A wooden floating dock with metal brackets extends over rippling water, forming an L-shaped corner and smaller attached sections.
A small sailboat with two people on a lake near Great Northern Docks, birds soaring above, all surrounded by a compass rose design.

Floating Dock Hardware — Parts for Every Build

Great Northern Docks manufactures dock hardware for floating wood docks. Air-filled and foam-filled dock floats, hinge plates, attachment kits, and anchoring hardware. Ships nationwide from Naples, Maine.
Black and white compass rose with eight main points and decorative outer rings, featuring a fleur-de-lis at north—perfect for accenting Great Northern Docks or Maine Docks.

Find the Right Fit for Your Waterfront

Browse floats, hinge plates, attachment kits, shore anchors, post guides, and connection hardware for 2x6 and 2x8 wood frame floating docks. Start with a dock plan if you're building from scratch. Each plan includes a full list of materials.

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  • 47 Years in Business
  • Made in Maine
  • Free Quotes, No Obligations
Prefer to talk? Call us at +1 (207) 693-3770 Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5:00pm

See What Our Customers Say

...the entire experience was professional but also stress-free and fun. Best of all, we got the dock of our dreams...

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From Destin’s welcoming greeting when we entered the store, through the dock design process, delivery and installation by Tino to the final product… the entire experience was professional but also stress-free and fun. Best of all, we got the dock of our dreams.

Rebecca Poma
Maine
Rebecca Poma
Maine

...LOVE THE PRODUCT, super high quality! Shipping to Alabama was great! Love my "Great Northern Dock" stairs down here in the south!

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I worked with Gretta ordering the dock stairs descending into the water. Since I could not see the product, I was a little nervous ordering on my own. Gretta helped answer all my questions, and helped me figure out the best system for my situation! I don’t think I would have purchased had she not been such a great help. LOVE THE PRODUCT, super high quality! Shipping to Alabama was great! Love my “Great Northern Dock” stairs down here in the south!

Carol Smyser
Alabama
Carol Smyser
Alabama

...Their product is unmatched in Quality, Longevity and Look. There is no application or shoreline their docks can't accommodate. Not only are Great...

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Great Northern Docks is a first-class company with the best product on the market. As one of the larger dock installation companies in southern Maine I have worked directly with Great Northern for years. Their product is unmatched in Quality, Longevity and Look. There is no application or shoreline their docks can’t accommodate. Not only are Great Northern Docks in a class by themselves they are also the most installer friendly dock systems on the market. My dock business has been exclusively with Great Northern for years and they will always be the only company I will work with. From start to finish you will never be disappointed investing in a Great Northern dock system.

Shoreline Solutions LLC
Maine
Shoreline Solutions LLC
Maine

I just wanted to thank you for your help.  I LOVE my dock stairs! I was nervous to order a big ticket item half the country away but your kind attitude and help

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I just wanted to thank you for your help.  I LOVE my dock stairs! I was nervous to order a big ticket item half the country away but your kind attitude and helpful answers gave me a sense of security. I just wanted to thank you for your help.  So, all the way from Minnesota,  I send a shout out: “Yay for Seth! ”Thanks again,

Linda
Minnesota
Linda
Minnesota

I purchased a new dock this season from Great Northern Docks and was extremely happy with the quality and service. From the initial site review, where the team

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I purchased a new dock this season from Great Northern Docks and was extremely happy with the quality and service. From the initial site review, where the team came out and created options on paper, to the prompt delivery, everything went smoothly. When my installers were short some pipe, I called and GND quickly cut a 20’ pipe into two pieces and had it ready to go within the hour for no extra charge. They also gave me a refund for a few extra pieces that I had left over after installation.The dock itself is great looking, well constructed, and very functional for fun summer days on the lake; whether boating or just relaxing on the dock. Thank you GND!

Eric Miller
Maine
Eric Miller
Maine

Lindsay and the team at Great Northern Docks provided excellent support and guidance in the entire process of selecting the appropriate dock

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Lindsay and the team at Great Northern Docks provided excellent support and guidance in the entire process of selecting the appropriate dock that meets our needs and budget. Assembly was straightforward and the quality of the material as well as the craftsmanship was excellent. My wife and I are looking forward to adding additional accessories next year.

Christopher Cortez
Maine
Christopher Cortez
Maine
Fully Welded Stairs with railings lead through trees to a Maine dock over clear, shallow water, with sunlight streaming through the leaves.

Stairs

Easy-to-install, multi-purpose outdoor stairs.

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FAQ

What floating dock hardware do I need for a wood dock build?

A complete floating dock build requires floats, float attachment kits, hinge plates for section connections, corner irons for joint reinforcement, anchoring brackets, fasteners, and a dock plan. If you’re building from scratch, our dock plans include a full bill of materials so you know exactly what to order before you start.

Where should I place connection hardware on a floating dock?

Connect at the corners wherever possible. The longer side stringers handle load better than the headers, which crack under repeated stress. For T or L shaped docks, use T-hinge or Short-L hinge plates with corner irons at adjacent joints, and reinforce all joints across the dock section adjacent to any T or L connection.

Should I use hinged or rigid connections on a floating dock?

Hinged connections let sections articulate with wave motion rather than transferring stress into the frame, reducing cracking and hardware fatigue over time. Rigid connectors are used to stabilize and limit motion of floating dock sections in certain dock configurations. Often, rigid connections are combined with floating dock hinges to help alleviate stress on the system. Not sure which setup is right for your dock? Give us a call.

What size wood framing does this floating dock hardware support?

All Great Northern Docks floating dock hardware is designed for 2×6 or 2×8 wood frame construction. Hardware uses 3/8″ diameter carriage bolts, 2.5″ long when mounted to single 2x lumber.

What is the difference between foam-filled and air-filled dock floats?

Both are durable rotation molded polyethylene with nearly identical buoyancy. Air-filled floats are lighter and designed to have an optional skid board attached for protection on the ground. Foam-filled floats have extra wall strength from the foam inside, which helps when stacking docks on land, and can still provide flotation if the float becomes punctured. Each float type has its own attachment kit, so make sure you order the matching one for the float you choose.

Floating Dock Hardware for Wood Frame Builds

Great Northern Docks manufactures floating dock hardware for wood dock builders. All hardware is built around 2×6 or 2×8 wood frame sections and uses 3/8″ diameter carriage bolts throughout, so everything on this page works together without hunting for compatible parts. We’ve been building and selling this hardware from Naples, Maine since 1979. The book, “Building Your Own Dock” is available on the plans page and includes a full bill of materials for a complete floating dock build.

Smaller dock sections with lighter framing are ideal for floating systems that need seasonal removal on lakes that freeze each winter. Hinged connections handle wave motion better than rigid ones. They let sections articulate rather than transferring stress directly into the frame.

Connect sections at the corners wherever possible. The longer side stringers handle load better than the headers, which crack under repeated stress.

Foam-Filled vs. Air-Filled Dock Floats

Air-filled floats, like the Drag-On Float, are lighter and easier to handle during seasonal installation and removal. Foam-filled floats are more durable long-term and won’t sink if punctured since the foam inside is buoyant. The right choice depends on your dock setup and how you use it.

If you’re not sure where to start, give us a call before you order.

A wooden dock with chairs overlooks a calm lake, surrounded by trees. A sailboat floats nearby, and a lifebuoy hangs from the Maine Docks railing.
Two people in swimsuits joyfully jump off a Great Northern Docks wood dock into the water, with a bench and bottle resting on the dock.

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