From a press release by the Dane County Executive Board:

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney and Dane County Board Chair Scott McDonell issued the declaration [Aug 22nd] for the surface areas of lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa.

WKOW TV reports yesterday that the Dane County sheriff is surveying the situation to determine whether to implement a total no wake on the lakes.

Currently, the no wake zone extends 500 feet from shore. “Slow No Wake” means a boat must move as slowly as possible while still maintaining steering control and produce no wake. Officials will be out enforcing the rule, and violators will be ticketed.

Recent flooding in the area has affected boats and shoreline equipment in other ways, too. Our crews have been out for the past week on “rescue missions”. Boats & other equipment are suffering from the excessive rain and the flooding it’s producing. Some people have been reporting that waters have gotten high enough in their areas that boats are floating off boat lifts, and pier sections are floating away. Even if we get no more rain, this is a situation which won’t go away soon. Under the best conditions, it takes several weeks for the lakes to drain off this much water. If we end up getting more rain, the situation will only get worse.

If you have a pier or boat boat lift, we recommend you call to have them removed now. If you plan on boating after the Labor Day weekend, it’s best to launch from a trailer. While this may be an inconvenience, it’s the best way to protect your equipment from damage during these unusually severe conditions.

Boats are made to go in the water. However… Water should not go in the boats–at least not this much water. This is what happens when a boat is forced to deal with a couple feet of rain and flood conditions, without being allowed to drain.

We took one of our barges out to the river this weekend and rescued the boat in question–one of 3 such rescues in the past few days. Damage, however, had already been done. Sitting underneath muddy water is never good for a boat. It’s even worst for an electric trolling motor.

These are the types of situations that boat lifts are designed to prevent. Sitting up high on a lift, a boat is safe from all but the most severe flooding, and storing the boat with the drain plug out will prevent the water from sitting inside the boat and damaging the interior and expensive electronics. Everyone recognizes the convenience of a boat lift. Not everyone thinks about the extra protection they provide in severe conditions.

View more pictures of the rescue in our gallery.

The 2nd of the three most common materials for decking on piers is aluminum. ShoreMaster, ShoreStation, and Porta-Dock all offer aluminum decking on their docks.

Strength The most obvious advantage of aluminum decking is, of course, its strength. It’s easily the strongest of the 3 main decking materials, especially on a pound-for-pound basis; It takes a lot less aluminum to support the same amount of weight.

Durability Aluminum stands the test of time. It can handle continual heavy use with little or no effect. There are highway bridges in the US which use aluminum decking. These bridges are subject to constant traffic from all sizes of vehicles. Rigorous testing has shown that even after almost 3 decades of constant use, the aluminum decking on these bridges show very little damage or loss of strength.

Weight A 4′ x 8′ section of aluminum deck is only about 50lbs.–light enough for one person to lift, and handle.

Color Modern powder-coating techniques allow manufacturers to apply a durable, textured finish to the aluminum, making it safer, cooler to the touch, and better looking.

As always, if you have any questions about docks and what the best solution is for your particular needs, please let us know. We’re more than happy to help.

When you’re looking at purchasing a new dock, one of the choices you’ll have is the type of material you want for the decking. The most common are Aluminum and Cedar. The decision is often made without much thought. A new dock is a big purchase, and one that should last for many years. Making good choices now will help to insure that you’re still happy with your dock years down the road.

ShoreStation, Porta-Dock, Shore Master, Wickcraft, and Endres all offer you a choice of decking material (though not all offer the same choices). The three most common decking materials are aluminum, vinyl, and red cedar.

Over the next few days, we’ll take a look at the benefits of each of these materials.

Cedar Decking

Natural red cedar is the wood of choice for dock manufacturers. It offers strength, durability, and beauty. It’s also a renewable resource grown and milled right here in the US and Canada.

Dimensional Stability Western Red Cedar is known for its “demensional stability”. This means that once it’s cut, it holds its shape and size. Other softwoods will warp and shrink causing the nails and screws holding them down to loosen, resulting in a dock that creaks and clatters. Cedar will stay flat and tight.

Natural Resistance One of the best-known reasons for using cedar for decking is its natural resistance to the ravages of moisture. Natural preservatives produced by the wood kill off fungus, leaving the deck clean and strong. Other chemicals produced by the wood ward of insects that can eat through other woods, weakening them.

Fire Resistance While fire may not be one of the top concerns for your dock, it’s good to know that cedar decking has a natural flame resistance that allows it to be used without the addition of chemical flame retardants. This means there’s no chance of harmful chemicals leaching out into the lake.

Durability Unlike many other woods, Western Red Cedar handles the outdoors easily, lasting for decades in even harsh environments. It handles sun, rain, heat, and cold without a problem.

Beauty There’s just something classy about a cedar dock. It’s got a friendly look that adds “street appeal” to your lakeside home. The thick boards give a soft, yet solid feel when walking on them, and they stay cool to the touch even under the hot summer sun. Whether you paint the lumber, stain it, or just leave it natural, it’s got a look that says you understand quality.

source: Western Red Cedar Lumber Association

This fall, we’re bringing back a favorite deal: Call now to have your lift and dock removed before October 1st, and receive 5% off. This is an excellent opportunity if you have a summer home on the lake. You can close up your lake home comfortable in the knowledge that everything is being taken care of by professionals–and you’ve saved some money as well.

Give us a call at 608-592-4022 or use our online service request.