De-Icing Your Boat Dock
When leaving your boat dock in the water all winter, preventing ice damage should be your top priority. De-icing requires some specialized equipment and knowledge, but it’s really more of an art form than an exact science. Every dock is different, and the effectiveness of de-icing depends on your local climate, the depth and salt content of the surrounding water, and many other factors. Learn more about protecting your dock from ice damage with the following guide from Nisswa Marine.
If you’re looking for more advice on dock de-icing and other boating topics, don’t hesitate to ask the qualified staff at Nisswa Marine. We proudly offer quality products and services to the boating community in Nisswa, MN, along with our neighbors in St. Cloud and Minneapolis.
Understanding Your De-Icing Equipment
De-icers work by redirecting warmer, denser water from the depths to the surface, where it can serve to prevent ice formation or melt existing ice. The shallower the water in the surrounding area, the less warm water there is available. Your de-icer will work best 2.5 to 5 feet below the water surface.
Keep in mind that obstructions in the water such as floats, boat lifts, and large dock pilings may restrict the flow of water, causing a smaller area of influence around your de-icer. In tidal waters, you can either tie your de-icer to a boat to allow it rise and fall with the tide, or position it so that it will remain in shallow water at low tide.
Understanding Ice Damage
Let’s take a close look at two of the main ways that ice can harm your dock. The following forms of damage can lead to downtime and costly repairs, so it pays to watch out for warning signs and take steps to avoid the most likely hazards at your location.
Ice Jacking
Wherever ice and water levels fluctuate, ice jacking is a concern. Rising water levels can cause the ice on the surface to lift upwards and uproot your dock pilings, leading to extensive damage. Ice jacking is most associated with tidal waters, but it’s just as common in the Great Lakes, where weather and wind can cause sudden changes. It also comes up in human-regulated bodies of water, such as reservoirs. The best protection against ice jacking is to maintain an ice-free zone in and around your dock structures.
Ice Expansion
The larger the body of water, the greater the risk of ice expansion damage. This kind of damage develops when expanding ice puts continuous pressure on your dock structure over a long period of time. If you can’t maintain an ice-free zone around your dock, you can still ward off damage from ice expansion by creating a buffer zone of open water. Just float de-icing units between your dock and the expanding ice to relieve the pressure.
Winter-Kill Conditions
De-icers are great for protecting your dock, but did you know they can also protect your pond’s fish population? Snow and ice can prevent sunlight from reaching the vegetation that forms the basis of the aquatic ecosystem. As the vegetation dies off, so will your fish. The good news? Only 1% of your pond’s total surface area needs to be ice-free to prevent winter-kill situations. Just one more reason to invest in a de-icer!
We hope this guide helps your boat dock survive the winter! When the ice melts and you’re ready to make a splash with a brand new boat, head to Nisswa Marine. You can find us in Nisswa, MN.