According to Nick Melong, co-owner of Blue Sky Docks in North Bay, enjoying summer on a lake in Northern Ontario is a dream come true for many people.
There's nothing else that compares to the region’s breathtaking views, its fresh air, and gorgeous waters. But Melong wants you to know this– an important aspect of making the most out of your lakefront living experience is investing in a high-quality dock.
After all, what is summer without a lakefront seat?
“Life at the lake is a shared experience,” Melong said. “It means so many things to so many people, but it all revolves around the water.”
It all begins in Spring, when the ice first starts receding from the lake, and camp owners’ talk turns to counting the days before they can drop their docks back into the water.
“Those first days of the melt are like a big community event, it’s something we all share and talk about incessantly,” Melong said, adding that some people even place friendly bets on what day the last of the ice will melt, with the loser having to take the first dip.
It’s moments like these – true Northern scenes – that Melong says people at his company connect with. Both Melong and his partner Kyle are northerners, born and bred.
“I like to think we have a really good grasp on how people live near the lake,” Melong said. “How they use their properties, what they use them for, and all the work and maintenance that comes along with those things.”
“We try to get people set up with things that will work for as many years as possible.”
That’s where Blue Sky Docks comes in, offering custom-built aluminium boat docks designed to turn summertime dreams into reality.
Why Choose Blue Sky Docks?
Blue Sky Docks take pride in their products, created from 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy for lightweight sturdiness and resistance to rust and corrosion. The easily-removable panels come in various decking materials like cedar, treated lumber, and composite.
The docks are also designed to be user-friendly.
“Almost in every case, two reasonably able-bodied people can remove these docks systems without any struggle whatsoever,” Melong said. “The deck panels can be easily removed from the frames. Once the frame has its panels removed, it only weighs about 90 pounds, for a 6x10 frame.”
Not only lightweight, these low-maintenance docks guarantee years of enjoyment at your cottage or lake-house.
“I remember when I was a kid, my parents fighting with old dilapidated docks and it was always a big stress to get the docks in and out each season” he said. “And I just don't think it should have to be so hard.”
“And I think with good, well-thought out designs and a good product, it is easy.”
What also sets Blue Sky apart from their competition is their ability to adapt to rocky edges or jagged shorelines. No two properties are the same, Melong said, and their dock systems should be just as unique.
“We've put out docks in tidal conditions on Georgian Bay, and we've had systems out on Simcoe that regularly get hit by eight foot tall waves,” Melong said.
They also routinely deliver to rural and hard-to-access areas, where Melong’s skills as a custom designer are often put to the test. Out in lake country, bolting systems into bedrock and building custom brackets are the norm.
“We really find that in almost every situation, there's something added by having a more comprehensive, and more personalized service,” he said.
The Municipality of Bonfield, for example, also got on board with Blue Sky Docks’ custom designs.
Melong said his company was selected to outfit the township with its brand new pier and dock system near Centennial Park.
“The docks were put out last at the end of last season,” Melong said. “And the pier, we rebuilt through the winter, and I'll be open to the public soon.”
Blue Sky has also added a new offering to their slate of services. As of this year they will be offering cable-driven boat lifts specifically for PWC’s and pontoon boats.
With demand for customized docks nearly doubling over the last two years, the company has expanded, moving into a larger facility at 811 Jet Avenue to accommodate the new orders.
But at the end of the day, Melong said he just wants customers to know that as Northerners, the team at Blue Sky Docks are looking out for their neighbours.
“You can go and buy kit docs and similar products at similar prices. But they don't come with any sort of insight into how those products will work for you or with any extra care or diligence from the sellers,” Melong said. “Often times, after it leaves their hands, it’s up to you to figure out..”
“But that’s not how we do things, here. When a dock system leaves our shop, we take care of it all the way through until it stops being useful, which hopefully is in decades.”
Tips for Installing and Maintaining Your Dock:
- Schedule a site inspection with a Blue Sky Dock designer to plan your ideal dock system or seasonal services.
- Wait until the ice is COMPLETELY off the lake. Ice can blow in from other parts of the lake and cause catastrophic damage to your dock system, if it piles into shore.
- Help the neighbours and get helped in return. Especially if you are new to the area, lending a hand with neighbours docks is a great way to build relationships with the people you share the lake with.
To book a consultation with Blue Sky Docks, visit them online or call Nick at +1-705-477-8931 or Kyle at +1-705-477-5464.
You can also email Blue Sky Docks at [email protected].