DAVE W. STURGEON BAY, WI
Hi Jerry,
Enclosed is payment for the pier haul out this fall ….. They (the crew) did an excellent job under difficult conditions.
Will call you next spring for re-installation.
Dave W.
Does High Water require the 3-Season Pier?
Does High Water require the 3-Season Pier?
High water over the dock
High water continued again in 2020 and many people looked for a stronger, more durable pier for 2021.
After 2 years of design improvements, the 3-Season Pier was introduced in 2020. It was a hit and sold out quickly.
Looking for a new pier?
In the early part of the 2020 boating season, the number of washed-out docks increased substantially. Storms raged throughout the boating season.
There are many brands of docks on the “Bay”. Every brand was represented in the list of docks & piers damaged or destroyed this year. That is, except the 3-season pier. It also withstood the Lake Michigan turbulent waters.
High water and debris
During 2020, many people saw floating debris during and after the storms. The debris moved along the shoreline. In some cases, uprooted trees and logs were responsible for taking out docks and lifts. The debris continued to move long distances before it finally settled on the shore again.
Now, we don’t represent that a 3-Season Pier will completely stop damage like that. But there is a much better chance of a 1/4 ton pier (per section) with 2″ galvanized steel legs (2-3/8″ O.D.) withstanding the force of the waves. Compare that to the 1-1/2″ leg (1-7/8″ O.D.) used on lesser, lighter docks.
Why did high water prompt a new design?
Over the years, PWS realized that having strong steel legs was not enough for the current situation. We watched helplessly as the waves lifted the dock sections. When the dock section came down, they seldom came down evenly or level.
As waves battered the bottom of the pier, it twisted the dock frames and caused the legs to bend sideways as the dock comes down.
Once the legs bent, the entire structure was subject to rolling over. There had to be a way to reduce the pressure on the docks.
We quickly realized that solid decking was our worst enemy. With solid decking bolted to the frames, the full force of the waves had to be absorbed by the dock.
After research, we found that a deck that allows the water to flow through the decking was the best possible answer. We quickly introduced the ShoreMaster Glacier™ flow-through, open decking on our aluminum piers.
Sunwalk Decking
High water requires Sunwalk Decking™
When the galvanized steel, 3-Season Pier, was introduced, it included Sunwalk™ decking. After securing the decking to the frames with stainless steel screws, the 45% open area allowed most of the energy of the water to flow through the deck harmlessly.
Combining the 1/4 ton weight per 20′ section with a 45% open decking, and you have a winning combination.
Higher Water needed Longer Ramps too!
However, we did not stop there. We also realized that the piers had to be set high to reduce the number of times the waves could hit the decking. This created a problem. The short ramps going to the pier were too steep for people to comfortably walk up.
We designed a 20′ long ramp, thus making a gentle approach to the pier. The shore end includes built-in leg pockets to raise the ramp off the beach. These added legs allow any waves that get to the end to pass harmlessly under the frames.
When should I start looking for a new pier?
Now is an excellent time to research the features of the 3-Season pier and place a preseason order. It’ll be ready when you are in Spring. Don’t forget, we can take trades, too.
The exclusive 3-Season Pier is available only at Pier & Waterfront Solutions.
Conclusion
PWS has the best solution for your 2021 dock.
Call Jerry at Pier & Waterfront Solutions (920-493-4404) for more information.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Located at 7325 St. Hwy 57, it’s 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay and 1 mile past the intersection of Cty MM (heading north). Look on the right at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
ARE WE OPEN?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open.”
We have implemented measures to ensure the safety of our employees and visitors. At the same time, we are working to maintain the trusted service you expect.
Please use face masks
Because the virus has increased its spread, PWS is conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When in-person contacts are necessary, we follow “social distancing” guidelines as closely as possible.
Display yard – OPEN
Our display yard is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. If you want more information or pricing, please reference that number when you call.
We provide estimates and quotes by email to make the process paperless, faster, and safer. Everyone should feel safe with these measures. Let’s get back to normal operations quickly.
What can YOU do?
Please conduct as much business as possible via emails, messaging, and phone. When you see our crews on-site, please practice “social distancing.”
Call, message, or email us with any questions.
Thank you for allowing us to work with you safely.
Let’s all stay safe!
Thrilled with the job – Door County
Thanks Jerry. We’re thrilled with the job that your team did! Tony was great to work with….
Go Pack Go!
Kay J
Response – Thank you. We appreciate your comments and look forward to next year.
Hydraulic Boat Lift – UPDATED
Hydraulic Boat Lifts – Updated
Hydraulic boat lifts have shown improvements in getting rid of the complexity of a standard cable lift. Today’s hydraulic lifts do not require a pendant to cycle. Push the button on your wireless remote, and the unit will do the rest. (like a garage door opener).
Hydraulic Boat Lift
Simplicity – New technology allows Hydraulic boat lifts to get rid of all the cables and pulley problems. There are no cables to jam or break. You can not wind or unwind too far in either direction. There is NO possibility of whiplash in the cables because there aren’t any.
The Hydraulic boat lift has a straightforward design. It does not rely on cables, pulleys, or screws to raise or lower your boat like other products.
Quiet Operation – Today’s Hydraulic technology operates without the old “rattle and clank” that many boat lift brands produce during operation.
The simple “hum” of a hydraulic pump in operation is quiet and more pleasing than the mechanical rattle of a winch gear at work.
Update – Using the latest technology, ShoreMaster now offers the Whisper Winch 2. This latest winch does not have any clanking sounds, and the cables wind smoothly and evenly.
