FIBERGLASS-REINFORCED PULTRUDED PLASTIC (FRP) COMPONENTS REPLACE STEEL THRU-RODS AND TIMBER WALERS ON CONCRETE FLOATING DOCKS

May 18, 2017

Marina del Rey Marina sets new precedent in marina construction as the first marina in the U.S. to be built with FRP walers and thru-rods.

Two common challenges encountered when building in an aquatic environment are decomposition and concerns over ecological impact. The unforgiving conditions of a marine habitat accelerate corrosion and decay, creating a hefty economic burden on marinas.

One such concern is the environmental effect on treated lumber that is typical of a continuous waler connected dock system. Even treated wood can deteriorate when subjected to aquatic conditions. Until now, the only professionally engineered option has been to use treated lumber and to live with the reality of limited life span. Not being satisfied with that answer, Bellingham Marine set out to find a better solution.

Thanks to material advancements and years of dedicated research & development, the revolutionary FRP waler recently made a debut in the U.S. market. The FRP waler coupled with FRP thru-rods provides a product with a virtually unlimited design life, further enhancing the longevity associated with the construction of concrete floating docks.

Marina del Rey Marina in California is the first U.S. marina outfitted with FRP walers and FRP thru-rods. This revolutionary breakthrough means that the marina will…

• Require less maintenance
• Enjoy a longer service life
• Never rust or decay
• Eliminate any concerns that may arise over use of treated lumber

“We are excited about the potential of these new FRP products; they are stronger and longer lasting than traditional materials,” shared Everett Babbitt, President and CEO of Bellingham Marine. “The availability of these new products will have a tremendous impact for our clients in both maintenance and life cycle cost.”

Bellingham Marine was contracted to serve as the design/build general contractor on the ambitious 5-year reconstruction of the Marina del Rey Marina in Marina del Rey, California. The first phase, which included rebuilding 61 of the marina’s slips, was completed in April.

About Bellingham Marine:
As the world’s leading marina design-build construction company, Bellingham Marine specializes in floating dock, floating platform and floating wave attenuation systems for marinas worldwide. The company also produces dry storage systems for the upland storage of boats.