When you've hired a dock construction company to design and install a dock at your home or cottage, the length and width of the structure will be one of the first things to discuss. While many people choose docks that are on the narrow side, it can often be a good idea to opt for a wider structure. Your dock construction company can suggest a few suitable widths based on the length of the dock that you want. There are several practical reasons to have this structure a little wider than average. Here are some scenarios in which this may be necessary.

You Plan To Entertain

For many people, a dock isn't just a place to stand while fishing or while getting in and out of a boat. It can also be a good place to entertain family and friends. For example, you can set up a few pieces of patio furniture, carry a cooler with drinks and snacks to the dock, and then hang out in the space when the weather is pleasant. If you envision lots of entertaining, you'll want to choose a wider dock design. If the dock is narrow, it can fail to give you enough space to arrange your patio furniture in your preferred manner. With a wider dock, it's easy to position the chairs in a circle.

You'll Have Boats On Each Side

Think about what boats will use your dock. For example, you might own one boat that you'll moor to one side of the dock, but you might also have family or friends who arrive by boat and use the other side of the dock. If you expect that you'll often have a boat on each side of the dock, choosing a wider design is a good idea. A narrow design could make it difficult for people to get in and out of their boats at the same time or perform certain maintenance tasks without bumping into one another. When the dock is wider, people will be able to move around more freely.

You Have A Lot Of Waterfront

While a narrow dock may be necessary if your property doesn't have much waterfront, you may find that a wider design looks better if your property is wide. If you have a lot of waterfront space, a narrow dock could look a little awkward. Your dock construction company can assess the amount of waterfront space that you have and make some suggestions about how wide your dock can be.