I install and maintain floating systems in Biscayne Bay, up and down the coast. I’ll tell you one small truth. Docks don’t fail at once. They do so in a quiet way. A fastener loosens. A board cups. After a long weekend, a cleat will wiggle. You can find salt in places you don’t look. It’s easy. Dock Maintenance Tips will help you avoid costly repairs and slow downs. It also gives you a place that is comfortable to walk on, which may be the main goal.
This guide is for South Florida. The sun that bites. Water that never goes to sleep. Storms that come on Tuesday while you’re still at work. I’ll keep it simple, but allow for some personal habits, as routines are more important than perfect gear. Supreme Floating Docks is available to walk with you on the dock and create a plan for your shoreline if you need any help.
Make inspection a habit, not an event
You can’t fix something you haven’t seen. I prefer to do a quick inspection every month, and a more thorough one each quarter. It’s called your dock inspection check list. It can be kept in a plastic bag in the dock box. Once you’ve completed the checklist, jot down a note and place it on your phone. This may sound fussy, however it will help you to identify patterns and make purchases in advance instead of running out the moment something breaks.
What to Look for
- Check for movement and cracks in the brackets and piles.
- Decking and trim – look for raised screws, lifted edge, cupping, or splinters in the traffic lanes
- Hardware: check cleats and hinges on bumpers, fenders and ladders.
- Check for punctures or scuffs from repeated impacts.
- Electrical and water: GFCI, tight conduit straps. Clean hose bibs. No green fuzz.
- Safety equipment: ladder, throw ring and lighting in good working condition
Dock safety maintenance is based on this. This will also help you to make smart decisions about dock maintenance and cleaning, because you’ll know exactly where you should focus your efforts. Print the list and mark problem spots on a dock sketch. When storms are approaching and people get distracted, a pencil map is better than memory.
Tip 2: Clean like a pro, not like a painter in a hurry
Salt is patient. Algae makes you happy. Together, they can make the boards slippery and reduce the lifespan of hardware and coatings. It isn’t flashy but cleaning is the best way to prolong the life of the dock. Start with a mild cleaner. Rinse frequently. Keep the tip moving and only use the pressure washer on stubborn areas. If you etch wood grain or scar the composite, water will linger in low spots. This can lead to decay.
Practical cleaning cadence
- After a big boating day or heavy spray, a weekly light rinse is recommended.
- Wash your docks monthly with a dock-safe cleaner, a soft brush and steady water
- Deep clean your home every three months, focusing on the ladder rungs and corners that are shaded, as well as algae lines.
Pause if you feel tempted to blast. Water is pushed into joints and underneath trim when you apply strong pressure. After a few days, it looks brand new. Think gently. Be patient. It is important to not carve away the surface, but to remove contaminants. These dock pressure washing tips will prevent you from causing accidental damage.
Algae hiding places
- Inside ladder rungs
- Behind rub rail and under fender boards
- The first board adjacent to a pile where spray falls every hour
- Sewn seams that are never exposed to direct sunlight
This is where a stiff nylon brush will do better than any machine. You can save time by giving these zones a quick scrub each time you rinse. This takes only five minutes. It pays back every weekend.
Seal, coat, and protect with the climate in mind
South Florida is a place of sun and salt. Dock coatings need to be able to tolerate both. A penetrating wood sealer can buy time by reducing moisture fluctuations. A simple clean will usually suffice on composites. However, high traffic edges may benefit from a composites-specific clear coat. Choose marine-rated finishes for metal and pay attention to bracket edges, where paint tends to thin first.
Coating that sticks
- Maintenance of wooden docks: Clean, let it air dry, then apply a penetrating sealing agent. Repeat every 12 to 18 month depending on the exposure.
- Metal hardware: use a wire brush to remove rust. Prime with marine primer and topcoat with UV-stable enamel. Touch up any small chips immediately.
- Replace UV-torn pieces and floats before they fail.
These aren’t glamorous steps, but they do protect coastal docks. Add a note in your dock maintenance plan if you’d rather schedule than make a decision on the spot. Cleaning and sealing in the spring. Inspections and fastener repairs are done in the fall. After major storms, one extra check. A small rhythm can have a big impact.
