Watch this to the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVuIU...layer_embedded

Whew! I just checked on the google maps satellite image and our dock looks fine.

:party-smiley-004:

Do most people run bubblers under the docks and lifts there? What is the usual winter temps in LOTO?

No, unfortunately they don't, I wish they did.
In temps like this, mine runs 16 out of the 24 hours a day, two hours on and one off to keep my dock and hoist clear.

It would be much easier on my stuff if both cheaper F...ers on either side of me would have one, but they're tight A$$E$.

I think right now the water is around mid to upper 30s, that's friggin' cold.

I was out fishing Sat and Sun and the water temp was 34.4-34.7. I'd expect the lake to re-freeze with these subzero temps tonight.

On the de-icers, I have thermostat that has both a water and air sensor; when both are in the zone the de-icers kick on. It's on it's 6th winter and works perfectly.

Here is a video of a collapsed dock in Porto Cima: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mLSx...ayer_embedded#

Hey Tom,

Is there a correlation between the number of boats in the slips and how the docks fair?

Seems like most damage is normally to larger community style docks that have several of the slips with boats left in them. Likewise, those docks with fewer boats in the slips seem to be floating higher and fairing better. I would think that an empty slip with a lift in the raised position would add buoyancy but I'm no expert.

I am just glad they shoveled our docks off in time and that my boat is inside.

I told my wife last night that we are buying a couple snowmobiles before next winter. I guess Al gore was wrong after all LOL..

The docks that didn't fair well a few years ago were not properly cross-braced.

I know nobody wants to deal with the Bullcrap of having dock/boat problems and I pay a lot of money for insurance for my dock and boat, geez isn't that why you've got it.

I slept really well the other night when it was snowing, if there's a problem with either of them I'll get it fixed or buy another one, life's too short to worry about this stuff all the time.

JMO

This is a very unaffordable system. For the 2 systems that are available one is a heating element that mounts to the underside of the panel which costs $25.00 per' and then you have to build a box around it to insulate it so the heats is not lost. The other system is a cable that runs every 18" to 24" on top of the roof and costs $5.00 per'. This price does not include labor for the install and labor to the electrician to wire it into the box. They are both low volt systems which use little electric but would cost tens of thousands to install.

I have researched products and tried to find an affordable solution but yet to find one. Once I do everyone will know it and I will be happy to install it for them. I own a construction company in St. Louis and have done many projects at the lake, I also own a condo on the lake and have worried about this problem for awhile. If there is an affordable product out there I will find it.

Good to know. I am sure its unaffordable for most. I was thinking more of the resorts and dock rental places. Couldnt imagine what they pay out or what mess they get in when docks sink and boats get damaged or go under. If you ever figure something out and need a worker at LOTO..let me know! I would do anything to live back at the lake!