By: Matt Spencer When it comes to cottages,the dock is just as important as the roof and walls of the cottage itself – or, arguably, more important! On those hot, sunny summer days, 90 per cent of your time is usually spent sitting, laying, eating or jumping off of that very dock. It’s a social hub of activity where you wave to passersby, entertain visitors and watch the kids enter and re-enter the lake again and again. However, when it comes to maintenance or putting the dock in or out for the season, this summer best friend quickly changes to the bane of your existence. Sure, for the most part, these projects may only take a day of hard work, leaving you the rest of summer to rein in the spoils of that hard work. But many cottagers still regret having to dip into the frigid May waters to put out the dock or adjust a support. This leaves many cottagers wishing it were easier. Wishing there was a way they could have a dock and not have the inevitable stresses that come with it – to have their proverbial cake and eat it too. There are three main types of docks that most cottagers use: the standard pole dock for shallow, sheltered waters, tower docks that can be raised for high waves and floating docks for those in deeper waters. Whatever your particular docking need, most companies on the market today offer low-maintenance, if not maintenance-free, options. As a cottager you’re probably thinking, “It’s about time!” – Dan Doig of Dock in a Box couldn’t agree more. “After years in the marine industry, I got tired of hearing people’s various complaints about their docks, so I decided to come up with a solution.” And that he has. One of the many ways Dock in a Box is different is in the decking choices they offer. The company’s most popular is a special fibre-reinforced plastic called DeckWave. This non-skid surface features a semi-open grid pattern that allows water and light to pass through. A third of the weight of most other decking panels, it is also more manageable and has none of the staining or painting headaches of wood – and no slivers or loose nails. The lifespan of DeckWave is an impressive 30 to 40 years, which could be longer than you own the cottage! EZ Dock offers those in need of a floating dock of all sizes an environmentally friendly solution of interlocking dock sections made up of a low-linear density polyethylene that are attractive and cool to the touch in the sun. There is no foam in the chambers and the modular design allows you to design any size and shape of dock you like – just like pieces in a puzzle. No matter who you choose for your next dock design, rejoice in knowing that there are solutions out there for those at the “end of their dock” when it comes to maintenance headaches. Each one is sure to be right for you and then you can say goodbye to staining, nailing and putting the docks out in cold water, and say hello to the beautiful view and days of fun by the water.