You want to get the most use out of your boat dock and customizing it to suit your needs can help you accomplish that goal. But, one of the biggest mistakes people make is outfitting their docks with furniture, lighting, utilities and other boat dock accessories that aren’t durable enough for extended outdoor use. In an attempt to save money, dock owners often buy cheaper dock furniture and other items from big box stores that end up disintegrating or tearing up after a storm or after only a couple of seasons of use.
Boat Dock Decor
Josh Tidmore, customer experience manager with KillerDock Inc., says that you can end up wasting a lot of money by buying cheaper, poorly made dock furniture and utility items that you have to replace time and again. Instead, it’s best to invest in tough, durable, high-quality items that you can enjoy for years to come.
Based out of Theodore, Alabama, KillerDock is a family owned company dedicated to high-end sport fishing and quality outdoor leisure. It’s best known for its upscale fish cleaning stations.
Vice President of KillerDock Jay Williamson says his father founded KillerDock in 2019 because he needed a quality, long-lasting fish-cleaning table, but couldn’t find one. He wanted a mounted table that actually made cleaning easier and faster, offered more space, and could stand up to the elements and look great doing it. As the owner of a sheet metal fabrication shop, he got creative and built his own custom station.
“He was already in the metal-fabrication business, so he decided to build one for himself. People liked it so much that he knew he had something special,” Williamson said.
Folks took notice immediately, and Williamson and his two sons soon found themselves operating a fast-growing business. Following months of design, prototypes, experiments and innovation, the trio unveiled the inaugural KillerDock fish cleaning station in late 2018.
He says the dock furniture designs came along not long after.
“We’ve lived on and around the water our entire lives and were tired of taking furniture up from the dock and putting it in the house when the weather looked threatening. Our furniture is strong enough to hold up to all types of weather and environments. One thing that sets apart both our fish cleaning stations and our furniture is that they are all overbuilt. And you don’t have to worry about anything flying or floating away because the furniture and fish-cleaning stations are all designed with mounting points that you can fasten to a dock or seawall if you’d like,” Williamson said.
Dock Furniture
When it comes to boat dock furniture, you want items that are attractive, comfortable and extremely durable and long lasting.
“All of our furniture is built out of marine-grade materials. The aluminum is corrosion-resistant, so it’s not going to rust and rot. We also coat the furniture in corrosion-resistant clear coating for additional protection. In addition, we offer a few items in powder-coated colors. The cushions and umbrella fabric are made of top-of-the-line material for durability and comfort. For example, the outdoor cushions are made with Sunbrella™ covers that are designed to drain moisture as fast as possible. The seating and cabanas come with hardware that you can use to fasten them down to your dock, seawall or deck so storms can’t blow them away,” Williamson said.
Tidmore says it’s really nice to not have to worry about bringing your furniture in, especially if you live an hour or more away, during a storm.
You want to purchase furniture that can ride out a storm, but Tidmore says that the majority of furniture that people purchase for their docks from the big box stores won’t hold up.
“A lot of the stuff you find from big box stores are going to be made out of steel and not powder coated, which means there will always be an access point for corrosion. Rust will find an access point and creep in and spread just like a disease. The paint will start chipping and the material will get weak. That rust will continue to spread overtime so the furniture won’t last over the years,” Tidmore said.
He explains that aluminum doesn’t contain as much carbon for that rust infection to spread.
“There is no carbon in aluminum. Our furniture and fish cleaning stations would be rust resistant even if we didn’t add any type of coating and just put them out there with the aluminum base material as is. Even the furniture that’s not made of steel has problems. Right now, a real popular item is the Adirondack furniture. But in warm weather, it gets really hot to sit on. It’s made of a hard material that’s not comfortable,” Tidmore said.
Lighting
The proper boat dock lighting doesn’t only help you enjoy your dock more at night, but it also makes it safer to use. A boat dock with poor lighting can become a hazard once night falls.
Tony Bachan with Underwater Lights USA recommends lighting in layers according to three categories — ambient, task and accent.
“Each layer can be used by itself, combined with one of the others, or all of them together,” Bachan said.
Ambient lighting is general lighting that provides overall illumination of an area. It allows you to move around safely and perform tasks. On covered boat docks, this can be accomplished with overhead lights, gooseneck lights, flood lights, or string lights.
Docks without any type of structure can use a pole light for overhead lighting or add rail lights or piling cap lights to pilings or posts. Bollard lights can also be used if you don’t have rails or pilings.
“These types of lights will only light the deck. They let you see where you are walking but are not good for performing tasks. Also, avoid lights that let the light shine directly into your eyes. This can cause temporary night blindness and a tripping hazard,” Bachan said.
