# Dock, lift and shoreline system types

Lesson 1 of [Private dock and boat lift basics](https://privatedock.fyi/academy/private-dock-foundations.md), 12 minutes.

Choose the type of system before you choose a finish. A floating platform, a removable dock and a boat lift solve different problems. Each type raises its own design and service questions.

## Floating docks

A floating dock rests on the water. It may suit a site where the water level changes. It still needs anchoring and a shore connection, and both need design for the site. Modular floating systems join standard units into a layout. On 2026-10-29, the EZ Dock and Candock websites showed modular floating dock systems. Ask which modules, anchors and connections suit your use.

## Fixed and removable docks

A fixed or removable dock has different foundations from a floating dock. It also has different seasonal tasks. Ask whether seasonal removal is necessary for your site, who does it and when.

## Boat lifts and PWC lifts

A boat lift holds the boat at the berth. Cable, hydraulic and drive-on systems have different service tasks. A PWC lift holds a personal watercraft. A lift must match the boat. A brand name alone does not prove that a lift fits your boat.

## Seawalls, bulkheads and marinas

A seawall or a bulkhead is a wall along the shore. Seawall work, dredging work and a shared residential marina each need their own scope. Do not multiply a small dock kit price by an area and assume the result covers marine construction.

## No system suits every site

Ask the contractor to compare the practical limits of each system for your site. A claim that a system suits every site is not design evidence.

## Sources

- PrivateDock guide: Compare dock and lift brands by project fit
- PrivateDock guide: Dock design ideas for a residential waterfront
- PrivateDock guide: Maintain a private dock and boat lift
- PrivateDock guide: Private dock costs: compare product prices and installed scope

Also on the [web page](https://privatedock.fyi/academy/private-dock-foundations/dock-and-lift-system-types).