At one time or another, a boatowner bemoans the amount of storage they have on board. If the boat is kept in a marina, the owner can often take advantage of the available extra space in an accessory known as a “dock box.”
These large white boxes line the walkways at many marinas, but sometimes a slip owner might have to provide his or her own box, especially in a dockominium or similar situation where the slip or mooring is privately owned.
First, there’s the box itself. Most experts recommend that it be made of fiberglass finished in a gelcoat. This is the same construction process used for 90% of the recreational pleasureboats on the market. Gelcoat resists ultraviolet (UV) rays better than paint and lasts longer as a finish.
Dock box hardware should be stainless-steel and fasteners such as latches should secure tightly so the top can’t be blown open in inclement weather. It’s unlikely that a dock box will be waterproof, but you want one that’s as water-resistant as possible. Make sure the hatch closes on a thick rubber seal to keep out water. For security, the box should be able to be locked, whether it’s with an integrated mechanism or via a hasp and padlock.
So you don’t have to waste time an energy holding up the hatch with one hand, make sure the hatch opens and stays up on pneumatic or folding struts.
Online retailer Dock Boxes Unlimited sells rectangular units ranging from the Mini model at 33” wide by 24.25” deep by 17.5” high to the 3X large model measuring 96” wide, 22.25” deep and 24.5” high.
Other popular models include triangle dock boxes that fit into corners or in the union between fingers, upright versions that resemble a gym locker, and three low-profile offerings ranging from 47.25” wide to 85” wide at heights of just 17”. For added versatility, you can get dock boxes with bench seats on top.
What’s Inside
If you’ve ever found yourself packing away a collection of fenders at the end of the season, you know how much space they consume. Some fenders, like those from Taylor Marine, can be deflated by using a sports ball-inflating needle, but that process is time consuming and tedious.
“My father had a 38-foot boat, and he had all these fenders filling up his lazarette,” said Ted Corlett, founder of Easy Stow Fenders, which started around 2002 outside Chicago. He had invented a product called the Boom Kicker as a shock-absorber for sailboat masts and has since stopped marketing this product so he can focus on the fenders.”
What makes Easy Stow Fenders an ideal choice for a dock box is that they’re designed to deflate. “Ours is a pillow design,” said Corlett. “Instead of having one layer, the air is in an interior bladder.”
The bladder is made of urethane and inflates with a tube that’s basically kinked when the fender is full. Bend the hose to 90 degrees and push it under a cover to seal the inlet hose. Corlett notes that the air inside is pressurized at 30 psi. “Most fenders, you’re only talking 4 or 5 psi,” said Corlett.
Standard Easy Stow Fenders come in 6” and 12” standard diameters and custom models are available up to 18”. The most popular Easy Stow Fenders are 5’ long. They are intended to replace cumbersome fender boards and other clunky homemade contraptions. “You can’t store a 5’-long fender on a boat,” said Corlett, “and it takes about a minute to inflate a 12” diameter 5’-long Easy Stow Fender.”
When a deflated Easy Stow Fender is rolled up, Corlett estimates that it’s about 1/12 the size of a deflated version. He doesn’t offer storage bags yet, but he has made straps that secure with hook-and-loop fasteners like Velcro.
Easy Stow Fenders are available in two versions, standard, for recreational applications, and heavy-duty. The standard-duty is good for rafting up with other boats or use alongside a dock made of wood or other smooth material. The heavy-duty version is an extruded reinforced industrial tube that’s three times heavier than the standard-duty model. It has three loops sewn on each end and on the corners, so it can be hung vertically or side-by-side.
“The standard-duty is good for rafting up,” said Corlett. “If you’re going through locks against concrete walls, we recommend heavy-duty.” The company has been aligned with the Great Loop Association for a few years and used to exhibit at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Now the company primarily markets the fenders through its website, www.easystowfenders.com.
Cleanup Duty
Some fishing captains like to clean up during the middle of a trip, but most boaters do their wash-down at the end of the day back at the docks. That’s why a self-coiling hose is perfect for inside the dock box. One key to choosing a hose is the inside diameter. Experienced boaters recommend at least ½” inside diameter to supply adequate water pressure for cleaning up the mess after a day on the water. Marpac and HoseCoil, manufacturers of popular self-coiling hoses, say that the ½”-diameter hose increases flow rate 30 to 35%.
Both companies make their hoses out of non-kinking heavy-duty material, and the hoses are drinking-water safe. Marpac uses a quick-connect fitting with a shutoff and a removable quick-connect adaptor, while HoseCoil sticks with standard ¾” garden-style fittings for universal application.
Power Management
While you don’t want to use them with the self-coiling hoses, another handy item for a dock box is a shore power cord splitter. Even if you’re not using it for your boat, it could help ensure that a visiting boat can plug into a transient slip for a night.
Marinco is part of the Navico Group, which is owned by Brunswick Corporation. Its EEL System stands for Easily Engaged Lock and is designed to provide a more secure connection to a pedestal or other cord. On the male side, the EEL splitter attaches to the dock side receptacle or cord set. On the double side of the “Y” cord, the female connectors link to the boat inlet or cord set. The male side has capacity ratings of 30 amps and 150 volts locking while the female connectors each have 30-amp and 125-volt ratings.
Other manufacturers offering Y-style splitters with similar capacity ratings include Furrion, Mecmo, Hubbell and West Marine.
