To protect your dock from a storm, give it room to move with rising water, take off anything that can blow or float away, and secure the boat on its lift or lines before the weather arrives. During the storm, stay off the dock and keep shore power shut off. Afterward, inspect everything before using it.

Storm prep checklist

• Anchoring: add cable and chain slack for high water; free up pipe brackets and stiff arms.
• Loose items: move furniture, kayaks and dock boxes to land.
• Fabric: remove or tighten canopy covers and shade.
• Boat: raise it on the lift so it can’t bang against the dock, then tie it off to the dock with lines in case the lift lowers; boats without a lift need doubled lines and fenders.
• Power: shut off shore power at the breaker.
• Photos: document the dock, lift and boat for insurance.
• Safety: stay off the dock until the storm and high water pass.

Before the storm: anchoring and high water

Give cables and chains slack for rising water

A floating dock rides up with the lake only as far as its anchoring lets it. If cables or chains are snug at normal pool and the lake rises several feet, the anchors pull that side down, which can tip the deck or tear a bracket loose. Before a big rain, let out enough slack to cover the highest water your lake has seen. Cables paired with winches let you adjust the dock as conditions change.

Before high water arrives, inspect your cables and replace any that are frayed or corroded. When the water goes back down, take the extra slack up again.

Pipe brackets and stiff arms

Pipe brackets need to slide freely, and the pipe has to stick up higher than the expected rise. If water tops the pipe, the dock comes loose. Where water levels swing a lot or wind is severe, we lean toward piling brackets. Stiff arms should pivot freely at both ends. Tighten loose bolts, but don’t lock out the movement the hardware is built to allow.

Floating vs. stationary docks in high water

Floating docks handle rising water better because they move with it. Fixed docks can end up under water and lose deck boards, while a floating dock with enough slack rides the rise out. A stationary or roll-in dock, like the DAKA docks we carry, stays put, so once water tops the deck, waves and debris hit it directly. If a big rise is forecast and your roll-in dock can come out, pull it. Our floating vs. stationary guide covers which type fits your water.

Clear the deck and secure loose items

Anything not bolted down can blow off, float away or get thrown into your boat. Move furniture, tools and storage containers to a dry spot, and detach fixtures like dock boxes. Add kayaks, paddle boards, tubes, coolers, grills, fuel cans and umbrellas, and store them on land, not on a rack at the end of the dock.

Boats, lines, fenders and lifts

Boats tied to the dock

If the boat stays at the dock, double up the lines and make them long enough for the rise. Keep in mind that nylon rope stretches, and protect lines from chafe with hose or tape. Hang fenders on the side the wind will push against, and don’t lash boats together.

Boats on lifts

We recommend raising the boat on the lift ahead of a storm. Up on the lift, it can’t bang against the side of the dock in strong wind and wake. Raise it to the highest safe position so rising water can’t float it off the bunks, then tie it off to the dock with lines so it stays put if the lift lowers. Check the lift cables, pulleys and brackets before you raise it. Floating lifts, like the Econolift models we carry, rise with the water, so their mounts and the dock’s anchoring need the same slack check.

Canopies and shade covers

A canopy cover acts like a sail in high wind and loads the frame and lift. If strong wind is forecast, take the cover off or make sure it is tight and every tie-down is in good shape. Our winterizing guide covers canopy storage for the off-season.

Safety during the storm

• Stay off the dock in lightning, high wind and high water.
• Shut off shore power before the storm to avoid electrical hazards during flooding.
• Treat high water around a powered dock as dangerous. Current leaking from docks and boats can cause electric shock drowning, and you can’t see it. Don’t wade near a powered dock.
• Wear a life jacket any time you work near the dock while water is up.

After the storm: inspection and cleanup

Once the storm has passed and the water is dropping, keep the power off and walk the dock carefully:

1. Check cables, chains, winches, pipe brackets and stiff arm pins. Take up extra slack once the water drops.
2. Look at how the dock sits. A dock that leans or rides low may have a damaged or loose float. Our float replacement guide covers the signs.
3. Look for bent frame members, cracked welds and loose decking.
4. Clear debris piled against the dock once it is safe. It adds load and can damage floats.
5. Check lift cables, motors and blowers before running the lift, and have an electrician check any wiring that went under water.

Photos for insurance

We tell customers to photograph the dock and tied-up boats before a storm. Take matching photos afterward, report damage to your insurer right away, and read your policy before storm season.

Storm repairs, dock relocation and DockGuard

If a storm bends a frame, breaks floats or pushes your dock out of position, we handle dock repair and dock relocation for homeowners, marinas and lake associations. DockGuard, our dock maintenance and inspection membership on Lake of Egypt, includes quarterly storm checks plus a check after any storm, and helps catch worn cables, loose hardware and failing floats before storm season.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much slack should my dock cables have for high water?

Enough to cover the highest water you expect, plus a margin. Lakes rise differently, so there isn’t one number for every dock. Look at how high your lake has come up in past floods and let out cable or chain so the dock can ride that high without being pulled down. When the water drops, take the extra slack back up.

Should I leave my boat on the lift during a storm?

We recommend raising it on the lift. Up on the lift, the boat can’t bang against the side of the dock in strong wind and wake, and rising water can’t float it off the bunks. Raise it to the lift’s highest safe position, tie it off to the dock with lines so it stays put if the lift lowers, and take off loose gear. Check the lift cables first, and remove or tighten the canopy cover.

Should I shut off power to my dock before a storm?

Yes. Turn off shore power to the dock and lift at the breaker before the storm and leave it off while the water is high. Electricity leaking into water can cause electric shock drowning, and you can’t see it. Have an electrician check any wiring, motors or lights that went under water before the power goes back on.

Do floating docks handle floods better than stationary docks?

Usually, yes. A floating dock rises with the water as long as its anchoring has enough slack and its pipes or pilings are tall enough. A stationary or roll-in dock stays at a fixed height, so high water can top the deck and push waves and debris into it. If a big rise is forecast and your roll-in dock can come out, pull it.

What should I check on my dock after a storm?

Wait until the storm passes and the water is going down, and keep the power off. Check cables, chains, winches and pipe brackets, see whether the dock sits level, and look for loose decking, bent frame members and cracked welds. Clear piled-up debris when it is safe, check the lift before running it, and photograph any damage for insurance.

Get your dock ready before the next storm

Send us photos of your dock, anchoring and lift, and we’ll tell you what needs attention. Call 618-294-6905 or request a quote.