The Docksider


Our Dock Mounted Kayak Lift Rack

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not see an answer to your question
Email us  Info@dockcraft.com    or Call Us  585 – 734 – 7374

Buy DIRECTLY from the Manufacturer
DockCraft Industries LLC

We have categorized the various questions into major themes.

Adjustments:

How far down into the water can this rack go?                 

The Docksider dock rack has 4 mounting positions with the pin and slot design:

  • – 5 inches below the dock decking
    clevis pin in the lower position on the cradle and seated in the upper slot of the mounting bracket.
  • – 9 inches below the dock decking
    clevis pin in the lower position on the cradle and seated in the lower slot of the mounting bracket.
  • – 13 inches below the dock decking
    clevis pin in the upper position on the cradle and seated in the upper slot of the mounting bracket.
  • – 17 inches below the dock decking
    clevis pin in the upper position on the cradle and seated in the lower slot of the mounting bracket.

Note:  These dimensions relate to the distance below the dock decking where the bottom / side of your watercraft is stored.  Typically, the water level where your watercraft is floating can be up to 20 inches below these dimensions.

What is the minimum distance from the waterline and the top of the deck for mounting these racks?

“We are going to build an extension off our existing boat dock which is closer to the water, say 4 to 5″ above the water level, to make it easier to get in and out of the kayaks, and are wondering if the kayak racks can be mounted this close to the water.”         

From your question, it sounds as if you will be boarding your kayak from your dock.

The simple answer is No, Our Dockside Dock Lift and Storage Rack will not function properly with the 4 to 5-inch distance you desire.  Both the Dockside and Waterside model needs to be set at its minimum freeboard of 10-inch distance from the dock decking to the water level.

However, if you built a platform or used 6 in spacers under the mounts on this extension, then you would meet the minimum freeboard requirement for the DockSider Dock Lift & Rack and also have your desired height for boarding.

Can this unit lower the kayak 5 feet down?

No, it cannot.

Both the Waterside and Dockside models have a maximum Dock Decking to water distance (freeboard) of 36 inches.

In applications similar to what you have described; several customers have built a simple platform on the side of their dock anywhere from 2 feet to 30inches above the water to mount a Waterside Model Lift and Dock Storage Rack.

I would like to know more about the freeboard distance between water and dock.        

The maximum freeboard for both the Waterside and Dockside models is 36 inches.

There are four positions which the DockSider Dock Lift and Storage Rack can be adjusted.

The storage positions are:

  • 5 inches below the decking; to accommodate a water level 10 to 24 inches below the dock decking.
  • 9 inches below the decking; to accommodate a water level 14 to 28 inches below the dock decking.
  • 13 inches below the decking; to accommodate a water level 18 to 32 inches below the dock decking.
  • 17 inches below the decking; to accommodate a water level 22 to 36 inches below the dock decking.

Can the upright arms be shorter to accommodate a narrow slip?

“The distance between my boat and the dock is about 3 feet.”               

The best response I can provide is probably.

To provide a more definitive answer, I would need to know the make and model of your kayak.

More specifically – the length, beam, height, and weight of your kayak.

I assume you are looking for the Dockside Model, to board your Kayak from the dock.

Clearly, this would be a Special Order; which we would accommodate with reasonable pricing.

Would your rack be suitable for a dock that was up to 5’ off the water?

“The water level goes down quite a bit by end of summer.”

No, it cannot.

Both the Waterside and Dockside models have a maximum Dock Decking to water distance (freeboard) of 36 inches.

In applications similar to what you have described; several customers have built a simple platform on the side of their dock anywhere from 2 feet to 30 inches above the water to mount a Waterside Model Lift and Dock Storage Rack.

When you say the water goes down quite a bit by the end of the summer, this can be accounted for by readjusting the Rack to a lower position.  This is easily done with the pin and slot design of the mounting.  On my installation, the water drops 15 inches from spring to summer.  I do not have to readjust the initial setting of the dock height.

Back to TOP

Our dock is for a lake and has no overhang. It is an Endres manufacturing wooden dock.

“Which mount would work with our type of dock for the kayak dock storage?”

Either the bolt-on or clamp-on style of mounts should be fine for your dock. One consideration might be that if you choose the clamp-on mount, you will have the freedom to move the unit from one location to a different location on your dock. Once you install the bolt-on, the mounts are in that fixed position, unless you choose to drill holes and remount your rack in a different location.

I am not sure if I have a Truss Dock.       

A Truss Dock is typically made using an aluminum or steel frame. The dock planks sit on top of a that metal frame system.

