Using floating dock systems as an alternative to antifouling paint
1. Using Floating Dock Systems as an Alternative to
Antifouling Paint
Antifouling systems, such as antifouling paint, often cost a lot of money and need to be redone
every year, sometimes even more regularly. A floating dock or personal dry dock systems can be
very helpful when keeping your vessel out of the water. Whether it is for a personal watercraft
(PWC), a speedboat or a small yacht, there are many alternatives, particularly the Sea Pen
system or Float Bricks system.
The Sea Pen is less of a floating dock system, but rather a water-level dry docking system. You
can simply sail the boat into the dry dock and raise the bottom of it onto the hull so you create
an enclosed pool of water around it. The water is then pumped out and the mesh of rope and the
skin of the dock ends up next to the hull. The rope mesh allows airflow around the underside,
which helps it dry off, making it harder for organisms to grow and attach themselves to the boat.
Sea Pens are available for boats that are over 6 metres in length and there are two different
models; one is for both outboard drive and stern-drive systems and the other is for all boats with
any drive system.
2. Float Bricks are the perfect solution for boats under 6 metres in length and are fully scalable to
what you need. If you have a small tinny, a jet ski or any other PWC, you can acquire very small
float brick docks that consist of many pieces that join together. If you wish to add a second PWC
or a walkway around it, you can add the necessary blocks without much hassle.
With the Float Bricks, there is a groove on some of the blocks that are placed in the centre.
These are where the bottom of the hull will go when the small vessel is docked. To get on,
simply drive the jet ski or sail the small boat onto the floating dock system and when you want
to use the boat again, reverse off. In the end, these options are easier to use and more eco-
friendly than traditional ones.