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Yes, you can put a sectional dock in by yourself, and pull it the same way in the fall. That is the idea behind the VW Docks Walk On Water system, the one we have built our reputation on since 1959. Each section averages about 80 pounds, a one-person lift, and every step happens above the water while you stand on the dock you are building. The sections fold down one after another on a specially designed winch, so there is no wading, no crew, and no crane. VW Docks was the first dock company to design a sectional Western Red Cedar dock that one person can install, remove, raise, and lower without getting in the water. Here is how it works, and what makes it possible.

Key Takeaways

• A VW Docks sectional dock is built for one-person install and removal. No wading, no crane.
• Sections average about 80 pounds, and all the work is done above the water while you stand on the dock itself.
• The Walk On Water system folds each section down in sequence on a specially designed winch.
• The structure rides on a patented pipe casting, adjustable heavy-gauge steel anchor plates, and steel brackets that carry a lifetime warranty.
• Cedar and aluminum install the same way. The choice is upkeep and looks, not difficulty.

Can you really install a dock by yourself?

For a lot of owners, the dock is the worst job of the spring. The old post-and-plank kind means dragging heavy sections into cold water, muscling posts into the lake bed, and usually roping in a couple of friends or hiring a crew to get it done. Then you run the whole thing backward in the fall.

It does not have to go that way. The fix is a dock built in pieces one person can move, set up so you never step off into the water to do the work. That is what we set out to build in 1959, and it is still the first reason owners call. Here is the conviction behind it: the best dock is the one you can actually handle each season on your own. A dock you dread putting in is a dock you eventually stop putting in.

What is the Walk On Water system?

Walk On Water is simply how a VW Docks sectional dock goes in and comes out. You install it, and you remove it, without getting wet. You stand on the part already set and work outward from shore.

Two things make that possible. Weight, and order. Each section averages about 80 pounds, which is a lift, not a two-person carry. And all the work happens above the water, on the dock itself, instead of from a boat or by standing in the lake. You are never fighting the water while you build. That is the whole trick.

How does a one-person sectional dock go in?

It goes in a section at a time, starting at the shoreline and working out toward deeper water.

You set the first section at the shore and level it on its adjustable heavy-gauge steel anchor plates. From there, each new section folds down ahead of you on the winch, so you are always standing on solid dock as you extend the run. The patented pipe casting and steel braces lock the structure together and hold it steady once it is set. Because you are working from above the whole way out, you control the level and the line of the dock as you go, instead of guessing at it from a boat. When fall comes, you run the same steps in reverse.

The payoff shows up after the install too. Water level shifts a little, or a storm knocks the dock out of true. You fix it from the dock, dry, without wading in to reset a post. Small thing on paper. Real thing in late October.

Why Western Red Cedar holds up

Our original sectional dock is built from Western Red Cedar, and it is still our most popular and most economical line after more than sixty years. Cedar earns its place for a practical reason: it is rated as durable to very durable for decay resistance, which matters on a structure that sits in and over the water for half the year.

No wood is maintenance-free, though, and we will not pretend otherwise. Cedar holds up well, but it still wants cleaning and the occasional sealing to keep its color and shed water. What you get for that is a dock that looks the way a dock should look, costs less than the aluminum line, and is light enough for the one-person install. For standard residential use, fishing, swimming, and a small boat slip, the cedar sectional is hard to beat on value.

Wood or aluminum: does the install change?

No. Both sectional lines, the Western Red Cedar sectional dock and the aluminum sectional dock, use the same Walk On Water install. The choice between them is about upkeep and looks, not about how the dock goes in.

Cedar is the economical, classic pick, and it is the one most owners choose. Aluminum costs more up front and trades the wood-grain look for low maintenance: no staining, no sealing, no board replacement down the road. If you would rather spend your weekends on the water than caring for the deck, aluminum is worth the difference. Want the traditional cedar look at the better price? The wood line has carried our name since the start. Either way, you get the same one-person handling and the lifetime warranty on the heavy-gauge steel brackets. Buy once, buy right.

If you are still weighing dock types and materials for your shoreline, our guide to choosing the right dock for your lake walks through the whole decision. And when you are ready for a layout built to your frontage, you can request a quote or find a VW Docks dealer near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does each dock section weigh?

A standard VW Docks sectional runs about 80 pounds per section on average. That weight is deliberate. It is heavy enough to stay put and light enough for one person to handle during install and removal.

Do I really not have to get in the water?

That is the point of the Walk On Water design. You work from the dock itself, setting and folding each section down ahead of you from shore outward, so a normal install and removal keeps you dry.

How long does a one-person install take?

For a standard residential layout, it is a one-morning job for most people. Add wings or a boat slip and it takes longer, but it is the same section-by-section process, and it is still one person. The exact time depends on the size and layout of your dock.

Can I add to or reconfigure the dock later?

Yes. Because the dock is sectional, you can change the layout or add sections over time. Common configurations include a straight run, partial and full wings in an L or T shape, and a layout with a boat slip.

Is the steel hardware really covered for life?

The heavy-gauge steel brackets carry a lifetime warranty. Those brackets, along with the patented pipe casting and adjustable anchor plates, are the backbone of the system, which is why we stand behind them.

Ready to stop dreading dock day?

If the yearly install has become the worst part of your spring and fall, a one-person sectional dock is worth a real look. Request a quote for a layout built to your shoreline, or find your nearest dealer and ask to see the Walk On Water system in person.

Scott Chambers is President of VW Docks, a dock manufacturer in Spirit Lake, Iowa, building docks since 1959 and serving lake-home owners and commercial waterfront sites across the upper Midwest.