The sides of a Truss dock have two metal square beams or tubes running parallel to the water and about 9 to 10 inches apart. Diagonal metal tubes are then connected to the top and bottom beams.  The side view of the structure looks like a series of X’s or W’s running between the top and bottom beams.

If you click the following link, then go to page 2 at the bottom, there is a picture of a Truss style dock.

https://dockcraft.com/assets/Clamp-on-Mount-Dock-Configurations-Guide.pdf

I have a floating Metalcraft dock. Has Aluminum decking and support beam along the edge.

How can I secure a dockside rack to my dock?

The Bolt On Mount is the best option for this type of dock.

Typically, the float spacing on a Floating Dock does not allow the under-dock support of the Clamp On mount to fit between the floats.

A Floating dock is constructed with a frame that is secured to the floats and the decking secure to the frame.  The frame height will accommodate bolting the mounting system to the dock decking without contacting the floats.  Given you have metal decking, you need to add additional support as the metal decking material thickness is thin.  In the Bolt On Mount Dock Configuration Guide:

https://dockcraft.com/assets/Bolt-on-Mount-Dock-Configurations-Guide.pdf

on the last 2 pages it shows the supports you would need to add.

As this is a floating dock, you may need to add the supports on the top surface of the decking given you may not have access to the underside of the decking.

We have a poly floating dock. Will this work?

As there are many poly-docks on the market and each manufacturer has their own accessory mounting systems; we do not have enough information to provide an accurate response.

If you would like to email us at info@dockcrat.com,       or      Call us at    585-734-7374

We could look into this for you.

Back to TOP

Locking Systems

Does the Dock Rack Lock?

The DockSider Kayak | SUP Lift & Dock Storage Rack does not have a built-in lock.

However, there are several on the market available to you.

As we are in the process of adding Locking products to our website, give us a call (585-734-7374) or
email us (info@dockcraft.com) and we would gladly give you our recommendation.

Back to TOP

DockSider Models

What is the difference between the dockside storage mount version and the waterside storage mount version?

“Both products list for the same price. Both of the above versions appear to be aluminum, and there appears to be another that is stainless steel. All 3 appear to support 100 lbs. What is your recommendation and why aluminum vs. stainless steel?”               

The Dockside Model is designed:

  • for those users that board their Kayak / Paddle Board directly from their dock because the water is deep, mucky or have a rocky bottom.
  • with a Tether Strap to rotate your kayak / SUP into the storage position while you are on the Dock.
  • Both models have rotating latches to hold your kayak or paddle board in the storage position during inclement / windy weather. However, with the Dockside model, these latches must be rotated to keep your kayak or paddle board secured in the storage position.
  • such that your kayak or paddle board is closer to the dock for ease in maneuvering your kayak or paddle board into and out of the loading position while you are on the dock.

The Waterside Model is designed:

  • For those users that board their Kayak / Paddle Board while they are standing in the water. Their water is shallow – usually mid-thigh or less.
  • with the greatest leverage assist ratio, you are lifting approximately 60% of the weight of your watercraft at the start of the lift.
  • With either the Dockside or the Waterside model, the weight you are lifting lessens as your watercraft is approaching the storage position.
  • When in the storage position, your kayak is stable and will not rotate back toward the water. The latches do not need to be engaged.
  • It is highly recommended that in windy or inclement weather these latches be engaged to maintain the stability of the watercraft.

The Stainless-Steel model only comes in the Dockside Bolt on Model.
It is great for Floating Docks in a Salt Water Harbor environment.

You asked for our recommendation on why aluminum vs. Stainless Steel:

Aluminum models are great for fresh water applications; whereas Stainless Steel is best for brine or salt water applications.

It must be noted that:

  • Stainless Steel will rust under certain conditions. However, it does take much more time for this to happen. ” Don’t use disinfectants, abrasives, or cleaners that contain bleach, alcohol, ammonia, or chlorides, all of which can harm stainless.
  • I’ve found Bartenders Friend (available at Grocery Stores, Home Improvement stores, Walmart, Target, and the like) very good at removing rust from Stainless Steel.
  • Aluminum is the 3rd best material for use in a salt water Marine environment. This is after Stainless Steel and Red Metals (Brass, Copper, and Bronze).
  • The choice of using an aluminum rack in a salt water environment boils down to cost of the Rack vs. Maintenance. A Stainless-Steel Rack is more costly, whereas the Aluminum Rack needs to be washed with fresh water much more frequently.

Do you make a rack that can be used to house both a kayak and a SUP?              

The DockSider Lift and Dock Storage Rack will work fine for both Kayaks and SUP’s.  Indeed, they are the same rack. We list them separately for the customer looking for one or the other independently.

