| In some parts of the country, ice can cause a lot of | | | | suspending the unit. Under normal circumstances, the |
| problems for dock owners. According to the boating | | | | ice will be cleared from the target area in a matter of |
| industry publication "Trade Only", this damage | | | | hours. |
| amounts to millions each year. Many private dock | | | | There are several popular brands of in-water de-icers |
| owners watch in frustration each year as ice slowly | | | | that are readily available, and they vary in unit power, |
| rips their dock to shreds. There are three main was | | | | voltage and cord length. Voltage will be determined |
| ice damages boat docks. | | | | by the power source available at the dock. 110v is |
| One way this happens is if the frozen surface of a | | | | the most common, but many docks are equipped |
| body of water slowly shifts with wind or current. | | | | with 220v. You will need a cord long enough to allow |
| This can be imperceptibly slow, but there can be a | | | | you to position your unit in the water, but plug in to |
| lot of mass behind the motion - Enough to crush a | | | | a dry ground-fault interrupted power source or |
| dock. | | | | suitable extension cord. The connection will need to |
| Another common problem is heave or "Piling Jacking" | | | | be located where it is not in danger of being |
| which occurs when water levels change. Ice forms | | | | submerged. Typical cord lengths range from 25' to as |
| around pilings during low water and then floats when | | | | long as 150'. The power of the unit is determined by |
| the water levels rise, pulling the piling from the | | | | your typical ice clearing needs. A handy de-icer |
| bottom. When the water drops again, a new band of | | | | performance table can help you decide what size unit |
| ice forms at the water line and the process is | | | | you'll need for your dock application. |
| repeated. | | | | As you can imagine, running one of these electric |
| The final source of damage occurs when loose slabs | | | | de-icing options around the clock for months at a |
| of floating ice, driven by the wind or currents collide | | | | time can run up the electric bill. Many dock owners |
| with the dock. These battering rams don't have to | | | | set up a special thermostat or timer that controls the |
| be moving very fast to cause a lot of damage. | | | | operation of the bubbler or de-icer. These units are |
| The best way to avoid dock damage is to remove | | | | located above the water and control power to the |
| the dock from the water during the winter months. | | | | de-icer unit. The thermostats will turn on when air |
| However, that isn't always possible. Fortunately, | | | | temperature drops below a set point, and will turn |
| there are a couple options to help protect docks | | | | off when the temperature rises above a set point. |
| from ice. The first solution is called a "Dock Bubbler". | | | | That means that if the temperature rises above |
| Dock bubblers consist of a compressed air source | | | | freezing for several days, or (or even for the |
| and perforated pipe or hose that is secured to the | | | | afternoon) the de-icer is shut down and saves |
| lake or river bottom around the perimeter of the | | | | power. Note that a lot of the thermostats are |
| dock. If set up correctly, a bubbler will emit a curtain | | | | calibrated either for fresh water or salt water, so |
| of bubbles that will cause water circulation. The | | | | make sure you choose one that is appropriate for |
| bubbles will push warmer water from below to the | | | | your application. |
| surface to the top, melting the ice. | | | | Timers work on a similar principal, allowing the deicer |
| The second option is to install an in-water de-icer. | | | | to work for several hours, then shut down for |
| In-water de-icers, sometimes called dock or marine | | | | several hours. It may take a little trial and error to |
| de-icers have a submersible motor ranging between 1 | | | | determine the optimal time sequence for your |
| 4 HP and 1 HP that drives a propeller. These units are | | | | particular conditions. |
| suspended below the dock or from a float anchored | | | | While deicers will protect against ice forming around a |
| just outside of the dock. In-water de-icers create a | | | | dock, and can be used to form an open water break |
| flow of water, again, pulling warmer water from | | | | to keep the shifting ice from crushing a dock, it |
| below the surface and directing it at the target area | | | | won't protect against floating ice. In some areas, |
| of the surface. If suspended vertically, a dock de-ier | | | | particularly on rivers, large chunks of ice propelled by |
| will create a roughly round area of cleared ice. If | | | | the current or wind can act as a battering ram, |
| suspended at an angel they will clear an elliptical area. | | | | pummeling docks. If you are faced with this danger, |
| They need to clear an area larger than the dock, | | | | you may need to place protective pylons, or floating |
| forming open water around the pilings or floating | | | | booms to deflect moving ice away from the dock |
| portions of the structure. In-water de-icers can be | | | | and shore side structures. |
| installed even after ice forms, buy cutting a hole and | | | | |