Tip #4: Joints, Fasteners and Movement Points Determine Everything
Docks breathe. Joints flex when the tide shifts, it’s hot, or there is traffic. When fasteners are worn or wrong, they can cause boards to chatter. This is how rot begins in the most hidden places. Replace screws that are too small with stainless steel of the correct grade for your water conditions. Washers can be used where there is obvious wood crushing. In long, damp zones, add a thin marine sealant to the pilot holes. These little habits are dock preservation techniques, as they keep water out of places it shouldn’t be.
Hardware Priorities
- Where loads are high, cleats must be firmly seated with the backing plates.
- When slop is present, the hinges at gangways need to be re-pinned.
- Before a busy season, give your fenders and rub rail a new look.
- Bolted aluminum frames are cheap insurance.
All of this is easy. Postponing is easy. You can save a board by stopping a wiggle now. Imagine it as a quiet dock hardware check. Once you have the right bins of parts, it takes less time than expected.
Tip 5: Plan for storms and saltwater as if they are already on the calendar
They are. Each year brings us a few named storm systems and many unnamed squalls. Saltwater dock maintenance includes preparation. You will also remain calm when the weather turns yellow.
Before the storm season
- Check pile wraps and replace them if they are torn.
- Label and test quick-release lines for boats, PWCs and other watercraft
- Store portable items in a bin that has a latching lid.
- Take photos of the dock and equipment for insurance and reference.
- Confirm the location of the power shutoff and place a copy in a zip-lock bag.
When a storm is approaching
- Remove all loose furniture, hoses and coolers
- Even if you intend to haul out, tie fenders in the areas where your boat is most likely to be.
- Drop ladders and secure them to prevent them from hammering in waves
- If flooding is expected, turn off the power to the dock circuits.
Do not rush to the structure after the storm has passed. Search for lines that have fallen. Tap the boards with a mallet in close proximity to hangers and transitions. You can tell where the water has been sitting for too long by listening to soft sounds. They are the quieter parts of a guide to marine dock maintenance, but they are just as important as any sealant or cleaner.
How to maintain a dock without losing every Saturday
You will need a routine to last through busy weeks. Owners like this simple loop.
- First weekend of each month, 20 minutes. Rinse, spot scrub, quick fastener scan.
- Every quarter, for one hour. Test GFCI and touch up metal. Wash, brush algal lines.
- Two hours twice a year. Re-seal wood, tighten the hardware, and inspect brackets and floats.
This is it. This loop will cover boat dock maintenance for most homes. You can fold the boat in just a few moments after a big event if you host often or have a large vessel. Wipe the cleats. Lines are important. Listen for squeaks as you walk. Dock rot and corrosion can be prevented with a little attention.
Wooden Docks In Saltwater: A Short Note
Wood is a living material. Wood swells, and it relaxes as the seasons change. It should have a finish which moves and not a rigid skin. Seal all end cuts. When the grain is too open to be screwed in, replace the odd board. This is part of normal dock maintenance. This is not an indication that you made the wrong choice. Wood is used in many of the prettiest docks along the coast because it feels alive when you walk on it.
We install Floating Specifications every week
Fixed piers cannot offer the same kind of ride as floating systems. Also, they like a proper freeboard as well as balanced loads.
- Spread heavy items. Spread heavy items.
- Check for worn hinge pins. Replace the pin if it is dull on one side but shiny on the other.
- Check float shells. It’s okay to have a scratch. An immediate attention is needed for a puncture. When the float is flooded with saltwater, it loses its buoyancy.
Some owners ask if the floats should be coated. Most of the time, no. They should be cleaned. When you can, keep them out of direct sunlight. It is better to replace an abused unit than try to paint it. Paint will peel after a few seasons.
Repair or replace, or just call it good enough?
Here’s a way to make a decision in a friendly manner.
- When a board cupps, a cleat wobbles or a bracket only shows surface rust, repair it.
- Replace when the board breaks through a fastener’s path, a bracket deteriorates due to corrosion or a float absorbs water.
- When you notice movement across an entire section, suspect electrical wiring, or structural cracks that you can’t explain, call a professional.
Here are some practical tips to help homeowners repair their docks. It is not about being brave. It is important to be open and honest about what you find under the load of your car, or near those that you care about.
The Calm Word for Products and Coatings
Always a new label. It is not necessary to use exotic chemicals to protect docks. It is important to use compatible products and have the right tools on hand. Bring a list if you need help selecting roofing topcoats or marine finishes for structures nearby. We will help you find the right options for your materials, so that you don’t waste time with mismatched systems. The right product and good preparation will always beat fancy promises.
