Along the Intracoastal and the bay — Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Belleair, Indian Rocks Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Tierra Verde, Apollo Beach — docks, boat lifts and seawall caps wear out on a schedule the salt water sets. When a dock contractor rebuilds one, the old material has to go somewhere, and a trailer in the driveway is usually where. Here is what to expect from that load.
What a dock is made of
- Decking: pressure-treated lumber on older docks, composite on newer ones. Both are general debris, and composite is heavier than it looks.
- Stringers and joists: pressure-treated lumber, often waterlogged and heavy at the ends
- Pilings: wood, sometimes concrete, occasionally treated with older preservatives — see below
- Hardware: galvanized bolts, brackets and hangers — steel, but rusted; scrap if you have the patience to separate it
- Boat lift: aluminum beams, cradle and bunks, steel cables, an electric motor and gearbox. The aluminum is valuable scrap.
- Seawall cap: concrete — heavy material
- Ladders, cleats, dock boxes, rope, old bumpers — general debris
Wet wood is heavy wood
Dock lumber that has spent years partly in the water weighs far more than the same board from a lumber yard. A modest dock's worth of stringers and decking can push a load toward the included ton on its own, and the barnacle-crusted ends of pilings are dense. Let the material dry on the seawall for a few days before loading if the schedule allows; the difference on the PCSW scale receipt is real.
The boat lift
A retired lift is mostly aluminum, which is the best scrap metal a homeowner ever separates. The top beams, the cradle and the bunk brackets stack flat once unbolted. The motors, gearboxes and cable drums are steel and copper. Keep all of it in a pile beside the trailer, not in it — it comes out of the disposal weight and it's worth real money at the yard. The bunk carpet and the plastic pieces are general debris.
Loading order
- 1Concrete seawall cap pieces and any concrete pilings first, flat on the floor, spread wide, and within the 5-yard heavy limit.
- 2Waterlogged stringers and joists next, low, along the length of the trailer.
- 3Decking stacked flat on top, cut to fit inside the 12-foot length.
- 4Composite decking with the lumber — it doesn't scrap and it isn't light.
- 5Rope, bumpers, dock boxes and the loose plastic on top.
- 6Aluminum and steel in the separate scrap pile.
Access on waterfront lots
Waterfront driveways are often short, sloped toward the house, and shared with a boat trailer. Decide where the trailer will sit before delivery, send us a photo of the approach, and move the boat trailer if it's in the way. The material also has to travel from the water side of the house to the driveway, so a clear side yard path matters more than usual. If the dock contractor is hauling the debris as part of their job, confirm what they're taking so the trailer is sized for what's left.
Frequently asked questions
Can pressure-treated dock lumber go in the trailer?
Yes, as general debris. It should not be burned or chipped for mulch. Old pilings with unusual treatments are worth asking about first.
Is a boat lift worth scrapping?
Yes. It's mostly aluminum and it's one of the more valuable scrap loads a homeowner will produce. Keep it out of the general load.
How many loads is a dock?
A small private dock is often one load once the metal is separated. A long dock with a seawall cap replacement is more, mostly because of the concrete and the wet lumber. Send photos and we'll estimate it.
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