Design Benefits of Concrete Orca Style Monolithic Floating Docks

For years, Transpac has listened carefully to the needs of harbormasters and marina operators and has developed a high-performance concrete float that we’re sure you will agree is the cleanest, most durable and serviceable float on the market -- A brawny float that’s well suited to the challenges of the Alaskan waters and weather -- Yet attractive enough for the most discriminating yachtsman.

We listened when you said you wanted a heavily reinforced concrete float that won’t crumble into beach gravel under the stress of winter’s freeze-thaw cycles and a float deck that isn’t so thin that it bleeds rust. We heard you say you wanted greater serviceability designed into connections and utility systems. We listened when you said you wanted higher freeboard floats with non-wearing, non-corroding, noiseless and maintenance free connections. We heard you say you needed stronger cleats and bullrails and were tired of replacing timber walers and constantly tightening through rods.

The ORCA™ concrete float’s unique design benefits include:

High-strength, monolithic concrete units with heavy deck and wall sections starting at 3-1/2”, providing a minimum concrete cover of 1-1/2” over reinforcing.
High performance and high strength (between 6,000 and 7,000 PSI in 28 days) concrete that is pozzolan enriched and air-entrained for low permeability and enhanced resistance to freeze-thaw deterioration. Concrete is plant-cast in small (2 yard) batches using state-of-the-art mixing systems and a very low water-to-cement ratio.
Freeboard from 18” to 36”, depending on float width. Our higher freeboard helps to keep float components, including utility systems, up and out of the highly corrosive splash zone.
Finger-to-mainwalk connection allows all vessels to stern-in into their slips, unencumbered by corner frames. Connections permit unlimited flex cycles without fatigue, wear, noise, or corrosion. The strength of this connection may permit elimination of finger end pile on slips up to 36’. All connections are serviceable and are accessible without requiring disassembly of the float system.

Utilities (including water) may be routed in chaseways or conduits cast beneath the float deck, with round access covers and cast-in feeder sweeps to power centers.
Piles may be placed internally at float ends, employing a “shared”, UHMW-lined retainer. Piles also may be placed externally and located at any point along the float.
Float rubstrips may be treated timber, plastic or a plastic and wood composite.
Float undersides are protected with a hot-applied, heavy polyurethane “truckbed liner” shell, exceeding all state and federal requirements for foam encapsulation.
All Transpac float systems are designed by professional engineers registered in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho and include stamped shop drawings and calculations specific to your project.