Someone threw my dock deicer into lake

[jjj70095]

I had a friend check on my place in Mincoqua up north and someone, unscrewed 4 screws from deice and threw it into the lake...My friend found it in the lake.
Should I file a police report? I thought maybe it slid down the pole, but the screws are in the lake by the dock. It was unscrewed by someone. They did not mess with the timer thank God. Anybody else ever have this problem?

 

[dfattack]

Sorry this happened to you. I can’t say it’s happended to me since I don’t have one but if you don’t mind me asking how was it working for you? I’ve considers them myself but didn’t have the coconuts to be the only one on our chain to use one. Since I’m not there full time I pictured neighbor kids getting curious and walking to close and falling in or their dogs doing the same. I see huge boathouses in the Muskoka area in Ontario and they ALL use them. In fact almost everyone does there boat houses or even just docks. I contacted my insurance company to see if I would be covered if one of my concerns happened and they honestly didn’t know. Decided against it in the end since I couldn’t live with myself if something did happen. Didn’t want to be the first one kind of thing. I know my post doesn’t address your actual question but if you don’t mind me asking I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

 

[pclark]

Probably someone close to you did that, you'll find out eventually by word of mouth, sucks, I guess I would report it.

 

[jjj70095]

The dock deicer has worked out fine for my permanent dock of 8 years. No problems at all. I have a short 20 foot permanent dock. I will talk to police and see if any other people have had the same issue. The person unscrewed 4 bolts to drop the deicer into lake. I was last at house March 18.
I think it probably happened after ice was melted.....I dont know what to do going forward. It could cause a dangerous situation if they do it again and ice is on the lake, as it could possible create a hole going out to lake. I only run it for 1 hour in morning and night, as the dock is small. They could mess up the timer as well....prob have to get someone to check on it weekly going forward

 

[dfattack]

The dock deicer has worked out fine for my permanent dock of 8 years. No problems at all. I have a short 20 foot permanent dock. I will talk to police and see if any other people have had the same issue. The person unscrewed 4 bolts to drop the deicer into lake. I was last at house March 18.
I think it probably happened after ice was melted.....I dont know what to do going forward. It could cause a dangerous situation if they do it again and ice is on the lake, as it could possible create a hole going out to lake. I only run it for 1 hour in morning and night, as the dock is small. They could mess up the timer as well....prob have to get someone to check on it weekly going forward

Do any of your neighbors have one as well? No complaints from neighbors?

 

[jjj70095]

I am the only one on my shoreline that has one, there are around 6 other houses that have dock deicers. I do a small hole around Feb 15.
It is clearly marked with flags....dock really is small compared to huge other docks with deicers on the lake.

The person needed a wrench to unscrew the 4 screws, so it definitely was intentional.

 

[ddhanna]

I'm not real crazy about the things and it looks like someone else isn't either. My seasonal neighbor has one and I'm always concerned my dog is going to have something bad happen or an unsuspecting snowmobiler is going to go in. I don't know any locals who use one. I guess they figure if the wind is right during ice out, your pier will take a hit whether you are aereating or not. I prefer the piers that use the pilings as a means of protection. Just my opinion.

 

[dfattack]

I'm not real crazy about the things and it looks like someone else isn't either. My seasonal neighbor has one and I'm always concerned my dog is going to have something bad happen or an unsuspecting snowmobiler is going to go in. I don't know any locals who use one. I guess they figure if the wind is right during ice out, your pier will take a hit whether you are aereating or not. I prefer the piers that use the pilings as a means of protection. Just my opi

I wasn't going to continue to address the merits of using them since it's not what the OP was posting about. I will say this and will be done unless the OP isn't bothered by it. I think this would be a good separate thread to be honest.

I personally love the idea of the aerator since my dock moves on shore approx 4" a year. Some years nothing but usually it does. I used to have the Wheel welded to a pipe in a pipe which sat on the lake bottom and it moved a lot. Another company came and removed all of them then jack hammered just over a 100 8X8 posts 16' long (on the deep side shorter towards shore) about 4-5' into the bottom. This contractor said the dock will never move. It does every year. The ice is crazy strong. Eventually going to a floating dock but it's big bucks and have other priorities right now.

Lastly, I have a camera on my dock and have proven my cousins wrong that it's a iceberg in the spring being blown into the dock. In over 20 years this has never happened to me causing my dock movement. Not saying it doesn't happen to others but not mine. The movement on mine happens right BEFORE the ice goes out. I would love some engineer or someone with knowledge of why this happens when it does to let me know. I monitor this every year since I need to make repairs every time it happens which out of 20 years has probably been 17 or 18. Aerators would fix my issues and wouldn't need a new dock but I just can't get over the liability I would have if some pet or child fell through. On the flip side soooo many people use this with no problems in Canada and other places as well. I have spoken to companies who sell them and he sells a ton. Where are they going? I think about this all the time.

 

[jjj70095]

DfAttack,

You are correct in that the damage is not from any floating ice pieces up here in northwoods. I had the dock put in 13 years ago, and first 5 years no airator (installer thought I would not need one based on the side of lake I am on). In year 5, in March, everything was melting, but the idiots in town of Minocqua opened the damn and floating water rose in the lake, and then a cold front hit and it freezed the ice around the dock, and I was here when I hears and saw my dock crack into pieces...

The dock installer has a one time replacement policy for free, so they put in the new dock again, and I started using a deicer. My dock has slightly shifted up through the years, and one piece has shifted down, but nothing major. I stopped in dock maker today and they are going to come out and level the dock, not a major problem as it is an adjustable dock (Northland Docks). Overall I love my permanent dock and do not suggest a floating dock, I had one 20 years ago and they are not stable, and you will want a stable dock when you are on it walking and fishing...stay away from floating docks if you can, unless if you never spend time on the dock and only use it to get to your boat...

