May 11, 2021
Selecting the Correct Dock Lights
Lights for your dock and boat lift are essential for the security of your family and guests. Proper dock lights can prevent a serious accident.
Lighting also serves as a guide when you return to your pier at night.
PWS will help you select the proper lighting for your particular needs.
Here are some suggestions to enhance the security, safety, and appearance of your dock.
Are Solar-Powered Lights better than AC Lights?
Solar cells can control both systems. AC-powered lights can also operate with a timer. Solar lights turn on and off when the light level dims. You don’t have to be present, and they need no AC power to operate.
Solar-powered lights cost nothing to use and are safer to operate, with no risk of shock. They charge even when it’s cloudy.
Reminder: You don’t have to remove a solar powered lights if your dock requires removal each year. Solar lights are self-contained and have no exposed wires. Solar lighting does not need power boxes at the shore with safety circuits in the house.
To answer your question – YES – solar lighting is the preferred method.
Where can you mount dock lights?
The preferred location for dock lighting is on the deck surface or on the leg posts. The deck-mounted style mounts along the edge of the dock, where you are not likely to step on it. You have a choice:
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A hole placed in the decking with the lights placed almost flush with the deck surface.
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Lights can mount on the side of the dock.
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Mounted on the top of the decking at the edge of the pier. OR
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Mounted on the boat lift uprights.
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Surface Dock Light
Surface mounted Dot Lights
Use this link for more information.
What about post lights?
A post-mounted light fixture mounts on a leg post above the decking. This is a simple mounting, but the heights may vary depending on the water depths from year to year.
Post lights
For Visual Drama and Safety, Illuminate the Water’s Edge
Add a set of lights that shine into the water and reflect off the edges of the dock. This adds both visual impact and a second safety factor. The pier is more visible as you bring the boat into your lift.
Choose Colors that Help Identify Your Dock for Visitors
At night, it can be difficult to distinguish which dock is yours. This is especially true if you cannot see any of the landscaping or tree outlines. If neighboring piers use the same colored lights, it can be challenging to pick the correct one.
Consider adding red and green lights at the end of your dock to help you steer your boat to the correct side at night. You can use any available color scheme at the end.
Light for Safety When Leaving the Dock Area
Place a light on a high pole or tree, shining down at the entrance to your path or stairway. This will provide visibility at the entrance to your dock. Avoid lights that cast a bright light in a wide pattern. Let your guests and neighbors sleep.
Think safety first, visual drama second.
Who can help you make your selections? Pier & Waterfront Solutions!!!
Where can I find Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County MM (heading north). Look on the right at the next corner – Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
The Covid-19 virus continues to spread and affects many people. We are conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
Red Tag
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
PWS provides estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email Jerry with any questions.
Jerry Englebert
Contact Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
Apr 13, 2021
What is the BEST hydraulic boat lift for Green Bay & Lake Michigan?
Want the BEST hydraulic boat lift for Green Bay waters? Look no further than the latest addition to Pier & Waterfront Solutions premier lines. PWS now features Sunstream SunLift™ hydraulic lifts.
Pier & Waterfront Solutions recently diversified the selection of hydraulic lifts. You now have a choice of hydraulic lifts with capacities up to 30,000 lbs. and lifting heights to 6′-6″.
What does this mean for you?
Want the fastest, free-standing hydraulic lift with the greatest lifting height and smoothest operation? Check out Sunstream SunLift.™
Sunstream SunLift Hydraulic boat lift
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the three most popular brands:
HYDRAULIC BOAT LIFTS
Sunstream ShoreMaster Shorestation
Capacity – 2,000 – 30,000# 4,000–12,500# 2,000–15,000 #
Lifting Height – 36″- 78″ 36″– 60″ 70″
Min. Depth* – 12″ 12″ 14″-21″
Wireless Remote – Y Y Y
Inside Width – > Boat width 108” – 132” 108” – 144”
Cables Used? NO NO YES
*Plus the draft of the boat
Ease of operation
Today you can use your boat as easily as you use your car. Get out on the water more often, and have more fun.
