Floating vs Fixed docks

[northshoreone]

The marina that I am in is adding more floating docks currently. My boat is now on the end T of a fixed dock in the inner part of the marina surrounded by land/condo's. The new floating docks would be more exposed to wind but would be an advantage with storm surge vs fixed docking. I am looking for impute on thoughts pro or con on floating vs fixed in storm conditions.
Thanks

[rsmith]

Ft Pierce Fl city Marina floating docks 2004

[northshoreone]

OK THEN!!! NOT a endorsement of floating docks is !!

[saltshaker]

During Sandy we had a 13ft surge. Boats that suffered the most damage were at floating docks with short pilings then fixed docks. Boats with the least amount of damage were at floating docks with tall pilings. Floaters are good but they need to be built well and have pilings tall enough to prevent everything from floating off and no longer secured.

[captddis]

Put me do for fixed with big tall pilings

[SEVEN]

Ben on floating docks for 40 years with no issues. Only difference is we do not have the storms you guys/gals have on the East coast.

[Walter P]

I have been on fixed docks and floating and IMO a floating dock with very tall pilings is the best way
to go. As Jack Sardina said, during Sandy floaters with short pilings had the most damage, followed
by fixed and best was floating docks with very tall pilings. My 48 MY stays in the water year round and
it is close to Jacks club. We had at least a 13 ft surge (I was told it was actually 14) and we had zero
damage. Our club requires that all lines be doubled with the largest size practical for the cleats on the
particular boat. Interestingly there was a large loss of boats and probably 95% were on the hard when
the storm hit. Many floated off the blocks and into deeper water and either sunk or broken up. My friend's
Hatteras 38 C floated off and was carried about a mile and a half into the bay and sunk. We knew where
it was because the hardtop over the bridge and the antenna's were sticking up. It was a total loss.

Floating docks make boarding easier and lines can be secured more precisely.

Walt

[captddis]

Floaters are only good if they are in a protected area without wave action and with high pilings.

There was a floating high end marina here that everyone said that it was great for a storm . They laughed when I told them the boats would be up on the street.


A minor tropical storm came through, with the wind right into the basin.
A 61 Hatt sunk and most others were damaged. The marina was totaled.

[Pascal]

The are so many factors.

Personally I prefer a wide slip with fixed pilings so that the boat can be secured without using fenders. If the pilings are tall, and the slips wide enough, you have some safety margin to weather your average storm and surge.

I've never been a big fan of floating docks except of course in areas with large tides (over 4') but then the pilings need to be tall enough so the docks stay in place with storm surge. Floaters often require fenders coming in, wooden pilings don't if you have a decent run rail

The type of boats also plays a role. Sportfish maybe be easier to get on and off from floating docks rather than higher fixed docks. Motoryacht will require stairs on floaties but sometimes not on find docks depending on the height and design.

[MikeP]

We have had our 53 at both; convenience-wise I much prefer floating docks. BUT, as noted, if the floaters don't have sufficiently tall pilings, given the right conditions, the docks can float off on their own which is a BAD thing.