Aluminum Dock Advantage - Great Northern Docks

DuraLITE docks are made with marine grade aluminum. This closed tube extrusion includes a nonslip top edge with a groove for drilling and mounting cleats. The top also has a larger groove to insert the snap on extrusion allowing the attachment of ladders, benches, mooring whip brackets, bumpers, hand rails or any other accessories to come in the future. The snap on extrusion clicks into the bottom of the DuraLITE extrusion and is secured into a track on the bottom where carriage bolts slide in from the corners of the dock frame.

The same track along the bottom of the DuraLITE dock extrusion is also for attaching braces, adjoining sections with the connections J-Brackets for Aluminum Stationary DuraLITE Docks and for the attachment of floats on Aluminum Floating DuraLITE Docks. The inner edge of the DuraLITE extrusion has a fin for supporting the decking and latching down the synthetic or cedar decking panels. The same fin is used for screwing down the perforated decking. The instructions provide illustrations showing how the many accessories attach to the DuraLITE dock frames.

The DuraLITE is the strongest aluminum dock in its class. The 6″ tall closed tube extrusion gets welded inside and outside the frame for superior strength. Other dock company’s may try to copy the same durable look with a 6″ tall outside open channel extrusion and slightly lower price but it is no match to the closed tube extrusions by Great Northern Docks. DuraLITE and FeatherLITE docks are better looking and hold their shape after many years.

Stationary DuraLITE docks are similar to the FeatherLITE docks (smaller 5″ tall extrusion) with corner extrusion welded into the frame corners for installing 1.5″ schedule 40 galvanized pipe used as legs. The legs are clamped in place by 2 set screws with 500 lb. holding capacity on each set screw. 2 set screws keep the pipe from pivoting on a single set screw having more stability once both are tightened. In the corner extrusion on the DuraLITE and FeatherLITE stationary docks a bar is inserted at the factory that has tapped holes and the greased set screws installed. The set screw bar is long so will never roll within the extrusion as a nut would when over tightened. Plastic guards are attached to cover the top open corner socket extrusion for safety from sharp edges. Once dock frames are level the pipes can be installed down through the sockets. Pipe feet can go on the pipes for extra support on soft soil. The pipe foot has a hole to allow the pipe to be driven beneath the foot. The foot has one set screw to clamp it to the pipe.

Great Northern Docks Floating Aluminum docks are made with the same DuraLITE extrusion without the corner sockets. The Floating docks will have hinges for connecting them together. Anchor chain holders can be mounted to the DuraLITE dock frames. Dock cleats are usually installed once the boat is near to decide on the ideal location of each cleat.

A few key advantages are: