CONCRETE CRETE TIMBER MODU PIPE FLOATS COVERED MOORAGE FLOAT BOAT LAUNCHE FLOAT PLANES FISH CLEA SYSTEMS DESIGN CONCRETECRETE TIM MODULAR PIPE FLOATS COVERED MOORAGE BOAT LAUNCHES FLOAT PLANES FISH CLEANING SYSTEMS CONCRETE CRETE TIMBER MODU PIPE FLOATS COVERED MOORAGE BOAT LAUNCHE FLOAT PLANES FISH CLEA SYSTEMS CONCRETECRETE TIM MODULAR PIPE FLOATS P N D COVERED MOORAGE BOAT ENGINEERS, INC. LAUNCHES FLOAT PLANES FISH CLEANING SYSTEMS
PND FLOAT DESIGN
PND S BACKGROUND DESIGNING FLOATS Float design is an art. It requires skill and experience to design for form and function. Since inception, PND Engineers, Inc. has specialized in planning, design, fabrication and construction inspection for in-water structures, upland accommodations, and marina facilities. Our project development has included performance specifications for all types of float systems. Our clients rely on our experience in a wide variety of climate and site-specific conditions to assist them with the selection of suitable materials that perform well for their unique facilities. Benefits of our experience include the rapid assessment of various float systems, associated construction and life cycle costs inherent to site-specific conditions and options. This brochure presents some of the unique challenges and innovative approaches provided for our clients in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and beyond.
CONCRETE FLOATS MODULAR + MONOLITHIC Concrete has been used in float systems for more than 40 years. PND has designed these float systems for numerous waterfront facilities, as demonstrated on these pages. Modular concrete units (10 ± length) utilizing timber walers for unit construction have been used successfully for years. They offer a fairly inexpensive system that is easily transported due to their relatively light weight. A variety of configurations can be obtained using these mass-produced units. Left Page (clockwise from top): Anacortes B Dock Anacortes, Washington; 1998 Fabricator: IMFS SERVS/VEOC Dock Valdez, Alaska; 1993 Fabricator: Concrete Tech St. Herman Harbor Kodiak, Alaska; 1998 Fabricator: BMI Right Page (top to bottom): Anacortes B Dock (information previously listed) La Conner Marina G-Float La Conner, Washington; 2004 Fabricator: Shoreside Construction Petersburg South Harbor (two photos) Petersburg, Alaska; 2003 Fabricator: Shoreside Construction PND FLOAT DESIGN
MODULAR AND MONOLITHIC Monolithic concrete systems are large sections manufactured with structural connections that eliminate the waler system and have fewer parts and pieces than modular floats. Monolithic systems offer greater stability due to the large size of each unit. The systems are also less prone to twist and are generally stronger than other concrete floats. Monolithic float modules are typically 40 to 60 feet in length, but have been cast as long as 100 feet for single-piece finger piers. Monolithic systems provide a longer life span with less maintenance than modular floats because they eliminate timber as the primary structural element. Monolithic floats have deeper sections and greater structural rigidity for handling mooring forces from larger vessels.
TIMBER FLOATS HEAVY GLULAM + POLYTUB Timber floats provide for rustic and beautiful moorage. PND s work with timber floats encompasses more than 25 years of design. These floats are traditionally used to accommodate smaller vessels due to their light mass. For snow and ice regions, timber-decked floats are often preferred because of the ease of ice removal. These floats typically offer low installation costs, and repairs can generally be done readily with local crews. Left Page (top to bottom): Harris Harbor Juneau, Alaska; 2005 Fabricator: Blue Water Systems, LTD Middle Harbor (two photos) Petersburg, Alaska; 2005 Right Page (top to bottom): Douglas Harbor Juneau, Alaska; 1999 St. Paul Harbor Kodiak, Alaska; 1998 Homer Harbor Homer, Alaska; 2000 Cordova Boat Harbor Cordova, Alaska; 2004 PND FLOAT DESIGN
HEAVY GLULAM AND POLYTUB There are numerous types of timber floats. Two popular types are heavy glulam floats and polytub floats. Heavy glulam floats have side members that encase polystyrene flotation billets. These floats are typically fabricated in lengths of approximately 60 feet. Critical connections are kept above the waterline to minimize damage to the floats from environmental factors, and also allow for easy repair access. Continuous members minimize the number of float-to-float connections. Polytub flotation units with lighter side walers and decks eliminate all below-water connections for improved longevity. These floats are built as large as possible while allowing transport, and can be easily field-assembled.
