Marina Technologies has been chosen to replace the fixed docks at Sarasota Yacht Club on Florida’s Gulf Coast, as the marina undergoes an upgrade following hurricane damage and years of ongoing repairs.
Established in 1926, the yacht club operates a 102-slip marina for vessels from 30ft (nine metres) to over 100ft (30 metres). The old timber fixed dock system had needed frequent repairs over time, and recent storms caused further damage, which led the club to replace the entire system.
Bob Berry, project development manager and vice president at Marina Technologies, said: “They really wanted to have floating docks instead of fixed docks but were not sure if a floating system could handle the heavy wave loads the exposed site can experience. After significant research and seven years of permitting struggles, they have decided on a new heavy-duty floating aluminium frame dock system from Marina Technologies.”
Bobby Overall, the yacht club’s project leader and a retired marine and bridge contractor, commented: “At first we thought floating concrete docks were the way to go, but recent hurricane experience in Ft Myers showed that the floating aluminium systems held up better than the concrete docks – and were repairable.”
Marina Technologies provides marina design, dock systems, anchoring solutions and utility planning, along with installation, repairs and maintenance services. Its projects are located across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
The D-260 aluminium frame dock system was selected, designed for Category 3 hurricane conditions with 4ft (1.2 metres) waves under full load and offers features and cost considerations suited to the project.
The new dock system includes composite decking, polyethylene floats, aluminium-reinforced soft PVC fenders and inflatable corner bumpers. It also includes dual top-access utility troughs, reinforced rubber dock connections and adjustable 12-inch and 18-inch powder-coated aluminium cleats with stainless steel backing plates.
The docks include dual top-access utility troughs with 7ft (two metres) aluminium cover panels, which allow utilities to be installed, accessed and maintained without removing deck boards. The docks will be secured using 14-inch and 18-inch sleeved steel pipe piles.
Midcoast Marine Group will handle the removal of the existing docks and installation of the new system, utilities and anchor piles.
Other utilities at the marina are being upgraded, including high-power capabilities in both three-phase and single-phase systems, a pump-out system, fire suppression, lighting, Wi-Fi, as well as gasoline and diesel fuelling supported by a floating fuel office.
