Seaplane Docks
Though I won’t belabor the intelligence of courts, a recent legal decision actually ruled that seaplanes are “not water craft” under certain provisions of the Jones Act. For anyone who spends much time around water craft, there’s not much doubt about the similarities between boats and the best of seaplanes. For people who regularly use a seaplane to reach an island destination, there’s another potent similarity…the need for a great way to dock your plane.
As with most real estate, there are three things to know about the type of dock you need for your island-bound seaplane: obviously, shape, shape, and shape (and you were sure I was going to say location). Because transportation of the dock to the island itself is important, it makes sense to use the best materials. While the actual choice should be left to an expert evaluation, more people are finding a shapeable dock to be a great choice. One reason is because the materials used in a shapeable dock are light and yet still durable. They are also relatively easy to put together, or take apart as the need for a reshaped dock may arise.
Reasons for reshaping a dock may have to do with impending weather, water conditions, or relocation of the dock itself. A dock may be extended to close in your seaplane. Modular, floating docks can be used in any depth of water. Depth of water is a critical factor in favoring these light weight docks. Because of their semi-autonomous capacity, the dock’s bow may be on dry land…so long as the stern quadrant’s docking point is in water.
Because of their relatively light weight and easy portability, they can be transported to where you may need them the most. One of the most popular features is their adaptive use as the seasons change. It’s nice to have a foul weather friend you can walk all over.
