We’ve made it quick and convenient for you to install your Dock-Wells on a wooden dock.
Before you start the installation of the Dock-Well ensure that you have the proper personal protective equipment (safety glasses, etc.) and safety equipment. If you are working in an aquatic or marine environment, make sure that no chemicals that will negatively impact aquatic life enter the aquatic habitat around you. In no event shall Dock-Well and its trustees, officers and employees be liable for any liability, loss, injury or risk which is incurred or suffered as a direct or indirect result of the use or installation of Dock-Well products.
Step 1
Locate a suitable position for the Dock-Well for both the fore and aft of your boat. It is very important to select a location such that after you drill the insertion hole, there is nothing below the hole that will interfere with the free up and down movement of the rope - but please check before you drill the hole.
The installation position should be as close to the edge of the dock as practical - approximately 8" to 10" from the edge to the center of the hole is typical, as seen below. If you are replacing an existing cleat, then perhaps use the same location if you can.
You should select locations such that once the boat is secured, the dock lines form an angle of approximately 60 degrees relative to the edge of the dock, as seen above. By having the ropes so positioned, this will assist in keeping your boat in position along the edge of the dock so it doesn’t tend to wander fore or aft and possibly come into contact with your neighbours boat.
Step 2
Once you have selected the locations, install the hole saw into your power drill and drill 2 installation holes – one for each Dock-Well. Ensure that the pilot drill is securely tightened into the arbor before you start and that it extends about ½” below the cutting edge of the hole saw. As you drill, periodically raise the hole saw out of the hole to help clear the wood chips to prevent jamming.
Step 3
With the two installation holes drilled, position the Dock-Well in the hole and rotate the Dock-Well to ensure that you will have sufficient edge distance from the screw holes to the edge of the board, using the hole in the Dock-Well as a guide. The pilot drill ensures that the screws will have maximum pull out strength and you will not have any issues with the boards splitting from the pressure of the screws. Use the pilot drill bit to drill holes for the screws, using the Dock-Well holes as a guide.
Step 4
Drill or screw your three Torx screws through the Dock-Well into the dock using the Torx T30 driver bit. There is no need to over tighten these screws, as long as they are snug, that is all you need. We recognize that the Torx fasteners are not likely a common type of screw head in many areas, but we have chosen to use the Torx
fasteners to reduce instances of people attempting to steal your Dock-Well units from your dock. Make sure that the screw heads are flush or slightly below the top of the Dock-Well so there is no tendency for anything to snag.
Step 5
The next step is to tie a ‘figure 8 knot’ in the dock line ABOVE the Dock-Well, and feed the rest of the rope through the Dock-Well and your dock. You will use the end of the fed-through rope to attach to a weight, in Step 6. Every installation will be different here, but what you are trying to achieve is to have about 8" of slack in the dock line, once it has been installed on the boat cleat.
This allows a small amount of freedom for your boat to sit quietly in the water and just bob around - without rubbing against the dock or the bumpers and causing wear and tear on the side of the boat. The figure 8 knot is easy to loosen up as they never get super tight and this feature makes it quick and easy to adjust the knot position to accommodate your boat and set the desired position against the dock.
The weight will be able to pull the dock line downward, but only until the knot comes in contact with the Dock-Well, then it stops and your boat is positioned.
If you have installed the Dock-Well at a fuelling station, then do not put this knot in the dock line, as you will want the boat to be positioned snugly against the dock for ease in fuelling the boat - plus every boat will be different anyway.
To the left is the suggested method of attaching the dock line loop to the boat cleat. You can simply loop the line over the cleat but you get a much more secure fastening by folding the loop back over itself and looping the result smaller loops over each end of the cleat.
Step 6
The final step is installing the weights. So you ask, “what do I use for a weight?” You are will need weights that are approximately 5 lb. each.
Depending on the size and weight of your boat, you might need about 7 lb., but from our experience we know that 10 lb. is too heavy, and too aggressive for most installations. If you are installing the Dock-Well at a fuel station, then in that case you might want to consider using a 10 lb. weight as this will bring the boats to the dock much more quickly and hold them in place more firmly against the fenders or dock bumpers.
You need a weight that will be corrosion resistant, especially if you are located on salt water. There are many weights that will do the job, including scuba weights, kettle bells, cement forms, or containers filled with sand, rocks, or concrete. The quickest method is to fill a bottle (from a milk bottle or other product) with sand. Another method is to use a standard yogourt container (650.0 g) as a form in which you pour concrete. As the concrete hardens, place a metal loop like a screw eye in the top, so that the dock line can attach easily to the weight. Whatever method you use, make sure you are not submerging a product that will release harmful chemicals into the water, affecting the water life below. Docks (and their additions) are prevented from releasing chemicals through Fisheries and Oceans Canada's regulations.
After Step 6, your dock well is now functional.
Completed Setup
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