Task lighting provides extra light for performing tasks, like reading, cooking, or rigging fishing tackle. Most ambient lighting light fixtures can also be used as task lighting. They need to be bright enough to see clearly though. For example, a cleaning table can be placed under a pole light for baiting hooks and cleaning fish. Battery powered lamps can be used as task lighting on tables.
Accent lighting is more decorative than functional. It is used to light interesting features. In the case of a boat dock, that is the water. You can shine a light onto the surface of the water from above. However, this doesn’t let you see what is going on under the surface. For that you need underwater lights. With underwater lights you get to watch fish swim around in the light.
“Look for lights that are designed to stand up to the elements. In the U.S. lights must have an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rating. Look for Wet Rated light fixtures. They can be exposed to rain and splashing water. Also, look for light made from a corrosion resistant metal. Stainless steel, bronze, and anodized aluminum are the best,” Bachan said.
Shade
Selecting the right shading for your boat dock will depend on your dock’s location, size and construction. If your dock already has a roof, that helps. But you may need some additional shading in areas directly impacted by the sun. A pergola, arbor or gazebo may help. Large weather-proof sunshades and umbrellas are also a good option.
KillerDock’s number of Cabana options in various sizes and configurations provide a good amount of shade for resting after a day in the boat or for simply lounging on the dock. The Cabana is made of marine-grade aluminum and proprietary anti-corrosion clear coating. It features stainless-steel hardware to secure it to the concrete or boat dock and includes removable cushions made of durable Sunbrella upholstery.
Utility Pieces
A great boat dock needs more that just shade, seating and lighting. Utility pieces can make or break your experience with your dock. For example, even the most seasoned boat captains can bump in the dock every now and then with their boat. That’s why dock fenders can protect and help increase the longevity of your dock.
Dock ladders are essential for allowing you to climb up easily out of the water or into or out of your boat when the water level is low. Ladders should be made of durable material like marine-grade aluminum that will prevent the from rusting over time.
The supply of utilities and boat dock accessories available to help customize your boat dock are endless. Watercraft lifts, winches, utility posts, grab handles and more are available to help you customize your boat dock so you can get the best use from it.
Fish Cleaning Station
When selecting a fish cleaning station, you want a work horse that can handle the rigors of any fish cleaning abuse.
KillerDock’s Upscale fish cleaning station comes with both standard features and available upgrades, so the customer can customize the station for his or her purposes. All KillerDock fish cleaning stations are built from marine-grade aluminum and protected by industrial anti-corrosion clear coating. You can choose from three locations for the plumbing connection.
The Upscale comes in five options and sizes, starting with the smaller Upscale 3 ½ and ending with the largest version, the Upscale 7 ½.
Those who want to step it up even more can choose from one of the five Slam models beginning with the smaller SLAM 4 ½ and increasing in size and features until you have the SLAM 7 1/2.
“We are currently rolling out a more basic fish cleaning station featuring a 41-inch cutting board table top with our style legs that will retail for less than $1000. So now, we have fish cleaning stations for those looking for something more basic to those looking for something more elaborate and everything in between. The purpose and the idea behind KillerDock cleaning stations is that the one you purchase should be the last one you’ll ever need,” Tidmore said.
KillerDock provides a number of different accessories and add-ons that allow you to upgrade and modify your fish cleaning station to suit your specific needs, such as shade, sinks, drawers, fish hangers and more.
Boat Dock Storage
Dock boxes can provide a convenient and attractive way to store your essential items, such as life jackets, fishing gear, water sports gear, water toys and more. Consider dock boxes made of heavy-duty fiberglass or another type of marine-grade material that will withstand Mother Nature while securely protecting and storing your items.
Dock boxes come in a variety of sizes, styles and materials. Consider lockable boxes if you’re boat dock is in an area where theft is a possibility.
There area also a variety of fishing pole holders designed specifically for use on docks. These holders come in a variety of configurations, sizes and materials and make great boat dock accessories.
Tools
It’s a good ideal to keep a variety of tools available in case you need to modify or fix your boat dock. Leveling winches, pipe pullers, dock and float handles are just a few you may need. More general tools include hammers, screw drivers, winches, pipe cutters and more. It’s always better to have more tools than you need than come up short when they’re needed the most.
Final Thoughts On Boat Dock Accessories
Remember that your boat dock is your home base on the water and some of your best memories can be made right there with friends and family while lounging with drinks in the shade or cleaning that big catch after a successful day of fishing. For this reason, make sure you customize your dock to best maximize both the space and the time you spend there, with quality boat dock accessories that will last for years to come.