Sunstream has wireless remote controls and optional motor-stop and guide-on systems. These features make operating and docking easy even for a new skipper. There are NO Cables Used.
Sunstream pioneered the hydraulic, free-standing boat lift revolution. They continue to advance the technology and is known for reliability, durability, and safe design.
Sunstream SunLift™ has been proven with years of service in salt and freshwater environments. Sunstream has a wide range of accessories to optimizes the lift for your specific needs.
We’ll have more details in the coming weeks.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. Go 1 mile PAST the intersection with County road MM (heading north). Look on the right at the next corner – Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
Is PWS OPEN?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
Please use face masks
The Covid virus continues to spread and affects many people. Don’t be one of them.
PWS is conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines when possible.
PWS display yard – OPEN 24-7
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
Red Tag
PWS will provide estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email us today with any questions.
Call Jerry at 920-493-4404 for more information or use this link.
Feb 9, 2021
Gray Dock Decking – Absolutely Stunning Docks
Decorators across the country have embraced gray as the hottest color for your home. Throw pillows, wall colors, furniture, and more now use gray as the primary color.
Thanks to ShoreMaster & Pier & Waterfront Solutions, you can have this stunning color on your dock too!
Gray Decking
In the 2020 season, PWS introduced gray options as a custom color for our decking.
Today, gray is no longer a custom color for us. PWS stocks gray Glacier flow-through decking along with the ever popular – tan decking.
PWS also offers gray dock furniture options and benches.
Isn’t Gray decking a sad color?
On the surface, gray may seem like a somber color. Homeowners (and dock owners) love gray as it plays so well with the surrounding colors.
Gray offers a neutral color palette that highlights other colors very well. It is especially true of all the colors present at the lake. Think of the canopy, the landscaping, blue skies, and the water.
Gray also goes GREAT with blues – especially ShoreMaster & PWS blue.
One of PWS‘s most significant advantages in the dock market has always been the number of color options we provide. This new color choice presents yet another opportunity for dock owners.
If you haven’t had a chance yet to check the new gray options, check out the color offered at PWS. Please stop in to ask about our new gray options.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is located 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay. It’s 1 mile PAST the intersection with County road MM (heading north). Look on the right at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
ARE WE OPEN?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
Please use face masks.
The virus continues to spread. PWS is conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines whenever possible.
Our display yard is OPEN 24-7
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
Red Tag
PWS will provide estimates by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email us with any questions.
Thank you for allowing us to work with you.
Jan 26, 2021
How to Get Rid of Algae on Your Dock
An Algae free dock or pier is vital for a beautiful waterfront, not to mention safer for you and your family. Piers are a great place to entertain your guests. Did you ever notice your guests soon find their way down to the pier? Your guests can’t resist the water.
Typical Plank decking
Algae buildup on your boat lift, decking, and accessories is unattractive and slippery.
One of the biggest appeals of a dock or pier for many boaters is getting away from day-to-day life. We all want to enjoy and connect with nature.
That could be as simple as taking in the scenery, fishing, or watching wildlife.
It’s also the reason everyone must do what we can to keep the waterways healthy. That way, we can all enjoy nature’s beauty for years to come.
It’s essential to clean algae when you see it. It’s even more critical to prevent it from growing in the first place.
First, it’s essential to understand how mold and mildew form in the first place. To do that, we recommend that you follow this link:
https://wisconsinpws.com/cleaning-wood-decking/
Dealing with algae, mold, or mildew doesn’t mean investing in expensive solutions.
Removing moisture and the “food sources” mentioned in the article, go a long way to cut mold and mildew.
With these three tips, you can do it yourself.
Invest in the Right Dock
No dock will be immune to algae growth. Anything exposed to water will be affected by algae. But, aluminum boat lifts and docks can help cut algae growth. Aluminum is better at resisting algae growth than other materials like wood. Additionally, aluminum is easy to clean.
Choose Safe Products
When cleaning your dock and boat lift, use a non-corrosive cleaning solution. Cleaning can be as simple as using baking soda or a few drops of water-based dishwashing liquid. You already have these in your home.