MODULAR PIPE FLOATS Modular pipe floats are an ideal solution for facilities exposed to harsh environments such as large waves, high tidal fluctuations, ice flows, and heavy snow loads. Pipe floats provide durable systems suitable for sites where floats are seasonably removed because the pipe bottom allows them to ground-out without damage and they can be launched by crane or trailer. Pipe floats can be manufactured from welded galvanized steel pipe or high density polyethylene plastic pipe (HDPE) and are usually connected together in 20-60 foot segments. These floats predominately have timber decks but can also support concrete decks. Modular Pipe Floats (background): Alaska SeaLife Center Dock Seward, Alaska; 1993 Fabricator: Seward Shipyard (top inset) Nome Floats Nome, Alaska; 1994 Fabricator: Richards Pipe and Pile (bottom inset) NW Maritime Center Dock Port Townsend, Washington; 2004 Fabricator: Keiser Steel Fabricators PND FLOAT DESIGN
COVERED MOORAGE SYSTEMS Covered Moorage Systems (top to bottom): Port Orchard Marina Port Orchard, Washington; 1996 Fabricator: BMI Edmonds Marina (two photos) Edmonds, Washington; 1995 Fabricator: BMI Covered moorage systems provide weather protection for users, and are a favored choice for many of today s boaters. A key element in design for covered moorage is determination of the failure mechanism for snow and wind loads. Because the system has a flexible foundation, it is important to design the structures to handle large forces. PND has experience identifying each system s unique challenges.
BOAT LAUNCHES + DAY-USE FACILITIES With an increasing number of pleasure craft users/owners, there is a greater demand for new and rehabilitated day-use facilities and boat launching stations. PND provides design for transient pleasure craft at recreational boat launches and day-use moorage facilities throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Facilities also provide moorage for large, easily-deployed vessels as shown in the bottom photo for the U.S. Coast Guard. Boat Launches + Day-Use Facilities (top to bottom) Taku Harbor Stephens Passage, Alaska; 2005 & Shoreside Technology Dockton Boat Launch Maury Island, Washington; 2003 Fabricator: Transpac Amalga Harbor Boat Launch Juneau, Alaska; 2001 Fabricator: BMI USCG Dock Anchorage, Alaska; 2004 Fabricator: Flexifloat Construction Systems PND FLOAT DESIGN
SPECIALTY SYSTEMS Once a marina and float configuration are determined, many developments include some type of specialty system to augment their operation. A few common specialty items include seaplane floats, fish cleaning floats, party floats, fuel floats, historic vessel mooring, and pump-out station floats. PND has experience with all of these specialty items and has developed many of these unique systems. The Valdez fish cleaning floats (pictured at top right) are an example of PND s unique systems. The floats are designed to be removed during the off-season and stack vertically to minimize upland storage. PND also accommodated a fish dumping float that acts as a holding facility for fish waste. At capacity, the float is transported and disposed off-site. Seaplane float design varies from below water anchor-chain systems to pile-supported systems. Specialty Floats (clockwise from top left): South Lake Union Historic Vessel Moorage Seattle, Washington; 2004 Fabricator: IMFS Valdez Fish Cleaning Floats Valdez, Alaska; 2002 Fabricator: Delta Industrial Cordova Small Boat Harbor Cordova, Alaska; 1984 Fabricator: Bremerton Concrete Pelican Boat Harbor & Seaplane Base Under Construction Pelican, Alaska; 2005 Port Orchard Party Float Port Orchard, Washington; 2004 Fabricator: IMFS
P N D E NGINEERS, I NC. Headquarters: Anchorage Office 1506 West 36th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99503 Phone: 907.561.1011 Fax: 907.563.4220 Juneau Office 9360 Glacier Highway, Suite 100 Juneau, Alaska 99801 Phone: 907.586.2093 Fax: 907.586.2099 Seattle Office 1736 Fourth Avenue S, Suite A Seattle, Washington 98134 Phone: 206.624.1387 Fax: 206.624.1388 Houston Office 10497 Town and Country Way, Suite 210 Houston, Texas 77024 Phone 832.930.4830 PND Engineers Canada, Inc. Vancouver Office Suite 2000, Oceanic Plaza 1066 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3X2 Phone: 604.601.5247 For additional information please visit our website. www.pndengineers.com Copyright 2015, PND Engineers, Inc.