The rack will hold only one kayak, and some customers have stored two SUP’s at a time (one on top of the other and upside down).

Will this work on canoe’s as well?

“I have an Old Town 15′ that weighs about 75lbs      “

We have a specific product for Canoes. Click the link below to see the product.

https://dockcraft.com/product/canoe-dock-lift-storage-rack/

Do you have one product that allows to secure both a kayak and Paddle Board?

“I’d rather not have to buy 2. One that fits 2 is ideal.”

No, we do not.  The current design of the DockSider Dock Storage Rack will hold one Kayak or Paddle Board.  Some customers have placed 1 SUP on top of the other and then loaded and stored 2 Paddle Board in our rack.  We know of one customer that has stored their kayak in our Lift and Dock Storage system; then placed their SUP on the dock and leaned it against the rack and bungeed it to the rack for storage.

We believe that storing 2 watercraft in a lifting system would at  best clumsy and perhaps difficult creating safety issues for the user.

If I buy the dockside design can you still enter it from the water?            

There is no reason why you could not load / launch and store your watercraft with the Dockside unit and then float your watercraft to a “shallow” location for boarding.

We do not recommend loading, launching, or storing your watercraft in the Dockside unit while you are in the water for safety reasons.  The dockside unit will rotate back into the water if you “lose control” or do not latch the latches.  If for some reason you may stub your toe or trip on an underwater obstacle, you may incur personal injury if the watercraft does rotate back toward you.

Back to TOP

Dock Mounts

 

Which mount is stronger / more secure; the Bolt On or Clamp On Mount?
We must say that the Bolt on Mount is probably more secure; However, both mounts are more than adequate to do the job. We like to compare it to killing a mosquito with a fly swatter or a sledge hammer – they both are effective!

To bolt this on to my dock, do I need to get under the dock?

The DockSider Lift and Dock Storage Rack has two different mounting options.

For the bolt option, it comes with Snaptogglers; if you use these to mount the rack, you Do Not need to access the underside of your dock to secure them in place. However, if there are structural members under the decking in a mounting location, you could get a lag bolt from a hardware/home improvement store and use those instead.

For the clamp mount, you definitely need to have access underneath your dock.

Can I mount this to a concrete sea wall?

We have had customers mount our Lift and Dock Storage system to a concrete sea wall (also railroad tie break walls), with success. You would need to choose the Bolt On Mount for this application and use concrete anchors. The top of the concrete wall should be roughly level, not sloped to any great degree.

How far apart are the vertical upright pieces of the rack?

The mounting position for the Dockside unit is 32 inches apart and

The mounting position for the Waterside unit is 26 ½ inches apart.

For the bolt-on mount, how many inches does the plate extend onto the pier?

The bolt-on mount extends over the dock 6 inches. The mounting locations are 2 ¼” and 5” in from the edge of the dock.

Back to TOP

Saltwater & Tides

Will this work if I live in a tidal area?     

  • This unit will not accommodate tides greater than 20 inches.

Yes, this unit can be adjusted for different water heights, however, doing this throughout the day to accommodate the tide height would seem to be unrealistic.

  • This unit is designed for customers that have floating docks in saltwater harbors, typically with 15 inches of freeboard to the water.
  • If you live on fresh water and have a smaller floating dock; the weight of the watercraft hanging on the side of the dock may cause the dock to be higher on one side than the other. Please call us at 585-734-7374 or email us at info@dockcraft.com for further details.

Will this work in saltwater?       

  • We offer a Stainless-Steel version of our product; specifically, for those customers in a saltwater environment.
    The Aluminum version of our product will also work fine; with the exception that it requires more maintenance.
  • Aluminum is the 3rd best material for use in a salt water Marine environment. This is after Stainless Steel and Red Metals (Brass, Copper, and Bronze).
  • The choice of using an aluminum rack in a salt water environment boils down to Cost of the Rack vs. Maintenance. A Stainless-Steel Rack is more costly, whereas the Aluminum Rack needs to be washed with fresh water much more frequently to minimize any corrosion build up.

Is this dock rack good for a tidal river?  

  • This unit will not accommodate tides greater than 20 inches.
  • Yes, this unit can be adjusted for different water heights, however, doing this throughout the day to accommodate the tide height would seem to be unrealistic.
  • If you live on a tidal river (the water is a Brine) and have a smaller floating dock; the weight of the watercraft hanging on the side of the dock may cause the dock to be higher on one side than the other. Please call us at 585-734-7374 or email us at info@dockcraft.com for further details.
  • We offer a Stainless-Steel version of our product; specifically, for those customers in a saltwater environment.
  • The Aluminum version of our product will also work fine; with the exception that it requires more maintenance.
  • Aluminum is the 3rd best material for use in a salt water Marine environment. This is after Stainless Steel and Red Metals (Brass, Copper, and Bronze).
  • The choice of using an aluminum rack in a salt water environment boils down to Cost of the Rack vs. Maintenance. A Stainless-Steel Rack is more costly, whereas the Aluminum Rack needs to be washed with fresh water much more frequently to minimize any corrosion build up.

