Hardware that Works Together

Why is it important to have high quality hardware?

Alumi-Span is your one-stop-shop for boat dock hardware. Everything is made to work with each other, so your installation experience is seamless.

Complete Hardware Kits

Each hardware component comes with all the necessary parts for a seamless installation. Whether you're installing a ladder, securing a dock post, or assembling a complete dock system, we provide everything you need in one package. This eliminates the hassle of sourcing additional hardware and ensures compatibility across all components.

Comprehensive Range of Products

Alumi-Span offers a diverse selection of hardware to meet various dock requirements. Our product line includes:

• Ladder Mounting Kits: Designed for the secure and stable attachment of dock ladders.
• Diagonal Assemblies: Make any 2” pole into a diagonal brace to stabilize your dock.
• Bumper and Corner Pins: Used to secure dock end bumpers, side bumpers, and corners to dock sections.
• Replacement Hardware: Replacement hardware for any parts is available in bolt, nut, and washer sets

Read more in our latest article.

Why Choose Alumi-Span Boat Dock Parts?

Alumi-Span boat dock parts are more than just a collection of nuts and bolts—they’re a commitment to quality and reliability. Whether you're setting up a new dock or upgrading an existing one, Alumi-Span's hardware is a dependable choice.

If you have questions about our products, or if you’re ready to place an order, call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form here.

High-Quality Dock Hardware

Is all boat dock hardware the same?

The answer is no! When it comes to building or maintaining a dock, choosing the right hardware is just as important choosing the right sections. Alumi-Span offers a wide range of hardware options, all designed to make dock installation and maintenance straightforward and efficient.

Corrosion-Resistant Components

Alumi-Span’s hardware is built to last, even in the harshest conditions. All nuts, bolts, and fittings are hot-dipped galvanized, providing superior protection against corrosion caused by water and weather exposure. This galvanization process ensures that the hardware remains strong and reliable, giving you peace of mind for years to come.

Simplified Installation with Uniform Bolts

All our bolts are standardized to the same size, meaning you only need one wrench to handle your entire dock assembly. This not only saves time, but also reduces the need for carrying multiple tools, which makes the building process run smoother.

Read more in our latest article.

Why Choose Alumi-Span Boat Dock Parts?

Alumi-Span boat dock parts are more than just a collection of nuts and bolts—they’re a commitment to quality and reliability. Whether you're setting up a new dock or upgrading an existing one, Alumi-Span's hardware is a dependable choice.

If you have questions about our products, or if you’re ready to place an order, call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form here.

Intro to Uprights

When you build a boat dock, how do you use uprights?

Uprights, or dock posts, provide vertical stability and anchor the dock to the lakebed. Their functions include:

1. Height Adjustment. Uprights allow docks to be leveled according to water depth and seasonal changes. Docks with adjustable legs simplify installation and removal.
2. Foundation Anchoring. Depending on the lakebed conditions, uprights may use bottom plates, augers, or other stabilizing bases to remain secure. Alumi-Span’s permanent augers and Big Foot systems ensure stability even in soft or mucky lakebeds.
3. Load-Bearing. Uprights support the entire dock, including the dock platform itself, accessories, and any weight applied during use.

Learn more in our latest article.

Shop Michigan-Made Dock Posts (and Much More)

Alumi-Span is your one-stop-shop for all the boat dock parts you’ll need. No need for you to worry about scouring different websites to find quality dock parts and hardware. To place an order or ask a question, call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form here. We can’t wait to help you design your boat dock! 

Intro to Crossarms

When you build a boat dock, how do you use crossarms?

Crossarms serve as horizontal support beams that span between upright dock posts. They are essential for:

1. Distributing Weight Evenly. Crossarms connect the uprights and help distribute the dock's weight. This ensures stability, especially under heavy weight.
2. Structural Integrity. By linking the uprights, crossarms reduce lateral (side-to-side) movement caused by water currents or wind.
3. Customization. Crossarms make it easier to build custom docks, allowing configurations like straight piers, "L"-shaped docks, or even platforms. For example, Alumi-Span offers crossarms in various sizes to match different dock designs and applications.

