essential for stability during winter storms or ice movement. 

Check other hardware and dock accessories, such as cleats and bumpers, and replace any components that show signs of wear to ensure safety and stability. Ordering parts and performing repairs during the winter reduces the stress of last-minute fixes and rush orders during the peak season.

Essential Maintenance Tips for Personal Watercraft Floating Dock

Industry-leading solutions like the ShorePort jet ski dock are designed to protect PWCs year-round, even in less-than-ideal conditions. However, there are still essential maintenance practices you must observe to ensure they remain in optimal condition.

• Regular Cleaning: Always remove debris and rinse the dock with fresh water and a mild soap solution to remove dirt, marine growth, or salt buildup, whether during peak season or before winter storage. Use a soft-bristled brush for scrubbing stubborn dirt and stains, and avoid harsh chemicals that could harm the dock materials and the ecosystem.
• Periodic Inspections: Inspect the PWC dock for cracks, warps, or punctures every month or so and check for loose or corroded hardware. Pay special attention to high-stress areas that can wear with continuous use, including roller supports, connectors, and mooring points.  

If you must leave the dock in the water during winter, cover the dock after applying a marine-grade lubricant to metal hardware and other moving parts to mitigate freezing damage, moisture buildup, rust, and corrosion. In regions with harsh winters, consider installing bubblers or de-icers to prevent ice from encasing the dock and causing structural damage.

Proper Storage Solutions for Personal Watercraft Docking Stations

In a perfect world, everyone would have a sheltered, climate-controlled space for storing their PWC platforms. For those who don’t have that luxury, here are some options and their pros and cons:

• Garage/Driveway: This is the most cost-effective option for storing PWC docks. However, it can clutter and cramp your space. In some residential areas, storing PWCs and other vessels may also be subject to HOA regulations. 
• Trailer Storage: Storing your PWC docking station on a trailer gives you the option of parking it at home or in a designated storage lot. However, trailers parked outdoors don’t provide adequate protection against the elements and can be vulnerable to vandalism and theft.  
• Storage Units: Renting a climate-controlled storage unit provides the best protection against winter conditions and security from theft or vandalism. However, renting these spaces often comes at a premium. On top of this, the effort required to transport the dock to and from your waterfront can be cumbersome and time-consuming. 

As you can imagine, each storage option has its tradeoffs, so the most effective solution will be aligned with your specific situation and budget. 

Getting Your Personal Watercraft Dock Ready for Spring Use

When winter ends, a few proactive steps can prime your jet ski dock for action. Here’s a quick checklist to help guide your spring preparation:

• Inspection: Examine all dock components for signs of wear or damage sustained during winter and address any issues immediately so you can spring back to action when warmer days return. 
• Cleaning: Rinse the dock to remove any dirt or debris buildup and reapply protective coatings as recommended by the manufacturer. Avoid using a pressure washer, as this can damage the dock materials (Discover Boating, n.d.).   
• Assembly: Reinstall roller supports, bumpers, cleats, and other hardware, ensuring everything functions properly.

Finally, perform a safety check to test the buoyancy and stability of the PWC lift and check all moving parts and connectors before use to confirm it’s functioning safely. 

At ShoreMaster, we offer drive on PWC docks and aluminum vertical lifts designed to make storing and launching jet skis and other personal watercraft as quick and easy as possible. Built with premium materials and innovative construction techniques, our docking solutions require minimal maintenance, even in challenging marine conditions. Contact us today to learn more about the best protection for PWCs and to find authorized ShoreMaster dealers near you.   

References:

• The International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (n.d.). Why does water expand when it freezes? Why does liquid water have a density maximum? Retrieved from https://www.iapws.org/faq1/freeze.html?form=MG0AV3 

Discover Boating (n.d.). The Top 6 Boat Dock Maintenance Tips. Retrieved from https://www.discoverboating.com/resources/the-top-6-boat-dock-maintenance-tips