What Are the Best Boat Docking Systems Available?

Boat docking systems can be used in order to protect a boat’s hull and propellers from the damage caused by extended periods in the water. These systems can help you keep the boat dry and guard it from the growth of aquatic organisms, such as barnacles, that can both damage the hull of the boat and reduce the vehicle’s performance. More importantly, using one of these docking systems means you do not have to repeatedly apply anti-fouling paint to your boat.

Most docking systems require lifting the boat out of the water, which can be time consuming, stressful and is frowned upon by many local councils or marinas, never mind the fact that it is just not practical for those with larger vessels. So which is the best boat docking system on the market? After years of research and trials, the best system on the market today is probably one that keeps your boat at water level but removes all of the liquid from the dock automatically.

These docking systems allow the boat to be surrounded by an isolated pocket of water which can then be drained. They are useful when you are required to drive in, reverse in or even enter your boat's berth from the side. They work by dropping the base of the dock so that you can manoeuvre the boat into place, it then closes up and drains the water from within the pocket of water. By using a rope mesh at the bottom of the base, it allows air flow to dry the hull and the propeller, the process takes about 25 minutes for smaller docks.

These really are the best boat docking systems that you can buy right now, and what makes them more impressive than other solutions is that they can even be left on over time to remove water that makes its way into the pen from passing vessels. Find a solution that can be used with a wide range of different drives. The best models on the market can keep a boat with any drive system away from the water.

The Most Practical Dry Docking System for Boats

If you, like most boat owners, are tired of having to apply an anti-foul coat of paint on to the hull of your boat every year, docking systems can help you combat the issue. It is possible that you have seen some of the boat lift solutions, but these are usually banned by marinas and many local councils because they create an eyesore. In addition to the hatred they receive from people merely looking at them, your boat would not be happy with them either because boat lifts apply stress to the hull where it is supported.

So if you are not allowed use a boat lift at your marina, cannot use one due to the size of your vessel or simply do not want to take the risk of damaging the vehicle by using one, what should you use? There are pen-type docking systems for boats that can be used at marinas because they do not rise above the water level.

By going with a good pen-style system, you can decide whether you need to be able to reverse in, manoeuvre in sideways or simply pilot the boat directly into the berth bow-first. The pen will lower in the water while the boat is manoeuvred into place and the bottom part of the pen is then brought up, trapping the boat into a pocket of water. From here, the water is pumped out of the dock which is lined with a mesh of material. This mesh allows air to circulate underneath the vessel to dry it off. If another boat passes and displaces water into the pen, it will automatically pump it out and allow the hull to dry again.

By using one of these docking systems for boats, which are specifically designed for boats over 6 metres in length, you can protect your boat from barnacles and other aquatic organisms that can both damage the structure of the vessel and affect the vehicle's performance in the water. They are low maintenance products that are made with HDPE plastics and the skin is resistant to barnacles. There will be some marine growth over the pen, but this will not affect how it works and it can be cleaned off if you want to.