Winter Dock Prep: Storms, Cold Weather and Lake Drawdowns
10 min reading time
The short answer
Inspect your dock before the weather turns, find out how far your lake is expected to drop, and make sure the dock can move freely with the water. Then tighten what's loose, clear what could blow away, and take the dock out if your water gets severe ice movement.
A floating dock can handle a lot, but winter finds the weak spots. A loose bolt or a too-short anchor line that goes unnoticed in July can become a real costly repair by spring.
The work below takes less time than fixing storm damage, and most of it comes down to a few simple checks.
Step 1: Inspect the dock before winter
Start with a full walk-around while the weather is calm and repairs are still easy.
- Floats: Look for cracks, damaged corners and any float riding noticeably lower than the rest. A low corner can point to a damaged float, a shifted load or a problem with the frame.
- Frame: Check for cracks, bends, rust and rot, especially where sections connect and where the floats attach.
- Fasteners: Tighten loose bolts and replace anything badly corroded. Permafloat calls for galvanized or stainless steel hardware at 3/8" or larger.
- Connections: Make sure hinges, pins and connectors can flex without binding.
- Decking: Replace loose, split or rotted boards before they become a trip hazard.
- Cleats, ladders and bumpers: Confirm each one is solid. Check cleats especially closely if a boat stays tied up through winter.
Fix small problems now. Winter wind and changing water put more strain on anything that's already loose.
Step 2: Prepare for a lake drawdown
Find out how far your lake is expected to fall, then make sure the dock has room to drop with it. Many reservoirs run lower in winter, and drought can lower them further. Here are a few Southeast examples:
| Lake or system | What to expect |
|---|---|
| TVA reservoirs | Lowered for flood storage, typically to winter flood-guide levels by January 1. Tributary lakes begin filling in mid-March, and main-river lakes stay low until late April or early May. |
| Lake Murray, 2026-27 | Dominion Energy plans to lower the lake from 358 ft to about 350 ft by December and hold it there through January. It should return to normal by late spring, depending on rain and river flows. |
| Catawba-Wateree lakes | Drought can change levels. In April 2026, Duke Energy estimated Lake Norman was about 3 ft lower than a year earlier. |
Your lake's operator is the best source for its current levels and plans.
Once you know the expected drop, work through these steps:
- Check the depth. Measure the water under your floats, especially at the shoreward end. Compare it with the expected drop to see whether the floats could reach the bottom.
- Give cables some slack. A cable that's too tight can strain the dock and its connection points.
- Check anything that connects to shore. Hinges, pins and connections should flex freely as the angle changes.
- Check the gangway. It will get steeper as the dock drops, so make sure it stays secure and safe to walk on.
- Ask before moving the dock. If the dock needs to go farther out, check with your lake authority first, since permits can limit where it can sit.
Low water can also be useful. Drawdown gives you a window to maintain or repair docks and shorelines, though you should check whether your work needs a permit.
Step 3: Get ready for winter storms
The goal is to keep the dock connected while still letting it move with wind, waves and rising water. No dock is guaranteed to survive a major storm or flood, but these steps lower the risk:
- Check anchors and lines: Replace cables or lines with fraying or corrosion, and make sure every connection point is solid.
- Leave room to move: Keep enough slack for rising and falling water, and add extra lines if your dock is exposed to open water.
- Clear the deck: Remove or secure chairs, toys, coolers and anything else the wind or water could carry off.
- Protect against impacts: Check your bumpers and edging, since storms can push boats and debris into the dock.
- Secure the boat: Move it if you can. If it has to stay, use extra lines and fenders, and tie it to solid cleats.
- Make the dock easy to see and identify: Solar or battery lights keep it visible at night. Marking it with your contact information can help if it ever breaks loose.
- Check the electrical system: Have a qualified marine electrician inspect any dock wiring, and test GFCI protection regularly. If you have any doubts about its safety, turn the power off at the panel and leave it off until it's been checked.
Do all of this before the weather arrives. Stay off the dock during high wind, fast water or lightning, because no repair is worth the risk.
Step 4: Plan for cold weather and ice
Whether your dock can stay in the water comes down to ice movement. Moving ice can do serious damage, and Permafloat's recommended guidelines say docks must be removed in areas of severe ice movement.
| Your winter conditions | What to do |
|---|---|
| Water rarely freezes | Leave the dock in after your inspection. Secure it, and recheck it after hard freezes and storms. |
| Coves freeze but ice doesn't move much | Keep an eye on ice around the dock and ask local dock builders what works on your water. A deicer may help, but it may not protect against large ice sheets. |
| Severe ice movement | Take the dock out before freeze-up. |
If you're unsure which applies, ask a local dock builder or your lake authority, because conditions can vary from one cove to the next.
If you take the dock out:
- Lift it: Lift sections with floats attached instead of sliding them.
- Clean and dry it: Remove dirt and sand that can hold moisture, including from the hardware.
- Store it well: Keep sections on a flat, level surface, raised on blocks for airflow if possible.
- Store loose floats carefully: Keep them out of direct sun and extreme temperatures if their vent plugs are installed.
If the dock stays in:
- Watch your footing: Frost and ice can make a deck slick, so take care early in the morning and after freezing rain.
- Keep off the ice: Don't walk on frozen water to reach or check on the dock.
- Line up a helper: If you're away for the winter, ask a neighbor or dock contractor to check on it.
Step 5: Check the dock after a storm or level change
Look the dock over from shore before you step on it, and wait until the water and weather have calmed down.
- Deal with power first. If the dock has electricity and may have been damaged or flooded, leave the power off until a qualified electrician has checked it. Keep people out of the water around the dock in the meantime.
- Look for movement. Check whether the dock has shifted, tilted or come away from any anchors or connections.
- Check the floats. See whether any have been damaged, knocked loose or left sitting on the bottom. If a section is grounded, check the frame for twisting.
- Check the hardware. Tighten or replace any bolts, hinges, cables and cleats that have loosened or bent.
- Clear debris. Remove branches and trash caught against the dock, working from a safe position and wearing a life jacket.
- Readjust as the lake rises. Slack you added for the drawdown may need taking up as the water returns, and a cable that's now too short can hold the dock down.
Stay off the dock if anything looks unsafe until it's been repaired.
Winter dock FAQ
Should I take my floating dock out for the winter?
Only if your water sees severe ice movement, or if a local dock builder recommends it for your location. Many docks on lakes that rarely freeze can stay in with the preparation above.
When should I start winter dock prep?
Start before your lake begins to drop and before your first freeze. Some TVA tributary lakes start lowering after Labor Day, so check your lake's schedule. If the water is already falling, start now.
How much slack should my dock cables have?
There's no single number, because it depends on your anchoring setup, the shoreline and how far the water moves. Start with the lowest level you expect, and ask your dock builder if you're unsure.
What should I do if my floats are sitting on the lake bottom?
Check whether the frame is twisting and whether the bottom could damage the floats, especially if it's rocky. If you need to move a section, lift it instead of dragging it, and check with your lake authority before moving the dock farther out.
Does the Permafloat warranty cover ice damage?
No. The warranty lists ice damage among its exclusions, along with overloading and improper installation, so check the full terms for your floats.
Get your dock ready
A fall inspection often turns up a few parts worth replacing. We carry dock hardware, cleats, bumpers and edging, lighting and Permafloat dock floats.
Not sure what you need? Call us at 704-477-5470 or email info@shoreline-supply.com and tell us about your dock.