How Do You Assemble Floating Docks?

Floating docks add tremendous flexibility and versatility to your home and/or business. With floating docks, you can enjoy convenient access to the water for boating, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, and swimming – while taking advantage of easy assembly and installation. So, gather your floating dock connectors and hardware, and let’s get started.

A Quick Guide to Assembling Floating Docks

Most AccuDock products use S-style, T-style, or H-style floating dock connectors. Directions are provided for each.

1. Gather the Assembly Tools/Materials

You will need:

• Drill with 5/16” bit
• 3” Allen bolts (provided by AccuDock)
• 1” set bolts (provided by AccuDock)
• ¾” wrench
• ½” wrench
• Allen wrench
• Mallet or hammer

To ensure an efficient assembly process, position all your floating dock hardware, connectors, and tools near you in an organized fashion. Really, it helps!

2. Find an Open Area and Get Organized

In an open area of your yard/property, lay out the sections of your dock. You should have enough room to connect and maneuver the pieces. Next, arrange the sections according to the design or configuration specifications provided with your floating dock system.

These steps apply to systems using S-style, T-style, or H-style floating dock connectors. Next, we’ll cover specific steps for each:

S-Style Floating Dock Connectors

S-style connectors are used to connect two dock sections side by side.

1. Lay out the aluminum frame. This will attach to the connector and another dock section. Place the connector in the proper position: the sides with the larger gaps should face down and outwards.
2. Remove the Allen bolts and align the connector inside the pathway.
3. Do the same for the other side of the dock section.
4. When the floating dock connectors are in place, push the dock sections together so they are in alignment and set into place.
5. Screw the provided 1” set bolts into the welded aluminum nuts on the frame. Do not overtighten.
6. Using your 5/16” drill, drill through the pre-drilled holes (i.e. where you removed the Allen bolts in step 2). Place the Allen bolts into the frame through these holes. Secure with a lock washer and nut.
7. When the Allen bolts are in place, tighten with a ½” crescent wrench or socket.

H-Style Floating Dock Hardware

H-style connectors are used with configurations that have four dock sections. (This connector is used to make up a larger square/rectangular configuration.)

1. Follow the steps listed above to assemble two of the four dock sections using the S-style connectors on the outside.
2. Do the same for the other two dock sections.
3. You’ll now connect them with the H-style connector. Remove the Allen bolts from the interior sections – this is where you will put the H-style connector.
4. Insert one of the halves of the connector into the interior frame. Line up the holes in the connector with the Allen holes on the dock frame. Tighten the 1” set screws from the bottom.
5. Drill the pre-drilled Allen bolt holes and then insert the Allen bolts. Secure with a lock washer and nut.
6. Next, add the two S-style connectors to the outside of the floats. Line them up.
7. Connect the outsider connectors and set the 1” bolts.
8. Drill and secure the Allen bolts, using the instructions above.
9. Secure and tighten your exterior connectors.
10. Drill the remaining two Allen bolts in the center of the configuration.
11. Tighten the remaining 1” set bolts for the H-style connector, and then use your ½” wrench to tighten the Allen bolts with a lock washer and nut.

T-Style Connectors for Your Floating Dock System

The T-style connector is used when you are connecting three dock sections. (This connector is used in L-shape configurations.)

1. Use the instructions above to assemble the first two sections. You will use the S-style connector on the exterior side and a T-style connector on the interior.
2. Secure the connections with 1” set bolts and 3” Allen bolts.
3. Position the third dock section. It’ll now look like an L.
4. Remove the Allen bolts and use an S-style connector to lock the dock section into place.
5. Secure the dock section and align the holes of the connector with the Allen holes on the dock frame.
6. Tighten the screws from the bottom.
7. Drill the pre-drilled Allen bolt holes, insert the Allen bolts, and secure with a lock washer and nut.

Done!

If you need assistance at any point, do not hesitate to contact us. We know that being confronted with a pile of floating dock connectors and hardware can seem intimidating at first, but we are here to make it as easy as possible to get your floating dock “up and running”!

Below you will find a step-by-step video on how to assemble AccuDock floating docks.