Do you sit out on the dock?
That is, is the dock also used for socializing, sitting in chairs and watching the sunset? I am asking because the movement of the floating docks can be difficult for some people to handle. Larger segments will calm that down, but it’s still a factor.
If the majority of the characteristics you need are those you’d get from a fixed dock, I’d suggest that you solve the kayak entry issue via a ladder and secondary platform to the side of the dock. Perhaps a low level floating surface that you could pretty much just roll from the kayak onto.
Steepness
The “bank” is a cement sea wall, slanted slightly to deflect ice in the winter. The distance from the top of the wall to the highest water level is about 4 feet.
Don’t sit out on it
So a floating dock might work. I would have to figure out how to get from the top of the sea wall to the dock itself.
A floating dock
– Last Updated: Jan-11-11 9:12 AM EST –
No matter what the water level in the lake, the distance from the dock to your boat will be the same.
You could buy one, or make one yourself, using plastic 55 gallon drums underneath the wood structure. If you're interested, I can find you some designs.
mm. probably wouldn’t work then
I was thinking, a steep bank and some depth might facilitate placing some stratified stone (limestone?) in steps from the top of bank to the lake bottom. Permanent solution and maybe a bit more aesthetically pleasing.
Designs
Designs would be great if it is not too much trouble. Thanks.
docks
floating barrels on a dock tends to be grossly unstable and probably too high to allow easy entry to a kayak. The most reasonable floatation for a home built kayak dock uses styrofoam bilets, designed for docks, generally are 12"x 48" x 96". There are poly floats for docks that are very nice, but arn’t cheap, generally a couple hundred $ each. The foam blocks are much cheaper.
Bill H.
Looks like the free plans I downloaded
years ago aren’t free anymore. Here is a plan that is similar to what I made:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Floating-Dock-with-Barrels/
It would be hard to replicate
the paddling technique of this guy, but check out that deluxe dock!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvQCoX6bXHk&NR=1
Indeed a deluxe dock
They are super expensive and one regular dock section weighs 290 pounds! But I like the knees up technique. 
We didn’t have any of those problems
– Last Updated: Jan-14-11 4:35 PM EST –
with the floating dock my teammates and I built in college. It was a joint effort between the rowing team and the sailing team, and the dock served the dual purpose very well, was very stable. As far as height goes, you think a kayak sits low in the water, try a rowing shell. Yet our dock worked fine.
We used HDPE (plastic) 55 gallon barrels, used, that had originally held vegetable oil, which we picked up for a song. WAY more environmentally friendly and more durable than styrofoam billets, which will degrade from exposure to UV light, ambient ozone, chronic exposure to even small concentrations of fuel in the water if you're anywhere near a marina or ever plan to use an outboard from your dock, and mechanical wear.
You can adjust the floating height of the dock by adding ballast to the barrels through their bungs.
We Use Jet Dock
Jet Dock floats are used along the Hudson River in a number of spots, including the two parks where our kayak shops are located. They work well for kayaks if you flood the outer cubes, so the slot is low enough to the water so you can run up the float for landing. We have ropes rigged to pull yourself the last couple of feet, in case you don’t hit the float with enough speed.
Jet Dock is expensive, and not so easy to get out of the water if your float is very big. The park at Norrie just freezes the dock in for the winter, without harm.
Alan
Atlantic Kayak Tours
DOCKS TO BUY
Check out the whole line of kayak docks, that were built specifically for kayaks - which sit only 7 inches off the water line, at Accudock’s website:http://www.accudock.com/kayaks-docks.html
Only company I know of that made something specifically for kayaks, and can make the height of the dock - whatever you want it.
oh my…
Watching that vid actually made me sad.
flotation for a wooden dock
In some places (I don’t know about central Michigan), it is illegal to use certain objects for the flotation under a floating dock. Foam blocks will disintegrate into the water over time. Air-filled plastic tanks can get punctured (in NYC we have lots of sharp stuff poking up from the bottom of the river). Some plastic tanks will leach toxins into the water. In NYC, we are required to use foam-filled plastic tanks, and only certain kinds of plastic.
Unrelated point: I have used the modular docks (flexible plastic cubes that bolt together in the shape of your choice). They are a cool concept, but they wobble a lot in response to waves and in response to the weight shift of a person moving around. I would deploy them only for people with good balance.
As for getting down to the float, there are several companies that make ramps specifically for floating docks. Google a bit. They make floating docks, too, of course. Aluminum or wood. There are various issues like where the ramp hits the dock at low and high water and whether the ramp is heavy enough to require more flotation under the dock. Details are on the websites.
Finally, geese and ducks love floating docks. Be prepared for a disgusting dock, or have a hose or other system for washing the dock off.
Mark
iROCKER INFLATABLE DOCK
When it comes to water toys, this changes the game. And trust us, we know water toys.
Fish off the side, bask in the heat, yoga under sunsets, or use the inflatable dock as a large swimming pier in the middle of the lake.
iROCKER
Pay for your advertising.Spam. And its useless to fish off of.
What size floater do you want?
Ancient thread. I think an EZ Dock low profile section with four pipe brackets will EZly run $2k without a ramp.
Cheaper to build