center of summer entertainment—a place where family and friends gather to enjoy meals, relax by the water, and make lasting memories.
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Tuesday, September 15, 2026
How to Turn Your Dock into the Perfect Gathering Space
center of summer entertainment—a place where family and friends gather to enjoy meals, relax by the water, and make lasting memories.
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
5 Features Every Party Dock Should Have
family on your dock should be a point of pride. Your party dock will always be there for you to relax on, especially if you don’t feel like taking out the boat.
- A Spacious Platform – Give guests plenty of room to relax, socialize, and move around comfortably.
- Comfortable Seating – Benches or weather-resistant outdoor furniture create a welcoming place to gather.
- Shade Options – Umbrellas or canopies help keep everyone cool during warm summer days.
- Safe Access – Non-slip surfaces, ladders, and proper lighting make your dock safer for family and guests.
- Room for Recreation – Design your dock with space for swimming, fishing, paddleboards, or tying up your boat.
Ready Design Your New Dock?
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Don't Be Scared to Install!
Want to Learn How to Build a Boat Dock?
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Installing a Truss and Platform System - A Brief Overview
dock. If you don’t have time to read the whole thing just yet, here’s a quick summary of the essentials:
1. Understanding Alumi-Span Trusses
- Regular Trusses – Feature a pole at each end.
- 90-Degree Trusses – Have one pole and clamps rotated 90 degrees for attachment to cross-arms to run a platform 90-degrees or perpendicular to an outgoing dock.
2. Key Installation Steps (Fast and Simple!)
- Ensure the center casting (#310A) is on top with the “V” shape pointing upward for maximum strength.
- Use large bottom plates to simplify installation and stabilize the trusses.
- Bring sections out one at time and place on truss.
- Securely bolt deck sections together for a firm fit.
- Use black plastic platform connectors for added stability.
- Position stringer brackets correctly to prevent trusses from sticking out beyond the dock sections.
- Firmly clamp both upper and lower truss clamps before applying weight.
- To adjust the height, loosen and re-secure both clamps as needed.
- To raise center, leave top clamp tight, loosen and raise only bottom clamp
Want to Learn How to Build a Boat Dock?
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Intro to Uprights
Uprights, or dock posts, provide vertical stability and anchor the dock to the lakebed. Their functions include:
- Height Adjustment. Uprights allow docks to be leveled according to water depth and seasonal changes. Docks with adjustable legs simplify installation and removal.
- 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.
- 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!
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Intro to Crossarms
- Distributing Weight Evenly. Crossarms connect the uprights and help distribute the dock's weight. This ensures stability, especially under heavy weight.
- Structural Integrity. By linking the uprights, crossarms reduce lateral (side-to-side) movement caused by water currents or wind.
- 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.
Shop Michigan-Made Dock Posts (and Much More)
Monday, July 15, 2024
The Benefits of American-Made Boat Docks
Installing a Boat Dock in Michigan?
Monday, July 1, 2024
Celebrate Independence Day with American-Made Boat Dock Parts
Installing a Boat Dock in Michigan?
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Party Platforms and Fishing Features
Looking for More Dock Design Ideas?
Saturday, June 1, 2024
Assessing Your Dock Needs
Looking for More Dock Design Ideas?
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Dog-Friendly Building Materials
Shop Dog-Friendly Dock Accessories and More!
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Dog-Friendly Dock Accessories
Shop Dog-Friendly Dock Accessories and More!
Monday, April 15, 2024
Safety Accessories for Your Boat Dock
Shop Boat Dock Bumpers and More!
Monday, April 1, 2024
Choose Strong & Stable Dock Parts
Shop Quality Parts, Boat Dock Bumpers, and More!
Monday, January 15, 2024
Planning Your Dock Design
- The location of your dock (what are the bottom conditions?)
