From Dock to Tables

For years, the wooden floating dock migrated from the inner lagoon to the end of the pier in June and then back again by Labor Day. For the past eight years, this routine has been forced to change due to a deteriorating pier as well as the need to run boating for three seasons to accommodate schools visiting for outdoor education. We have run boating successfully in the outer lagoon for the past two years and are happy with this sheltered location.

Pierce County has also restricted new dock construction and repairs of old docks for our section of the Key Peninsula. This, along with an agreement made with the Nisqually Land Trust, necessitated demolishing the heavy floating dock by 2024. We took advantage of our resident AmeriCorps NCCC to accomplish this early.

Prep Work

The lagoon was, even during the project, a working waterfront. Boats had to be shifted.

Prep Work

The big Grumman “peace” canoes are heavy - even for a hearty team of eight NCCC members.

Wow

That’s a big, heavy dock in two sections. The dry weather had already lifted many of the boards and they were easy to pull up.

A good start.

But the tide is creeping in.

Pulling Nails (and Screws)

Over the years, staff tried anything to keep the boards down. The team members spend a lot of time yanking out bent nails and avoiding splinters.

And Now We are Afloat

Starting to rip out the structural framework. This was the hardest part and the team resorted to chainsaws eventually.

Hooray

One section is “deboarded”

Tire Floats

We figured there were 196 tires when the dock was new. Several were missing - having worked loose over the years. Tires are no longer allowed for floats in Washington State.

Sorting

Boards were 6 foot, 8 foot, and 16 foot. The team worked hard to sort and stack them once nails were pulled.

Tire Removal

Tires had to be pulled out of their framework More often than not, the framework would stick with the tire. The tires were stacked away from the boating area and high enough to survive the high tides.

Topper

The Topper company is still in business but they don’t make tire dock floats anymore.

Itty Bitty Dock

One corner of the dock was built with substantial, modern floats. This corner used to support the ramp that came down from the pier. The team saved this section to make a work barge.

Preparing the Work Barge

Before re-decking the work barge, the team had some structural work to do.

Re-Decking

With lots of boards to choose from, the team finished the deck of the work barge. Later, the lifeguard chair was added for summer camp boating.

Heavy Corners

The outer edges of the dock were especially heavy requiring the team to work together to move sections. The chainsaw came in handy.

Got Wood?

Lots of 2 by 6 and 2 by 10 pressure-treated lumber - stacked and sorted.

More Tires

Really hard sometimes to get at them.

How do you move over 150 tires?

You wait for an exceptionally high tide and herd them into the inner lagoon.

And then...

..you pull.

Always...

…with a smile and a positive attitude. This work is fun!

More Tires

The tires keep coming.

Log Jam - I mean Tire Jam

With the high tide, it was easy to get them out of the water and onto the grass - assuming they didn’t try to escape.

And onto the Truck

The tires were hauled up to another part of camp. Over the winter, the staff will strip them of the wood pieces before finding an economical way of disposing of them. If you have any ideas, give us a call.

The Boards are becoming Picnic Tables

After AmeriCorps departed, the staff began the process of making picnic tables with the dock lumber. Boards were cut, sanded and painted before they were assembled.

The First Tables

8 tables have been completed - one for each Shire cabin.

More Tables Can Be Built

We have LOTS of dock lumber remaining. Perhaps you, your family, your group can come out and build some more picnic tables. We have more places to put them.