The EPA’s Sager Choice Standard can help determine which products are best to use. Unfortunately, only a government bureaucrat can understand the standard without rolling their eyes. The government does not endorse products by name, so you have to make the judgment yourself.
Pick something:
Biodegradable:
Phosphate-free:
Having a neutral PH: and
Rub the surface of your dock and lift down
with a soft cleaning pad or brush.
When done, rinse with clear water or blast the dock surface with a pressure washer.
KNOW WHAT TO AVOID
Some cleaning products have environmental and health risks. Thus, it’s essential to watch what you put in the water. Ordinary household cleaners will increase nutrient pollution in lakes and streams. The result is algae blooms and oxygen depletion, which hurt the water and wildlife. In general, you should avoid any cleaning products that contain these hazardous ingredients:
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- Antibacterials and disinfectants
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- Butyl glycol, ethylene glycol, or monobutyl
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- Phosphorous and phosphates
Major pollutant
Proper Fueling
Carefully refueling a boat keeps oil and gas out of the waterways. It’s illegal to discharge petroleum products into United States waters.
It’s against the law to use chemicals to disperse a spill. Dispersants cause the petroleum to sink to the bottom. It then permanently damages the bottom sediments.
Sewage Treatment
We know no one wants to think about sewage, but it’s an essential part of human and waterway health and safety.
It’s also illegal to discharge untreated wastewater on inland waters.
Use onshore facilities whenever you can. Dispose of human waste in:
1. Porta-potties:
2. Composting heads, or
3. An installed toilet with a required
marine sanitation device.
Waste Management
For all other waste, recycle what you can and properly dispose of what you can’t.
Recycling materials like plastics, paper, metal, and glass keep them out of landfills and off our beaches.
We now know that plastics in the water are a significant pollutant. Plastics are already affecting the waters of the Great Lakes.
Dispose of all waste materials properly. Make sure nothing goes overboard, including cigarette butts. Provide waste and recycling containers on your boat and piers.
Keep everything tied down when you’re moving on the water or the highway. Participating in a cleanup event accessible only by a boat can also be a rewarding day to protect the water.
Walking your shoreline and picking up these materials can help the environment.
Boat Maintenance and Cleaning
Prepare a comprehensive boat maintenance checklist. Changing engine oil and checking your fluid levels keep your boat running smoothly. This, in turn, makes it less likely to pollute.
Check for leaks from steering cables, drips from your oil changes, or fuel from leaky fittings. All these contaminants can find their way into the bilge.
Change engine oil and other fluids carefully. Dispose of used filters, oil, absorbent pads, and rags properly.
Keep your boat clean, and avoid soaps and harsh cleaners. Save heavy-duty pressure washing for designated wash-down areas at boat launches.
Yes, keeping the environment clean involves some work.
Your property is expensive because it’s on the water. Why let waste products deteriorate the value of your property. A little work goes a long way toward keeping the water beautiful for future generations.
ShoreMaster and PWS have been here for years, and we plan on being here for many more. We want you to enjoy everything nature has to offer. Let’s all work towards the same goal – a clean environment.
Where is Pier & Waterfront Solutions?
PWS, 7325 St. Hwy 57, is 3 miles south of Sturgeon Bay and 1 mile PAST, County road MM’s intersection (heading north). Look on the right at the intersection of Idlewild Road and Hwy 57.
ARE WE OPEN?
Pier & Waterfront Solutions remains “open” year-round.
Please use face masks
The virus continues to spread. PWS is conducting as much business as possible by email, text, or phone.
Site visits continue as usual. When making in-person contacts, we follow “social distancing” guidelines whenever possible.
Our display yard is OPEN 24-7
Red Tag
PWS‘s display area is always open for you to examine at your leisure. All displays available for sale have a numbered, red tag on them. Want more information on something you saw in our yard? Please reference that number when you inquire.
PWS provides estimates and quotes by email to make the process faster, safer, and paperless.
Call, message, or email us with any questions.
Thank you for allowing us to work with you safely.
Let’s all stay safe!
