Understand the terms behind the work, from seawalls to helical piers
Table of Contents
Boat Lift Terms
Boat House Lift
A custom boat lift system installed within a covered boat house. These lifts may be mounted to pilings or suspended from roof beams.
Cradle Boat Lift
The most common type of boat lift, supported by 4 to 8 pilings depending on size. These lifts cradle the boat’s hull and are available in capacities up to 80,000 lbs.
Beamless Boat Lift
Lift system with no overboard/top beams, offering a cleaner look and easier boarding access. Beamless lifts typically support boats from 4,000 to 24,000 lbs.
Elevator Boat Lift
Elevator lifts use aluminum I-beams driven into the ground instead of traditional wood pilings.
Bunk Boards
The padded boards on a boat lift that cradle the boat’s hull. Often made of wood or aluminum and shaped to the boat’s hull for support.
Platform Boat Lift
Also called a deck lift, this style features a full platform surface ideal for launching kayaks, paddleboards, and other light craft.
PWC Boat Lift
Designed specifically for personal watercraft (jet skis). Typically a single-pile lift that swings over the dock for easy access and storage.
Boat Lift Motor
The electric or hydraulic component that powers a boat lift. Typically replaced every 5–8 years, depending on use and exposure.
Cable Rewrap / Replacement
A routine cable replacement that resets or replaces the lift’s support cables to prevent uneven lifting or failure. Recommended every 5 years or sooner.
Boat Dock Terms
Composite Decking
Durable dock material made from recycled plastics and wood fibers. Popular brands include Trex and TimberTech.
Decking (Dock)
The surface boards installed on top of dock framing. Options include pressure-treated lumber, PVC, and composite materials.
Dock Cap
The finished top surface of a dock or seawall, made of wood, aluminum, or concrete. Adds structural strength and aesthetic polish.
Hardware (Dock Construction)
Stainless steel fasteners, bolts, screws, and brackets used to assemble and reinforce boat dock components, designed to resist corrosion.
Headers
Pressure-treated timbers fastened to boat dock pilings using through-bolts. They support the stringers.
Pile / Piling
Vertical posts (typically 8" or 10") driven deep into the ground to support boat docks and boat lifts. Made of pressure-treated timber or composite.
Stringer (Dock)
The timber boards installed beneath the decking and perpendicular to the headers, supporting the boat dock’s walking surface.
Seawall and Shoreline Terms
Berm
The soil at the base (toe) of a seawall, which may be reinforced with rip rap to improve erosion resistance.
Cap (Seawall Cap)
A reinforced concrete or composite top section that ties seawall panels together, adding strength and preventing displacement.
Deadman Anchor
A buried concrete block (typically 10–12 ft. behind the wall) that anchors the seawall via a steel tie-back rod.
Erosion Hole
A depression or washout behind a seawall, usually caused by poor drainage or hydrostatic pressure. Early sign of wall failure.
French Drain (Seawall)
A trench lined with filter fabric and filled with gravel. Installed behind seawalls to relieve water pressure and improve drainage.
Hydrostatic Pressure
Water pressure that builds up behind a seawall due to rainfall, runoff, and poor drainage. Can lead to structural failure if unmanaged.
Panel (Sheet Panel)
Vinyl, metal, composite, or concrete sheets driven into the soil to form a seawall. Panels protect the shoreline and prevent erosion.
Rock Revetment (Rip Rap)
Large limestone rocks placed along a shoreline or seawall toe to protect against erosion and stabilize the wall or slope.
Seawall
A vertical barrier installed along waterfronts to prevent erosion and protect land. Constructed from vinyl, concrete, or treated wood.
Seawall Cap
The top horizontal section of a seawall, typically made of steel reinforced concrete. Connects and stabilizes the entire wall structure.
Tie-Back
A steel rod connecting the seawall cap to an anchor buried in the yard. Helps prevent forward movement or bowing of the wall.
Vinyl Sheet Panel
A corrosion-resistant seawall panel system made of engineered vinyl. Often backed by a 50-year warranty and used in new construction or wall replacements.
Waler
A horizontal structural beam attached outside seawall panels to reinforce tie-backs and provide added support.
Weep Hole
Small holes drilled above the waterline in a seawall to release pressure from behind and reduce erosion risk.
Foundation and Structural Terms
Foundation Underpinning
A repair method that strengthens a settling foundation using helical or resistance piers. Restores stability to the structure.
Helical Pile (or Helical Pier)
A steel shaft with screw-like blades that is twisted into the ground to support foundations. Used in both new construction and repairs, as well as seawall construction.
Resistance Pier
Steel piers driven into the ground hydraulically to stabilize or lift an existing foundation. Used when soils are too poor for traditional footing support. Used for foundation and seawall construction.