height of the dock from water
 

Hi All,

We just moved to Gilford. I purchased a used aluminum dock and trying to install it. Is 2 ft from water level too high? I heard that it is better to install dock higher to avoid issues with choppy waters. Lake gets very choppy in our water front.

Also the footing of my dock is not high enough. (even i reduce the height from water. it wont be high enough). Any store in the area sells aluminum dock poles? Do you guys think i can use regular steel pipe for this?

Keep in mind that the lake is above full lake level. If you install your dock 2 feet above the level now, it will be very high as the lake recedes...and it will recede.
As far as the footing goes I know nothing!

My aluminum dock, if it were all installed as of today, would probably be about zero to 2" under the water. Most likely the water level will soon go down and it will be just a wee bit above the surface.

Is totally best to have a very low aluminum dock so the wakes and waves roll across the dock creating a natural harmoney with the lake ... plus it swings and sways .... all at the same time .... is a shaky-waky 1959 olde aluminum dock? ....... so what .... is also the best dock in the lake!

Watermark
 

Watermark on Union Ave in Laconia sells dock supplies.

Also across the street from Patrick's Restaurant in Gilford is a Dock place whose name escapes me.

Dave

Diversified Dock and Marine Supply

https://www.yellowpages.com/gilford-...?lid=482711308

I would suggest 6-12" now. As the lake level drops, you will gain another 12-18 inches depending on how wet the year continues to be.

Unfortunately, it's a bit of a craps-shoot guessing on future water level.

Examine your dock to see if it can be adjusted after installation. Pipe mountings do allow you to slip the decks up and down. Avoid doing more than a few inches at a time. A couple 2X4's with bolt holes an inch apart, and a cross piece, will allow you to make adjustments by levering sections up or dropping them down.

Good luck!

I think that might depend on whether the deck sections are buoyant. Waves could lift and dislodge wood sections.

Two feet is was too high for most boats, especially as water level goes down. For my permanent dock, I have steps I can remove as water goes down. For pubic docks, many carry a step on board to compensate for water level. (I board over the side gunwale. Many newer boats board over the transom/swim platform. Awkward for some of my family members.
Do what works for you most times. You'll settle on something as soon as you decide you don't want to adjust dock height every few weeks.

Our main dock is about 4" above the H2O today, was awash about 10 days ago. Our seasonal dock is fine, about 12" above the water today and has never gasped for air.

So I would say 10" above today's level. As per Kamper

A seasonal dock with sectioned decking should not be low in the water, waves will lift the decking which may float away.

Based on the lake level graph in the link you can expect the lake to be about 12 inches lower by mid September. I would put in a dock about 6 inches higher than current level.

https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/.../graph2019.jpg

Thanks all for the good advice. I reduced the height to 6 inches from water level and it looks beatiful.