- The depth of water around the dock (this decides pole heights)
- Any local town or municipal coding requirements
- The average number of boats that will be anchored to the dock if any
- The size of your dock (be sure to stay within the space your property allows)
Plan Your Dock Design with Alumi-Span
Monday, January 1, 2024
Researching Your Boat Dock Options
- Installation- DIY vs. Professional: Are you planning on installing the dock yourself or hiring a professional to install? Adding multiple features to your dock can make DIY installation a little more difficult. Be sure to take this into account when designing your boat dock.
- Demand: Make sure you know the demands of your space! Design your boat dock based on purpose, climate, and weather. It may be that a dock feature you love isn’t really suitable for your property or the main purpose of the dock.
- Features: Be well read when it comes to boat dock features so you can include everything you want! You’ll need to think about the type of dock (aluminum, wood, or vinyl), lighting, seating, slips, platforms, and more.
- Future Use: Consider what’s in store for future use of your dock, not just what you’re using it for today. If you’re using quality boat dock parts in your design, the dock will be around for many years to come. Leave room for a growing family or expanding fleet in your plans.
Get More Dock Design Tips from Alumi-Span
Friday, December 15, 2023
Fun can be Functional!
- Flagpoles: a flagpole is a way to really make your dock stand out! Proudly display your patriotism with the included American flag and easily add additional flags to meet your interests or other passions.
- Corner Sections: tired of the kids leaping the gap where your dock turns, or need a good place to mount a ladder? Corner sections are your answer! These create a cohesive blend from one area of your dock to the other and improve safety as well!
Check out Your Dock Design Options
Friday, December 1, 2023
Three Things to Help Transform Your Boat Dock
- Dock lights: solar dock lights are a great way to ensure you’ll have safe boating experiences even at night. If you want to fish early in the morning or enjoy a sunset boat ride, having lights create ambiance and enhance safety. Solar lights for on top of posts or along pathways are great options.
- Bumpers: bumpers work well to not only protect your boat from open corners or posts, but also to coordinate with other color schemes at your lake house. Coming in four different colors, there are many options to create the look you want!
- Stairs and Ladders: stairs and ladders can create extra access points to the water anywhere along your dock! If you have a dog who loves swimming, the stairs are a must have for it to get on and off the dock with ease. Creating a swim area for the kids? Using a ladder allows an easy and safe way to get in and out of the water. Stairs are also much better for elderly folks to get in and out of the water. They come with a hand rail, but extra rails can be added!
Experiment with New Dock Designs
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Save Money with Quality Materials
Do you know what your boat dock parts are made of?
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| Hot Dipped Galvanized vs Zinc Plated Bolts |
Money: if you save a boat load with low-quality boat dock accessories today, you’ll pay for it later. Not only are these cheaper accessories likely to need replacing sooner, but it’s possible they could damage your other equipment or fail unexpectedly. Paying more upfront for quality accessories will save you money and headaches long-term.
Guarantee: Quality materials are more likely to be guaranteed or warrantied by the manufacturer. Part of what you pay for when you get quality materials is the guarantee! Not only is your product protected, but you’ll have peace of mind when you’re out using your dock, boat, and accessories.
Get Guaranteed Parts for Michigan Dock Installation
Alumi-Span uses high quality castings and extrusions in the applications where they work the best, and our alloys are specifically chosen for their intended purpose. We also use proper corrosion resistant fasteners for all applications. This means you can trust the safety and longevity of Alumi-Span parts.
Before you start on your Michigan dock installation, call (855) 523-2444 or submit a contact form here if you need help picking the best parts for the job!
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Quality Parts Mean Safety and Durability
Choose Safety when Installing Your Michigan Dock
Stability Comes from Quality Cast Parts
Is your dock actually built for long-lasting stability? Many dock parts are stamped or extruded. The problem with these parts is that they t...
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Unsure what type of dock best fits your needs? Choosing the right boat dock isn’t just about looks — it’s about function, durability, and lo...
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Are you unsure what to ask when hiring a dock designer? Hiring a professional dock designer is a great way to ensure your dock is built to l...
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What are the most important things to check on your dock after winter? For starters, you should check the water level, dock height, and dama...


















