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How to Make Dry Docks for Boats

Dry docks are used to hold water away from the hull of a boat during storage or maintenance. Permanent docks are built into the sides of canals and lakes, while boats docked in marinas use plastic dry docks that sit inside the water. Building a permanent dry dock can be done at home. Check on the laws and guidelines in your area to see of you need to obtain permits to begin your project.

Things You'll Need

Backhoe
Submersible pump
16 pieces of 2-by-4 wood
6 or more pieces of plywood
Roll of plastic sheets
Clay
Shovels
Cement
2 identical pulley systems
Roll of foam water-resistant striping approximately 4 feet wide

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a hole with the backhoe approximately 8 feet wide and 12 feet long at the edge of the water. Once water begins to fill in the hole, stop digging.
- 2
  Insert the submersible pump into the hole to start removing the water. Build an 8-foot-wide barrier for the water with 2-by-4 and plywood while the hole is draining. Screw the 2-by-4 around the edge of the plywood pieces and screw the units together to build the barrier. Cover the entire barrier in plastic to stop water from getting through the cracks.
- 3
  Place the barrier at the mouth of the dry dock, blocking the water from getting into the dry dock. Pack clay around the barrier to keep it in place temporarily.
- 4
  Dig the hole manually with shovels until it is approximately 3 feet or more below the surface of the water. The more water that can fit in the hole the easier it will be to float the boat out when repairs are complete.
- 5
  Flatten the bottom of the hole and walls using the shovels.
- 6
  Frame out the walls and floor with the 2-by-4 and plywood.
- 7
  Mix the cement and pour it into the framing of the walls and on the floor. Leave it to dry as directed on the package.
- 8
  Remove the barrier when the cement is dry. Letting water fill the hole will test the integrity of your walls and floor.
- 9
  Place the barrier back in its place and remove the water using the submersible pump. Fix any damage or problems that occurred when filling the hole with water.
- 10
  Install the two pulley systems on either side of the opening where the barrier is placed. Removing the barrier to install the pulleys is easier with some pulley systems. Ask your local hardware provider to tell you which system is best for lifting a dry dock barrier door and how to install it. Use instructions that came with the pulley system for installation as well.
- 11
  Build the barrier up by applying concrete around the frame you built.
- 12
  Place the water-resistant strip along either side of the opening where the barrier will be placed to ensure when it is dropped it is water tight.
- 13
  Build guides up either side of the opening using the 2-by-4 to guide the barrier into place easier. Ensure you place the guides on either side of the water-resistant strip. Skip this step if your pulley system came with guides for the barrier.
- 14
  Place the barrier in the guides and hook it up to the pulley system.
- 15
  Test the barrier by using the pulley's to lift it up and down. Correct any errors that occur while you are testing the barrier.
- 16
  Fill the dry dock with water and place the barrier in its position. Insert the submersible pump into the water to suck out all the water. Using multiple submersible pumps will make this step faster. Draining the dry dock will test if the barrier is water tight and allow you to see where adjustments need to be made. Make all adjustments needed to stop leaks.

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