Faster Speeds – Prior to hydraulic technology, boat lift owners only had two ways to power their lift:
- By hand or
- By attaching a motor to the lift winch
While the latter may have improved operational convenience, it didn’t improve the boat lift’s simplicity. Rarely would it produce speeds faster than a hydraulic boat lift provides. Hydraulic boat lifts are fast while remaining quiet and incredibly simple.
Hydraulic Boat Lift features
Lifting Heights – ShoreMaster – 48″ – 60″ lifting height
Sunstream – 48″ – 72″ lifting height
Lifting Capacities – Up to 32,000#
A Partial step
Some brands have come out with a Hydraulic boat lift that still utilizes cables & pulleys as a partial measure. While they solved one problem (quiet operation), they still use cables and pulleys.
The ShoreMaster hydraulic boat lift is simple, quiet, fast, and uses NO cables or pulleys.
These three words sum up everything that a hydraulic boat lift should be
Simple, quiet, and fast.
For more information and what works best for your area, contact Jerry @ (920) 493-4404 – TODAY – or – fill out this simple quote request form.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Located at 7325 St. Hwy 57, it’s 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay and 1 mile past the intersection of Cty MM (heading north). Look on the right at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
ARE WE OPEN?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open.”
We have implemented measures to ensure the safety of our employees and visitors. At the same time, we are working to maintain the trusted service you expect.
Please use face masks
Because the virus has increased its spread, PWS is conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When in-person contacts are necessary, we follow “social distancing” guidelines as closely as possible.
Our display yard is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays have a numbered, red tag on them. If you want more information or pricing, please reference that number when you call.
We provide estimates and quotes by email to make the process paperless, faster, and safer. We hope everyone will stay safe with these measures, and we will be back to normal operations soon.
What can YOU do?
Please conduct as much business as possible via emails, messaging, and emails. When you see our crews on-site, please practice “social distancing.”
Call, message, or email us with any questions.
Thank you for allowing us to work with you safely.
Let’s all stay safe!
Steel or Aluminum Docks – Is Steel your best choice?
Steel or Aluminum Docks – Is Steel your best choice?
Aluminum ShoreMaster Dock
Pier & Waterfront Solutions has strongly recommended aluminum docks from ShoreMaster for years.
Today, the rising waters and intense storm activity has forced us to re-examine our customer needs.
What was the result?
If you’re in a protected or semi-protected area, we still recommend aluminum docks from ShoreMaster. These are the strongest aluminum docks on the market. When combined with their Flow-Thru decking, you have a winning combination for most needs.
But what if you aren’t in a protected area? Is steel a better choice?
Steel 3-Season Pier
The high waters have changed the environment in the last several years. For Lake Michigan and Green Bay customers, we saw a need to develop a new version of a dock. In March 2020, we announced the latest innovation from Pier & Waterfront Solutions – the steel 3-Seasons Pier.
When did this come about?
Initially developed in 2017 and 2018, the first docks were built and tested in 2019. In 2020, we put the 3-Season Pier in our sales area, where it quickly sold out.
Imagine having the most massive steel dock in the state to withstand the waves. Now, combine that with SunWalk decking, and you have another winning combination.
What else is different about the Steel 3-Season Pier?
It comes with 20-foot ramps – not the typical eight or 10-foot ramps you are accustomed to. Why is this important? A 20-foot ramp means you have a gentle rise up to the dock, and you don’t have to get a running head start to get there. It’s easier for young and old to access the pier.
Anything else?
Instead of having a mere 4′ x 8′ (32 square foot) “L” section to socialize on, you have a 4′ x 10′ (40 square foot) “L” section. The kids will no longer trip over your feet as they run around.
There’s 25% more room to sit or socialize on. The massive “L” section will also get you away from the boat lift area and the supplies you want to load.
What’s important when deciding what material to use?
When deciding on the type of material to use on your dock, it is essential to use strong materials that will last season after season.
Even the legs are massive. They measure 2-3/8″ outside diameter versus the next closest one 1-7/8″.
You can follow this link 3-Seasons Pier for the technical details of why it’s the strongest and best dock for you.
Aluminum Docks
Aluminum docks have always been popular due to their low maintenance and durability. Some people choose to install and remove their piers themselves, and the lighter weight helps.
Aluminum Dock Pros:
- Low Maintenance & Durability – Aluminum frames do not rust.
- Light-weight – Aluminum docks are easier to install.
Cons:
- More expensive – The biggest drawback for aluminum docks is that it can be more costly than it’s steel counterpart.
Steel Docks
Steel docks are popular because of their cost efficiencies and superior strength,
Pros:
- Strength: For heavily used piers, steel will be the best option for its strength, which will withstand constant use.
- Galvanized steel: At Pier & Waterfront Solutions, we use galvanized steel to prevent rusting.
Cons:
- Heavier weight: While the dock is known for its superior strength, the weight can also prevent buoyancy issues.
Ready to learn more?
At Pier & Waterfront Solutions, we provide a free site survey to determine the best material and design for your next dock.
Contact Jerry today to get started!
Call 920-493-4404 or email Jerry@wisconsinpws.com
Where are we located?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions (PWS) specializes in ShoreMaster aluminum docks and now the 3-Seasons
Pier by PWS. We are located in the center of Door County at 7325 St Hwy 57 south Sturgeon Bay at the intersection of Idlewild Road. Our staff looks forward to serving all of your waterfront needs.
