Waterfront Safety Gear

How to Build a Dock Ladder: Dimensions, Materials, and Mounting

· October 23, 2026
Cut aluminium tube, angle stock, stainless through-bolts and backing plates laid out on a workbench

If you want to build a dock ladder, you have probably already shopped for one. I did too. Most docks fit a standard commercial ladder, and most people should simply buy one. Our dock ladder buying guide covers what to look for. This post is for the cases where buying fails: unusual freeboard, a wide … Read more

Dock Ladders for Seniors and Limited Mobility: What Actually Works

· October 23, 2026
Wide-tread aluminium dock stairs with handrails on both sides descending into calm water

If you are searching for dock ladders for seniors, you probably have a parent, a partner, or yourself who can no longer pull a full body weight up a rung. I hear this question more than any other from people on the water. The honest answer is that a vertical ladder is often the wrong … Read more

The Safety Kit Every Dock Should Have — I Learned the Hard Way

· June 29, 2026
The Safety Kit Every Dock Should Have — I Learned the Hard Way

Two decades of Gulf Coast dock work means I’ve watched countless beautiful installations go up—custom decking, built-in seating, underwater lighting—and I can count on one hand how many had safety equipment staged where it actually belonged. A near-tragedy on a Pensacola Bay renovation back in 2011 was the wake-up call that fundamentally shifted how I … Read more