Guide 1
Who Approves Your Dock?
Who may need to approve your dock, what to gather, and how long permits can take.
View the guide →For lakefront homeowners in Texas & the South
Plan your dock, boathouse or seawall the right way.
Straight talk from a builder with 30+ years of marine construction experience in East Texas.
Get the 4 free guidesFree. Plain English. No sales pitch.
Four free guides to get you started
Each one is a short, printable PDF with a one-page checklist at the end.
Guide 2
Floating or Fixed?
The first big decision for a new dock, and how your lake's water level should shape it.
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Guide 3
Hiring a Dock Builder
Your dock is only as good as the people who build it. Questions to ask and red flags to spot.
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Guide 4
Storm & Drought Prep
A little preparation for high water and low water can protect your dock, your boathouse and your boat.
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- Who approves your dock
- Floating or fixed
- Hiring a dock builder
- Storm & drought prep
30+
years in marine construction
Meet Melanie Ross
I've spent more than 30 years in marine construction in East Texas, on freshwater and saltwater, and on both commercial and residential projects.
DockSmarts is where I share what I've learned, in plain English, so lakefront homeowners can plan their docks and boathouses with confidence and know the right questions to ask.
- 30+ years in marine construction
- Based in East Texas
- Freshwater & saltwater
- Commercial & residential
Coming soon
DockSmarts Members
A growing library of in-depth guides for owners ready to go further. Topics in the works include:
- Boat Lift Sizing & Placement
- Seawall, Bulkhead or Riprap?
- Pilings 101: What Holds Your Dock Up
- Dock Materials Compared
- Boathouse Planning
- Annual Dock Inspection: Repair or Replace?