Rubber Mats and Potted Plants on the Docks

There's always some turnover and new people moving into the marina, so it's reasonable that from time to time a reminder about preventing rot on the docks can be appropriate.

Last Saturday, the planking subcommittee of the Docks Committee made a long list of dock locations with rotting planks throughout the marina. (Dock One is in worse shape than Dock Two or Three). We should get most of these replaced during the upcoming fall and winter work parties. While inspecting, we noticed several situations where some members are unknowingly promoting rot and decay. The two issues are:

1) Rubber mats on the docks. Unfortunately, many of the "welcome" mats have solid rubber backs. Water gets trapped under the mat, and creates a non-stop wet spot where rot spores can get a foothold. If a mat is neccessary, it would be better to use a style that does not have a solid rubber back. Several designs, some made from scraps of old tires and others made from rope, are available.

2) Potted plants on the docks. We only saw one, this round, but ....   As beautiful as a potted plant might be, they can really wreck the dock. There are two issues. The first is that water can collect under the pot (just like it does under a rubber mat) and begin rotting the planks. Some pot planters thoughtfully place the container up on blocks, so the trapped water is only below the blocks and not the entire surface of the pot. Even with the pot up on blocks to reduce the amount of trapped water, the second issue remains a concern. Fertilizer. The same Miracle Gro used to stimulate a pansy or a petunia is considered real good eatin' by the nasty little rot guys lurking in the planks below. Any water that spills or leaks out of a fertilized pot winds up on the dock. To make matters worse, the best place to put a potted plant so it can get some sunlight and rainwater is at the end of a finger pier. Unfortunately, our worst rot problems are in the same places- the ends of finger piers exposed to the weather.

Please consider checking your welcome mats to be sure they don't have solid rubber backs, (or make the rubber mat the first step on your boat rather than the last step on the dock). Please consider removing potted plants from the docks.

Thanks,

The planking subcommittee