My version of DIY Dock sticks

[Capt. BassinLou]

These docking tools have been around for a spell. Their sold for a good chunk of change. DIY builds are posted all through YT.

If anyone interested in learning how I built mine I can post the
"how to" step by step on this thread.

[Mike Cork]

They look like they don't take up a lot of room, I'd be interested. Most of the scratches on my boat are dock bites....

[Capt. BassinLou]

They look like they don't take up a lot of room, I'd be interested. Most of the scratches on my boat are dock bites....

They are 15" long.

[Donald Garner]

Lou, those look pretty handy.  Tks for sharing the picture with us.

[JTH141]

Would be cool to have a materials list. Wondering what you used to cap the ends.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Would be cool to have a materials list. Wondering what you used to cap the ends.

Since I'm stuck indoors due to this rain, I will break down what I did.

[Capt. BassinLou]

Here are the materials needed to make one pair of diy dock sticks.

2 - 15" pvc pieces of 1" dia

2 - 48" bungee cords

4 - Rubber Chair tips 1 1/8"

1/2 " Drill bit


Step 1: Using 1/2" drill bit, Drill out the center of the chair tip rubber stopper.



Step 2: Use a drawstring or heavy fishing line to pull the (looped end) of the 48" bungee cord thru one of drilled out chair tips, and run the chair tip to end of the bungee where the hooks are attached.  Note: do this first before running the bungee through pvc.



Step 3: Run the bungee cord through the pvc, and use drawstring method again to assist and pull through the looped end of the bungee cord through the rubber chair stopper.



Step 4: Attach and fasten snuggly the rubber chair stoppers to the ends of the pvc. This will take a little work.

After that, your done.

[JTH141]

Thanks Lou!!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks Lou!!

Cool! I hope the instructions helped.

[twocold]

ok so where do you attached the hooked ends to the boat?

[Capt. BassinLou]

ok so where do you attached the hooked ends to the boat?

The looped end goes on the boat cleat. Then cinch the DIY Dock stick to the boat cleat.  Attach the hooks to the dock, or dock cleats.

[Larry Francis]

I made a set of these a while back and they work well. I just used PVC caps instead of rubber cap which made them cheaper but my boat is aluminum so it wont scratch like Fiberglas.

[Capt. BassinLou]

My diy docksticks worked great!!

[Time2Fish]

Building some of these today.  Thanks Lou!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Building some of these today.  Thanks Lou!

Cool!!

[Capt. BassinLou]

After using the sticks a few times. I'm going to take a page off Larry's design, and use a pvc cap end instead. One of the rubber ends is already tearing and coming off mine.

[Time2Fish]

After using the sticks a few times. I'm going to take a page off Larry's design, and use a pvc cap end instead. One of the rubber ends is already tearing and coming off mine.

Just in time!  Was about to go get chair tips.  I've already got caps in the garage!

[Capt. BassinLou]

After using the sticks a few times. I'm going to take a page off Larry's design, and use a pvc cap end instead. One of the rubber ends is already tearing and coming off mine.

Just in time!  Was about to go get chair tips.  I've already got caps in the garage!

Good!! Use those instead.

[apenland01]

If you are a veteran, you get a nice discount from dock stix if you don't want to make your own.  I use them a lot and like them.  I'm on my second set...

[Capt. BassinLou]

Update.

Since making a pair of these diy dock sticks, I have used them several times already, and here are a couple of my observations.

- the rubber end caps. 2 things here. 1. Make sure they are seated all the way, or they will loosen as the boat moves around.  2. If the rubber end cap rips during installation, like mine did, the rip will get bigger very quickly in no time.

- Solution. As its been suggested already. Use a pvc end cap instead. I will be doing this very soon .

- The type of bungee used. For a 15" diy dock stick, a specific length of bungee needs to be used. I don't know how many options of bungee cords there are out there with different hooked end options, but if you can find a bungee with thinner diameter hook end, these will loop and fasten quicker around a dock a cleat.

The hooked ends on my bungee cord are too thick of gauged hook making them hard to fasten securely on  dock cleat. I really have to force the hook for it to grab properly.

With these minor tweaks, a pair of diy dock stocks are a great, cheaper alternative that will protect your boat at the dock. 

Hope the info helps!!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Version 2.0 with pvc end caps.

Much better!!   

Simple swap.

[Capt. BassinLou]

And,,, done!!

[bassindude]

Great Idea Lou!!  Might replace one hook with a carabiner and the other with a ring when I make mine.

[FlatsNBay]

Do the dock sticks stay at a 90 degree angle from the dock and what keeps them from decreasing the angle because of wind or current and the boat hitting the dock?

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

[apenland01]

Do the dock sticks stay at a 90 degree angle from the dock and what keeps them from decreasing the angle because of wind or current and the boat hitting the dock?

Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk

Ideally, they are placed at a 45 degree angle, give or take, either in or out.  Like this /  \ or this \  /.  Either way, it becomes impossible for the boat to hit the dock.  If they are at a 90 degree angle, they will both just fold over in the same direction and let the boat hit the dock....