Cottage Reflections

04 Homeowners are building large decks in their city yards that are almost an- other room, with outdoor kitchens, dining areas and comfy weather-resistant loungers and chairs. A similar trend is happening along the shoreline at cottages, some ex- perts in the dock industry say. "Especially if there's a separation from the cottage, you're seeing things like the barbe- cues out there, the café sets, lounging chairs, umbrellas. Even the pergola-type roofs," says Cy Larson, former owner of S & H Docks & Lifts. "Once that deck's in place, you're only lim- ited by your imagination and budget." Larson sold the Lac du Bonnet business he founded in 1998 to Marc Bilodeau this year, al- though he remains on as a consultant. Docks Plus owner Robert Medeiros says cottagers are becoming more creative in their dock designs, where regulations allow it. "They're going with a larger deck on the shoreline and building out walkways," says Medeiros, who started his company in 1997. "Some decks at the end of the docks are in L shapes or they have little T-runs for personal watercraft. "A lot of people like the sundecks on the water because that's where there's less bugs and that's where you spend a lot of your time." There has also been an evolution in the ma- terials used for docks and decking. "I remember as a kid out here, a dock was generally a temporary thing where somebody went in the spring, waded out, drove poles in and nailed boards to it and then laid out boards for the frame, boards for the decking and it would last a year or two, depending on the whims of Mother Nature, the ice pressure and storms," Larson says. "Whereas now, not that there aren't lum- ber docks anymore but they're certainly a very small percentage." S & H builds and sells steel and aluminium docks, as well as a variety of decking, accessor- ies and furniture. It offers installation, repairs and seasonal services. It also sells boat lifts, marine railroad systems, portable aluminium boat ramps and Sea-Legs, a hydraulic lift sys- tem that attaches to the bottom of a pontoon and lifts it up to 'park' in different locations where the water isn't too deep. About 90 per cent of customers choose steel docks. "Galvanized steel will not rust if the gal- vanizing process was done correctly," Bi- lodeau says. "The finish may fade over the years, but the investment will be protected indefinitely. "The strength of a steel dock is certainly superior when compared size on size, how- ever, aluminum docks have their place." Both S & H and Docks Plus sell the Shore- Master line of aluminum docks and boat lifts, which has a reputation for quality and innovative designs. Medeiros, who has an engineering back- ground, used to build docks. He now sup- plies contractors and do-it-yourself cottagers with aluminum dock frames and roll-in docks, floating docks, boat lifts and accessories. He favours aluminum for its light weight, but stresses quality is key. "When people see products over the Internet, they're not actually seeing the product. We show the displays," he says of his large Symington Lane North retail store. "You can walk on them, you can see the dif- ference in quality. "Our material is three to four times the quality in gauge (thickness) compared to the economy brands people are buying." He also carries a wide selection of person- al watercraft, tow tubes, floating rafts, slides and ladders. Larson and Medeiros highlighted one plastic ladder that's gaining in popularity. It's actually a staircase that attaches to a dock and flips in and out of the water at a 30-degree angle. Its wide steps make it easi- er for people and pets to climb. The experts also warned consumers about buying items made of recycled ma- terials that can warp and break down in the sun. Both companies carry premium plastic products with long warranties. BY SHEL ZOLKEWICH Sky's the limit BUDGET, IMAGINATION THE ONLY LIMITS WITH TODAY'S DOCKS B Y J U D Y O W E N THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DECKS AND DOCKS THESE DAYS OTHER THAN A SINGLE LETTER. Lounge-style chairs and patio sets have become a fixture of many docks as cottage owners look to take advantage of the view offered by their lakefront property.

• Cover