One homeowner on the island of Via Lido recently decided to upgrade his private dock from a wood fixed-pier system to a newly reconfigured concrete dock system. Bellingham Marine was contracted by the owner to lead and manage the project from start to finish, utilizing a design/build approach.
Newport Harbor is one of the largest recreational harbors on the west coast and known as the Jewel of Newport Beach. The semi-artificial harbor was formed in the early 1900s after the Newport Bay estuary was dredged. Shortly after, seven man-made islands were built and what was once a harbor that supported a range of marine-related industries from boat and shipbuilding to commercial fishing is now used almost entirely for recreational purposes such as boating, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding.
Newport Harbor is home to nearly 9,000 boats, and its shores are lined with private homes and about 900 of which have private docks. As the recreational market in Newport Harbor continues to grow, many of its homeowners are choosing to invest in upgrades.
One homeowner on the island of Via Lido recently decided to upgrade his private dock from a wood fixed-pier system to a newly reconfigured concrete dock system. Bellingham Marine was contracted by the owner to lead and manage the project from start to finish, utilizing a design/build approach. The project began with the demolition and removal of the existing wood dock system consisting of a U-shaped dock with a 4’ x 56’ finger, 6’ x 56’ finger, and a 6’ x 32’ head walk.
Before the construction of the new dock could begin, the area’s water depth levels were tested, and found that it had exceedingly low water levels. The area was later dredged to achieve adequate water depths needed to accommodate the floating dock.
The newly constructed dock system features L-Shape post-tensioned match-cast concrete dock with a 10’ rounded finger, plastic lumber rub-board, UHMW pile guide rub blocks, and polymer infill. The dock also includes a low free-board step-down kayak launch, a unique and customizable feature becoming increasingly popular on Bellingham Marine residential docks. For added safety at night, color-customizable LED lighting was built into the underside of the dock.
The project scope also included a new electrical and potable water system, and Bellingham Marine served as the supplier and installer of the new pre-stressed concrete pile.
The dock connects to a brand-new 4’ x 24’ aluminum gangway that provides easy access from the owner’s home to the dock. The glass infill designed for the gangway matches the aesthetics of the home’s patio railing. The final dock measures 10’ wide x 51’ long, and a 13’ x 13’ L. Bellingham Marine plans to complete the project by the end of July 2021.
