Why Floating & Removable Docks - Fishing Piers - Marina ..

Understanding the concept of Floating Docks , Piers etc.

Floating docks are relatively easy and economical to build, adaptable to most shorelines and, because they are held up by the water, the distance between the top of the dock’s deck and the surface of the water - known as freeboard - remains fairly constant, varying only with dock load and high seas.

Since a floating dock is not dependent on submerged lands to hold it up, the added benefit is that there is no maximum water depth that prevents its use. 

From an environmental perspective, floating docks cause minimal direct disruption to submerged lands; disruption typically caused by anchors, spuds, or pilings. 
In fact, if secured to the shore only, there may be no contact with submerged lands at all.
 
When it comes to stability, a floating dock works best when it is made long, wide, low, and heavy. 

The consensus among dock builders is that 1.8 metres (approx. 6 feet) x 6.1 metres (approx. 20 feet) is the minimum size for a stable floater; this single section weighing in at about 450 kilograms  minimum and bigger is even better for stability. 

When it comes to rough water environment, flexible cube float  is excellent in absorbing wave energy. 

In addition to size and shape, float type and float location also contribute to stability.