Back to TOP

Watercraft:

I just purchased the predator which has an electric motor. Will this dock rack be adequate?      

  • I believe you are referring to the Old Town Predator PDL kayak.
  • The Specs on this Sit on Top are: 13 ft long, width of 36 inches, and weight of 117 lbs. (with the pedal drive).
  • First things first – the width of 36 inches is 2 inches beyond the specs we have published on our system. This may work fine; however, we believe it is marginal.  We could also provide handle extensions, at a nominal cost, that would definitely accommodate the Predator’s width.
  • I would also recommend removing the motor and the peddle drive prior to loading your predator into the Docksider Lift and Dock Storage Rack. This would definitely improve the weight and balance of this kayak.
  • Please give us a call (585-734-7374) or email us at info@dockcraft.com to discuss this further.

Will this work for a Hobie mirage oasis, width 34″?        

Yes, we have many customers with a Hobie Oasis using this dock rack!
For an Oasis, as with all Hobies with the Mirage drive, we recommend that the Mirage drive be removed prior to loading the Hobie in the rack — the Mirage drive is very easily removable. This will prevent the rowing fins from engaging in the lifting straps.

What do you suggest for heavier Kayaks. I have a Hobie PA 12 which is listed at 129 lbs?             

The Pro Angler 12 is rated at 129lbs. at a fully rigged weight.

Fully rigged weight includes:

  • the Fitted Hull Weight (105 #s), plus all other standard features that are removable, e.g.
    (Mirage Drive, seat, paddles, gear bucket, cassette plug, Pro Anglers (removable liner),
    Islands (sail, amas – outrigger, akas brace, dagger board), Inflatables (travel bag, pump, repair kit).
  • With just the fitted weight and the seat, I believe to weight would be about 108 lbs. This weight would be fine for our standard product.

I have a Hobie Mirage Oasis….if we remove the peddle drives is this the best durable product for us ?

Ease of storage and launch is important.

We have many satisfied customers with a Hobie Oasis using our dock rack! For an Oasis, as with all Hobies with the Mirage drive, we recommend that the Mirage drive be removed prior to loading the Hobie in the rack — the Mirage drive is very easily removable. This will prevent the rowing fins from engaging in the lifting straps. So, we find it works well, you should be fine and find this a durable solution for storing and launching your kayak, and easy to use.

I have a 9 ft dingy with a 3 horse power motor on it, Do you have any ideas to get it out of the water every night?

I liked this lift, but I think my boat is too big.

You have posed a very difficult question, to answer properly – I would need much more information.

  • I would definitely recommend that you remove the motor prior to loading your dingy, not only for weight but also for balance.
  • The length would not be an issue.
  • The width, I suspect is significant over the specified 34 inches. This could possibly be resolved with handle extensions, but I would need to understand the width / beam of your dingy prior to making any recommendation.
  • The height of the dingy off the water, I would also suspect to be a potential concern. If the gunnels of the dingy are higher than the dock decking surface (when floating next to the dock), then our Lift and Dock Storage Rack would probably not be an option.

Feel free to call us at 585-734-7374 or email us at info@dockcraft .com to discuss this application further.

My kayak is 35” wide, and this rack is recommended for 34”. Can it still work for my kayak?      

There is a good possibility that a 35-inch-wide kayak would work fine.

With the kayak sitting at an angle in the rack, the 35 in wide kayak should be fine.

Why do we spec the rack at 34 inches?  The height of the rack and handle is 34 inches.  Looking at geometries and how the kayak actually sits in the rack actually allows this greater width kayak.

Is it possible to hang a double place kayak on these?    

By a double space kayak, I assume you are referring to a Tandem Kayak.

We have many customers with Tandem kayaks using “The DockSider”.

Just assure that you kayak meets our specifications.

Is there any limitation on maximum length of kayak this system will accommodate?

Will it support a 14.5’ kayak?             

We have customers that have up to 18-foot kayaks in our Lift and Dock Storage Rack.

Some customer with Kayaks greater than 16 feet do bungee the bow and stern to the dock for stability in very windy conditions.

Some customers do not.

It is really a personal preference; it certainly will not hurt anything if you do.

Back to TOP