 

[jjj70095]

Here is pic of my doc, not a very long one, and I leave in the strong old steel boat lift as well, no problems with ice and boat lift.

 

[pclark]

The dock deicer has worked out fine for my permanent dock of 8 years. No problems at all. I have a short 20 foot permanent dock. I will talk to police and see if any other people have had the same issue. The person unscrewed 4 bolts to drop the deicer into lake. I was last at house March 18.
I think it probably happened after ice was melted.....I dont know what to do going forward. It could cause a dangerous situation if they do it again and ice is on the lake, as it could possible create a hole going out to lake. I only run it for 1 hour in morning and night, as the dock is small. They could mess up the timer as well....prob have to get someone to check on it weekly going forward

I would put a trailcam up to see if the perps come back. Won't cost you much to do that.

 

[dfattack]

DfAttack,

You are correct in that the damage is not from any floating ice pieces up here in northwoods. I had the dock put in 13 years ago, and first 5 years no airator (installer thought I would not need one based on the side of lake I am on). In year 5, in March, everything was melting, but the idiots in town of Minocqua opened the damn and floating water rose in the lake, and then a cold front hit and it freezed the ice around the dock, and I was here when I hears and saw my dock crack into pieces...

The dock installer has a one time replacement policy for free, so they put in the new dock again, and I started using a deicer. My dock has slightly shifted up through the years, and one piece has shifted down, but nothing major. I stopped in dock maker today and they are going to come out and level the dock, not a major problem as it is an adjustable dock (Northland Docks). Overall I love my permanent dock and do not suggest a floating dock, I had one 20 years ago and they are not stable, and you will want a stable dock when you are on it walking and fishing...stay away from floating docks if you can, unless if you never spend time on the dock and only use it to get to your boat...

This is the floating dock I would do. There is already one on my chain and you really don’t feel like you are on a floating dock. What I don’t like about it is the wood he uses. Hard to stain. I have the IPE wood on my deck and wouldn’t do it again. If this dock company would agree to an azek material or something similar I would do it.

And yeah I agree get a game camera

Perfect Pier | Pier and Dock Systems

Pier and dock systems, redefined. Perfect Pier constructs and installs all permanent piers to fit your needs. Built in Wisconsin and shipped to you.

www.perfectpier.com

 

[jjj70095]

How much does it cost to put up a camera and what type of pc do you need? I have wifi at my house. What camera do you recommend?

 

[ddhanna]

I personally love the idea of the aerator since my dock moves on shore approx 4" a year. Some years nothing but usually it does. I used to have the Wheel welded to a pipe in a pipe which sat on the lake bottom and it moved a lot. Another company came and removed all of them then jack hammered just over a 100 8X8 posts 16' long (on the deep side shorter towards shore) about 4-5' into the bottom. This contractor said the dock will never move. It does every year. The ice is crazy strong. Eventually going to a floating dock but it's big bucks and have other priorities right now.

DF, I don't get how 100 8X8 posts 16' long installed 4-5' into the bottom can be moved horizontal to the lake bed. Maybe bent over, but not moved. Isn't that physically impossible.... And the ice is crazy strong when the wind is pushing it. Otherwise it just sits there...

 

[dfattack]

DF, I don't get how 100 8X8 posts 16' long installed 4-5' into the bottom can be moved horizontal to the lake bed. Maybe bent over, but not moved. Physically impossible.... And the ice is crazy strong when the wind is pushing it. Otherwise it just sits there...

I'm heading up Monday. I will take pics showing the 8X8's leaning sometime next week. I had my guy fixing the dock yesterday. AS the 8X8's lean towards shore they push the decking up higher so they have to cut them down and reset the deck boards. Trust me it moves. Absolutely hard to believe I know but it's true. Full transparency it is a large dock and extends roughly 60' from shore since it's a shallow bay.

 

[jjj70095]

Upon further review, I am thinking a rock or piece of wood got stuck in the impellor, which made it not able to turn in the water. The unit froze and the ice pushed the unit up out of the dock (screws included)....My friend said a piece of debris was in the unit when he pulled it out of the lake.....I know how strong ice can be in moving docks around.....So either it was foul play with someone with a wrench or the ice pulling it out of the water.....

 

[dfattack]

The ice would rip the bolts out of the dock and not be cleanly backed out of the holes

 

[united]

Upon further review, I am thinking a rock or piece of wood got stuck in the impellor, which made it not able to turn in the water. The unit froze and the ice pushed the unit up out of the dock (screws included)....My friend said a piece of debris was in the unit when he pulled it out of the lake.....I know how strong ice can be in moving docks around.....So either it was foul play with someone with a wrench or the ice pulling it out of the water.....

This. Didn't want to say anything but most likely the simplest answer. High rpm and torque can rattle 1 bolt or more loose. Once the first is compromised not hard for the other three to fail especially hit with debris. Could see an ice fisherman or snowmobiler not like it if you made a large hole in the ice but if just concentrated to your own pier not much of a motive. That is if you are not already in some type of feud haha.

 

[jjj70095]

No feuds with neighbors, and small hole in winter......put deicer in around Feb 15.......only run deicer for hour in morning and night......only used 3 bolts to screw it in, not 4.....I see one bolt on bottom of lake right by the end of dock where the deicer is located....

 

[jjj70095]

I talked with a neighbor and have an answer. The deicer was fine the whole winter and neighbor thinks the boat waves in spring lifted it up out of the water when he left for Florida in April. Ice was 90 percent melted when he left. Nobody was seen on the dock in winter. I will still put a camera sign there as well as a precaution going forward.

I still have doubts that just waves could lift up the unit. In past years , no problems with waves when my friend pulled the unit in May.....