WA Dock Repairs: When to Call a Professional
A dock that has been damaged, or simply no longer works the way it did, raises two questions for an owner in Mandurah or anywhere in WA: who repairs it, and what should you have ready when you call? This guide covers what WS Docks says about dock repairs on its own website, what its warranty claim is, and the questions that get a repair conversation off to a useful start.
Does WS Docks do dock repairs in WA?
Yes. Dock repairs are one of the services listed on the WS Docks website, alongside the floating docks they build. WS Docks is based in Mandurah, with a workshop at Unit 1, 44 Panton Road, Greenfields, and their About page says they bring the product to boat owners across Western Australia and Queensland.
Their website does not set out a repair process, a call out fee or how long a repair takes, so those are questions to ask when you get in touch.
When is it time to call a professional?
The plain answer is: when something about the dock has changed and you cannot say why, or when fixing it would mean working on the structure rather than tidying it. A dock that sits differently from the day it went in, a fitting that has moved, damage after a knock from a boat, or a boat that no longer goes on and off the way it used to are all worth a professional’s look rather than a guess.
Whatever you have noticed, describe it accurately: a clear account is what lets a repairer judge the problem before they arrive.
What should you note before you call?
A clear description saves a wasted conversation. Before you get in touch, write down:
- What changed, and when you first noticed it.
- Whether anything happened before it: a storm, a knock, a heavier boat or a new craft on the dock.
- Which dock it is, and roughly when it went in.
- Your boat’s length, beam, make and model, which the WS Docks quote form asks for on every dock page.
- How the dock is mounted. The same quote form names three options: roping, fixed jetty brackets or floating jetty brackets.
Photos from more than one angle help any repairer understand the problem before they see it.
What should you ask a repairer?
- Can you repair this dock, or does part of it need replacing?
- Can the work be done with the dock where it is?
- What will it cost, and what is included?
- How long until it is done?
- Is the repair itself guaranteed, and for how long?
Get the answers in writing so you can compare them with any other quote.
Is the damage covered by the warranty?
WS Docks’ home page carries a “2-year Warranty Guarantee”. The site does not publish the terms, so if your dock is a WS Docks dock and less than two years old, ask them whether the problem falls under it before you arrange anything else.
Repair or a new dock?
Sometimes the better answer is a different dock: a new boat that has moved up a weight class is the common example. WS Docks lists its docks by the boat they carry, each with a price on the services page: a jet ski dock at $3,000, a small boat dock (up to 1.5 tonne) at $5,000, a medium boat dock (1.5 to 2.5 tonne) at $11,000, a large boat dock (2.5 to 5 tonne) at $16,000, a pontoon boat dock at $13,000 and a catamaran dock at $18,000.
If you are weighing a repair against a replacement, ask for both prices in the same conversation so you are comparing like with like.
What goes into a WS Docks dock?
In their own words, WS Docks builds with HDPE blocks engineered to withstand Australia’s harsh elements, custom brackets designed to withstand the toughest conditions and bracing capable of supporting excess weight. They say they have partnered with some of the finest fabricators and rope splicing experts in Australia. Their home page lists 200+ custom dock installations and names local marinas among their customers.
Frequently asked questions
Does WS Docks repair docks they did not build?
Their website lists dock repairs as a service without saying whose docks it covers. Ask them directly and describe the dock you have.
How do I contact WS Docks about a repair?
Phone +61 431 149 231, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, or email wsdocks@outlook.com. Their site says “We reply within 24 hrs”.
Is a WS Docks dock under warranty?
Their home page carries a 2 year warranty guarantee. Ask them what it covers for your dock.
What does a replacement dock cost?
The services page lists a price for each dock type, set out in the section above. Ask what the listed price includes for your berth.
Sources
This article draws on the following pages.