South Florida Quick Seasonal Calendar
- Best time to seal wood and replace hardware is between January and March, when the sun is mild.
- Algae blooms increase from April to June. Clean more often and inspect floats following busy weekends.
- From July to September, be prepared for storms. After squalls make fast passes, and note any loosening.
- From October to December, deep clean, tighten and replace worn fenders. Photograph conditions for next year.
This is a great poster to stick on the dock box. You can avoid guesswork with a simple dock maintenance plan.
Avoid these common mistakes
- Wood grain is damaged by high-pressure washing.
- Mixing plain and stainless steel hardware
- Paint metal without first removing salt or rust
- Ignoring soft boards because they still look fine
- Treating the algae only once a year, instead of nudging them monthly
Avoiding these will make dock maintenance in saltwater environments a routine, and almost enjoyable, ritual. Wear a hat. Bring ice water. Bring cold water.
Supreme Floating Docks: When to Call
Bring us in if you notice that a section is out of plane. If your gangway gets caught on the tides. Or if it feels like something different when walking on the dock. We will level and measure your dock, then show you the next steps. Sometimes it’s a quick tighten. It is sometimes a calculated plan to make a few improvements that will pay off in quiet weekends with no drama. Supreme Floating Docks focuses its efforts on long-lasting solutions for South Florida’s water. We’d rather fix the problem once and stand by it than have to see you again a month after.
The FAQ
How often should I clean the dock with saltwater?
A: If you wash it monthly and rinse it weekly, give it a good scrub every quarter. A small, steady effort is better than a marathon once a year. These are the easiest Dock Maintenance Tips that I know.
Q: Can I wash my dock with pressure washer?
A: Yes, carefully. Use lower pressure and wider tips. Keep the wand in motion. It is not the goal to carve wood, but rather to remove grime. You are either too close or strong if you notice the surface lightening up quickly.
Q: What’s the best wood sealer in South Florida?
Choose a sealer with UV protection. The can will tell you how long it takes to dry. Preparation is key. The preparation is everything. This is the only way to waterproof dock surfaces.
Q: How can I tell if my float is failing or not?
A: Be sure to watch the freeboard. After a week of calm, if a corner is low or a platform has a tendency to list, check the floats for damage. Simple tap tests can be helpful. If you hear a dull thud, it could be water.
Q: Do I have to use stainless steel everywhere?
Yes, most exposed fasteners can be used in saltwater. Use the correct grade, combine it with compatible metals and add anti-seize where metal meets metallic. This will prevent unpleasant and embarrassing surprises for next season.
Q: What items should I include in my basic dock repair kits?
You will need a cordless driver, a few stainless screws of common sizes, some marine sealant and washers, replacement bolts for cleats, soft brush, safe cleaner, and marine sealant. Most small repairs can be done in minutes with these tools.
How do I prolong the life of my wooden decking?
Replace single boards that stop holding fasteners when they become dirty, soiled, or unable to be sealed. Airflow, shade, and regular checks can help.
Q: When is the best time to recoat brackets made of metal?
A: Retouch as soon as you notice a scratch. Don’t wait until rust starts to bloom. On a dry, sunny day, wire brush, prime and topcoat. Tiny patches can prevent costly replacements.
Last Word
Docks are stages for the small. Before the heat, coffee. Children who can’t wait to get in. When the water is flat and the lights of the other shore are so close that you can touch them. You can get more of these moments if you keep the stage sound. Choose calm products instead of loud promises and pay attention to the dock structure on a regular basis.
Supreme Floating Docks can help you if you need a customized plan for your shoreline or if you are looking for a trained eye to look at a strange noise or a slight tilt. We install, maintain and show dock owners how to keep their docks strong in South Florida waters. Bring your questions. Bring your questions.
This post was written by a professional at Supreme Marine Floating Docks. Supreme Marine Floating Docks is dedicated to providing top-quality floating docks and marine accessories that combine durability, innovation, and superior performance. While we are a new brand, our team brings over 50 years of combined industry experience, making us a trusted name in the marine world. We are passionate about designing and delivering products that meet the highest standards, ensuring reliability and longevity in all marine environments. Whether for residential, commercial, marina docks Miami, our docks are crafted with precision and care, setting a new benchmark in the industry. At Supreme Marine, we don’t just build docks—we create lasting solutions.