Learn more in our latest article.

Shop Michigan-Made Dock Posts (and Much More)

Alumi-Span is your one-stop-shop for all the boat dock parts you’ll need. No need for you to worry about scouring different websites to find quality dock parts and hardware. To place an order or ask a question, call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form here. We can’t wait to help you design your boat dock!

Augers and Permanent Bases

Do you know if your dock needs an auger or permanent base?

Following our previous blog, here are two more pieces of hardware that can help keep your dock stable:

Augers: Augers screw down into the ground and are ideal when the dock needs to be anchored. This can be because a boat is being tied directly to the dock, it is a shorter dock, or the dock stays in all year round. Often a combination of augers and bottom plates can be used to keep installation easier or both can be used in milder muck situations. Read our previous blog for more info on bottom plates.

Permanent Dock Base: Alumi-Span’s Perma-Auger is a great way to get an augered dock base, without the work each year. Designed to stay under the ice line year-round, these are installed one time. Regular 2”OD uprights simply drop into them. A large vinyl funnel makes it easy to put in the post even if visibility is restricted. They should not be installed in areas so shallow that the ice can freeze around the unit. Leave 6-10 inches of pole sticking out of the lake bottom to avoid sand getting in the tube.

Read more in our latest article.

Shop Boat Dock Parts and More!

No matter your lake bottom conditions, Alumi-Span has a solution for you! Call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form to get our advice on what boat dock parts would work best for you!

Bottom Plates

Do you know what type of bottom plate you need to keep your dock stable?

Here are three types of bottom plates offered by Alumi-Span:

• Standard Bottom Plates: The standard bottom plate is great for solid, sandy lake bottoms on docks over thirty feet long. This 6”x6” plate fits around both a 2” OD pole or a 1.9” pole. The advantage to using bottom plates is you can leave your entire leg set together when taking the dock out each year.This not only makes installation easier, but it also minimizes levelling of the dock from year to year. These plates can also be moved up the pole a bit for milder muck situations.
• Large Bottom Plates: The large bottom plate provides added support and is used for a variety of reasons. These 12”x12” plates are ideal for supporting party platforms. They not only add stability, but they make installation of a platform easier as well. This is because they allow the truss to stand on its own in the water as sections are added to it. These larger plates are also helpful when muck is an issue (up to a foot and a half of muck). The plate can be run up the pole, so that the leg set can be jammed into the muck and still have something stable on which to rest.
• Bottom Plates and Treated Boards: For more extreme muck conditions (over a foot and a half), a treated piece of plywood with a hole in the middle can be used in combination with a standard bottom plate. The upright poles of the leg set go through the board, while the bottom plate rests on top of it. The board creates a stable surface on which your dock can rest. It also gives you something to stand on while doing the install.

Read more in our latest article.

Shop Boat Dock Parts and More!

No matter your lake bottom conditions, Alumi-Span has a solution for you! Call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form to get our advice on what boat dock parts would work best for you!

Maintenance-Free Vinyl Decking

Do you think there’s only one type of maintenance-free decking?

Alumi-Span not only offers anodized aluminum decking, but also extruded vinyl!

Alumi-Span’s vinyl decking is a true extruded vinyl, not the injection-molded plastic that some systems call vinyl. Injection-molded products are not structurally strong on their own. Just look at this side-by-side! Injection-molded plastic needs to be reinforced substantially to make it usable, making for a very heavy dock section. 

Unlike injection-molded products, Alumi-Span’s extruded vinyl deck boards are an inch-and-a-half thick, with honeycombing reinforcement running throughout. The tread pattern on the vinyl boards runs in both directions, ensuring you have good traction even when the boards are wet. The vinyl decking also comes in three different colors: white, sand, and grey, allowing you to personalize the dock to your taste!  

Read more in this month’s article.

Need Tips for Installing a Dock in Michigan?

Alumi-Span has your back!

Whether you’re looking to install a brand-new dock or update your current one, you only have to stop at one place for all your materials! If you have questions about installing a boat dock in Michigan, or if you’re ready to order parts, call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form here.