Wiscasset committee to test Candock floating-dock cleat, seek grant to fund sample installation

The Wiscasset Waterfront Committee discussed and identified a path forward Feb. 10 to test a Candock floating-dock system and seek grant funding to pay for a pilot installation on the town recreational float.

Prock representative Sean Kelly described Candock as “a modular cube structure” made from high-density polyethylene that connects with plastic pins and resists corrosion. Kelly said the system is used at the Beals lobster wharf and by a ferry operation in the southwest harbor and that some installations remain in the water year-round.

Committee members focused on tie-up hardware and ramp loading. Kelly described a Candock four-point, heavy-duty 12-inch cleat; Member Dave Gagnon suggested a galvanized loose eyebolt as a lower-profile alternative. The group discussed locating heavy-duty cleats on the forward face of the float and dinghy rails on the rear edges, doubling Candock cubes where the ramp meets the float, and possibly installing a short wooden dock at the ramp terminus.

On next steps, the committee agreed on a limited trial: install a single sample four-point cleat and a section of the proposed dinghy rail on the recreational float for an April assessment. Town Manager Dennis Simmons was identified to apply for grant money to fund the sample installation.

The committee reviewed and discussed its Oct. 28, 2025 minutes; Member Dave Gagnon moved to approve the minutes and Member Luke Saindon seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m. following a motion by Gagnon, seconded by Saindon.

The committee said there was no new business on the agenda.