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.

Intro to Vinyl Deck Boards

Are you looking for maintenance-free decking?

Not only are Alumi-Span’s vinyl deck boards stronger than most, their manufacturing team does several things while building to ensure the quality of their sections. A center “U” beam is riveted on the back of the section; this beam is actually supported by a rest on the crossarm to prevent sagging over time. The side stringers are made of a heavier walled aluminum extrusion than most, so the section is strong from end to end. These sections have been weight-tested up to 1200 pounds!

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.

Building Strong Wooden Docks

Looking for a wooden dock that won’t rot or fall apart easily?

Alumi-Span’s wood dock sections come with anodized aluminum side rails, making the sections much lighter than an all-wood dock. The anodizing also ensures the metal will not get hot in the summer sun. Alumi-Span’s side rails are made of heavier walled aluminum extrusion than most, making them much stronger to support a wood section.  

The sections themselves are built with a high attention to detail. Each board is secured four times from the back to prevent twisting. Stainless steel fasteners attach the boards to the side stringers.  On the 4’ wide sections, there is an “I” beam attached to the center of the back of the section that is supported by a rest on the crossarm. This prevents sagging over time.

Read more about wooden docks in our latest article.

Build a Life-Long Wooden Dock

Whether you’re upgrading your dock or starting from scratch, Alumi-Span has the materials you need! If you have questions, or if you’re ready to place an order, call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form.

Pine and Cedar Dock Sections

In the market for a fresh wooden dock?

There are two different types of wood decking that Alumi-Span offers: treated pine and cedar. For both types, they get only premium lumber and hand sort the boards as they build to ensure they are free of major blemishes. The pine comes kiln dried and is virtually knot-free. Knot-free lumber will help increase the lifespan of your dock. The cedar deck boards come pre-stained with a quality oil-based stain, giving it a rich color. In addition, only tight knot cedar lumber is used on their dock sections, increasing the longevity of the wood.

Read more about wooden docks in our latest article.

Build a Life-Long Wooden Dock

Whether you’re upgrading your dock or starting from scratch, Alumi-Span has the materials you need! If you have questions, or if you’re ready to place an order, call 855-523-2444 or submit a contact form.