Blog Layout

Three unknown benefits of becoming dock builders

Jose Olivas • Sep 20, 2022

Dock builders often face challenging tasks as they face crucial factors to build quality marine structures like docks and seawalls.

They work in or beside water bodies and must consider the soil type in the area. They must also know how to select the correct tools and materials to build structures that last long despite constant water exposure.

However, these professionals also enjoy excellent job benefits, despite the difficulties they frequently face. And it’s great to know these benefits if you consider becoming one.

Three Benefits Dock Builders Enjoy from Their Job

  • Excellent Pay

As a dock builder, you have the potential to earn an average of $18.00 per hour or $36512 annually. That’s significantly higher than the minimum wage rate, which is $7.25 per hour.

Moreover, you will receive overtime pay as it’s common for construction workers to work at night or on weekends. You can also expect a pay increase as you gain experience and specialized skills.

  • Opportunity to travel to Different Places

Dock contractors frequently travel from one place to another to handle different marine construction projects. You will thus receive travel allowances and ship pay.

You can also visit various tourist attractions alone or with your family after working hours. Your boss may even assign you to build a dock or a seawall for a fabulous resort.

  • Helps Maintain Excellent Physical Health

You must maintain excellent physical Health to handle heavy materials and power tools efficiently. Good body condition also improves your overall wellness and brings benefits like:

  • Improved muscle and bone health and strength
  • Minimized risks of cardiovascular ailments like high blood pressure and heart disease
  • Healthy body weight
  • Preventing certain types of cancers like lung and colon cancers
  • Improved positive psychological health

What to Know to Become a Dock Builder

There are two primary points to remember if you want to work as a dock builder:

  • Educational Attainment and Formal Training

Most marine contractors require dock builders to carry a high school degree or higher.

Moreover, you have to undergo three or four-year formal training, which often involves at least 144 training hours a year. It also includes special skills certification and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) courses.

  • Specialized Skills

You need these specialized skills for the job:

  • Digging
  • Piling
  • Know how to use hand tools
  • Learn how to use power tools
  • Operating heavy machinery
  • Workplace Safety and first-aid application

You may acquire these skills from the required training. However, having these skills before joining the training course always helps. For example, it becomes easier for you to learn how to use power tools to build docks if you have prior experience using them. 

Work Expectations

You will face challenging situations as a dock builder, so know these conditions to prepare:

  • Long Working Hours

While the wage rate is reasonable, marine construction workers must work full-time each day and go on overtime frequently. You may also need to work on weekends to finish projects on or before the deadline.

So, always clarify the schedule with your boss before a project and prepare for some changes along the way.

  • Frequent Travel

As mentioned above, you must be ready to travel to different places to complete construction projects.

While traveling lets you visit different areas, it may also make you tired before you even work. You also have to consider travel expenses, so select an employer who will provide sufficient travel allowance.

  • Significant Safety Risks

Construction sites always pose safety risks to workers, like slip and fall accidents and heavy equipment injuries. So, observe necessary safety precautions while on a marine construction site, like:

  • Wearing personal protective equipment like hard hats, steel-toed boots, and gloves
  • Properly maintaining power tools and heavy machinery
  • Being careful when operating equipment and machines
  • Keeping electric equipment and wirings away from the water
  • Always having first-aid kits readily available on the site

 

It’s also better to know about the ecosystem in the area to protect yourself from disease-causing organisms like mosquitos.

Professional Dock Builders in a Reliable Marine Contractor

Dock builders enjoy excellent pay, frequent travel opportunities, and the necessity to be in good physical health. However, this challenging job requires sufficient skills and knowledge for you to build quality marine structures.

You should thus remember the points above to help you become a dock builder. And make sure you select the best marine contractor where you can work and provide your service to clients.

11 Dec, 2023
Without boat docks, it would be difficult to quickly and safely load and unload your boat. Here are some questions to ask your boat dock construction company.
boat dock
28 Jul, 2023
Are you looking to add a boat dock to your property? Keep reading to see what you should expect from deck and dock construction services.
boat lift service
20 Apr, 2023
If you're considering hiring a boat lift service, you may want to know a bit more about them. Here's what you should know about boat lifts.
By Amara Rocio 07 Nov, 2022
Your seawall protects your waterfront area from water damage and boosts your property’s appearance. However, a waterfront barrier faces constant exposure to harsh weather elements. Thus, it’s natural for the structure to sustain damage like cracks and knocked-off panels. Now, you want to immediately fix your seawall after spotting any […] The post Why Should You Hire Marine Contractors for Your Sea Wall Repair? appeared first on Thaler Contracting Inc..
By Amara Rocio 07 Nov, 2022
One of the vital steps when building a dock is planning its designs and features. Yes, docks primarily serve as pathways between land and water and for anchoring boats. However, you may also pick designs that serve other purposes depending on your needs and wants. An example is building a […] The post 8 Useful Dock Design Features for Your Everyday Exercise appeared first on Thaler Contracting Inc..
By Amara Rocio 07 Nov, 2022
It’s common for watercraft to hit the dock’s structure while going into their slips. While these incidents may only involve simple bumps, significant collisions can also happen and cause damage to the boat or deck. For example, the piling may scratch the watercraft’s hull, or the boat may crack the […] The post 5 Ways to Better Protect Your Watercraft from Dock Piling Repair appeared first on Thaler Contracting Inc..
By Amara Rocio 23 Sep, 2022
You have probably seen seawalls on waterfront properties and have noticed their varying sizes, designs, and material composition. You may thus wonder why waterfront property owners invest in these structures and pay significant attention to prompt sea wall repair and maintenance. The truth is that sea walls serve significant purposes […] The post The importance of a sea wall and prompt seawall repair appeared first on Thaler Contracting Inc..
By Amara Rocio 23 Sep, 2022
Building a seawall requires a lot of considerations to create a structure that can withstand harsh natural elements for many years. One of the most crucial factors is selecting the best material for the structure. It should be durable, affordable, and befitting your waterfront property's particular needs. Thus, you wonder […] The post Which is the best material to use for building seawalls? appeared first on Thaler Contracting Inc..
By Amara Rocio 23 Sep, 2022
The dock is valuable for your waterfront property as it optimizes the benefits of living beside a water body. For example, it serves as a place where you can anchor your boat, prepare for a swim, or clean the fishes you catch. You thus probably want to keep its surface […] The post Why regular dock piling repair and maintenance is important appeared first on Thaler Contracting Inc..
By Jose Olivas 20 Sep, 2022
Seawalls protect your waterfront property by preventing the water from creeping into the land and soil from eroding into the sea. However, various harsh factors, like marine organisms and intense storm surges, may damage the structure. The water can even corrode the barrier materials and slowly cause damage through the […] The post Five tips to help you with sea wall repair appeared first on Thaler Contracting Inc..
More Posts
Share by: