Craigen Marine Contractors LLC

07/06/2026

Lake LBJ and Highland Lakes dock owners — have you faced the repair vs. replace decision? What did you decide, and how did it work out? Did you repair and wish you'd replaced? Replace and feel it was the right call? Find a middle path — renovation — that produced a better outcome than either extreme? The honest answers from people who've been through it are more useful than any decision framework for owners who are facing the same question right now. Drop your experience in the comments. 👇

Should you repair your Lake LBJ dock or replace it? Craigen Marine's honest cost comparison and decision framework — including the specific factors that tip the decision each way on Highland Lakes.

07/04/2026

💡 Wave Damage Tip from Craigen Marine: If your boat is moored in a Lake LBJ slip without spring lines — only bow and stern lines — it's sliding fore and aft with every passing wake. That fore-aft motion puts repetitive cyclic loading on the framing connections at both ends of the slip, accelerating the loosening that wave action produces in every dock on this lake. Spring lines — running from the boat's midship cleats forward and aft to dock cleats at the one-third and two-thirds positions along the slip — eliminate that motion. The dock stops moving with the boat and starts doing what it's supposed to do: hold it still. It's the rigging change that most directly reduces wave-induced structural loading on your dock. Takes five minutes to rig. Worth every one of them. Questions about your dock? Call us at (325) 388-2140 or visit craigenmarine.com/contact

07/03/2026

📊 A Lake LBJ dock board replacement comparison worth knowing: Pressure-treated lumber replaced on a Highland Lakes dock in Central Texas conditions: ✅ Lower upfront material cost ⏱️ Expected surface life: 12 to 15 years with annual maintenance 🔄 Replacement cycle repeats Quality composite decking (Trex and equivalents) on the same dock: ✅ Higher upfront material cost ⏱️ Expected surface life: 25 to 30+ years with minimal maintenance ✅ No annual sealing, staining, or treatment required The labor cost of installation is largely the same for both materials. The incremental cost of the composite upgrade at board replacement time amortizes over a service life that is roughly twice as long. Full guide to dock board replacement for Highland Lakes owners → https://craigenmarine.com/blog/replacing-dock-boards-highland-lakes-lake-lbj/ Or call us: (325) 388-2140

07/02/2026

💡 Dock Rot Prevention Tip from Craigen Marine: The water-bead test tells you when your wood dock sealant needs reapplication — regardless of what the product label says about reapplication intervals. Splash or pour a small amount of water on the deck surface. If it beads up and rolls off — the sealant is still working. If it absorbs immediately — the protection has been consumed and reapplication is due. On a Lake LBJ dock with 10-month UV exposure and extreme temperature cycling, most penetrating wood sealants hit this point at 12 to 18 months — shorter than the 2 to 3 year intervals most product labels suggest for temperate climates. Use the test, not the calendar. Questions about your dock? Call us at (325) 388-2140 or visit craigenmarine.com/contact

07/02/2026

No single wake damages a Lake LBJ dock. The damage is cumulative — hundreds of small loads per day, thousands per season, each one cycling the pilings slightly, working the framing connections slightly looser, putting cyclic tension on the cleat hardware. Over seasons without the specific maintenance attention that wave-loaded docks require, that accumulation produces the loose pilings, opened framing connections, and failed hardware that owners discover and assume happened all at once. It didn't. It happened gradually, over years, in a process that correct inspection and maintenance practices catch and interrupt. We wrote the complete guide to how wave action damages Highland Lakes dock structures — the six specific mechanisms, the design factors that resist the damage, and the inspection approach that catches problems at the maintenance stage rather than the repair stage. Read it here → https://craigenmarine.com/blog/wave-action-dock-damage-lake-lbj-highland-lakes/ Or call us: (325) 388-2140

07/01/2026

Highland Lakes dock owners — what's the dock problem that surprised you most when you found it? And how far had it progressed before you caught it? Rot that was further along than it looked from the surface? A piling that had been moving without anyone noticing? Hardware that looked fine until it failed under load? We're asking because the honest answers from people who've been through it are more useful for other dock owners than any repair guide. Drop your experience in the comments. 👇

Rotting decking, wobbly pilings, corroded hardware, lift failures, roof leaks — Craigen Marine's complete guide to the most common Highland Lakes dock problems and the right fix for each.

07/01/2026

📊 The repair vs. replacement threshold that dock professionals consistently use: When repair costs approach 50 to 70 percent of new dock replacement cost — with a sound foundation and comprehensive repair scope that genuinely addresses all identified problems — replacement is generally the better long-term investment. On Lake LBJ, where a quality single-slip covered dock with lift runs $60,000 to $95,000, that threshold falls between $30,000 and $66,000 in repair costs. The calculation only works with honest inputs: a repair quote that addresses all identified problems (not just the visible symptoms), and a replacement cost based on this market (not national averages). Full repair vs. replacement framework for Lake LBJ dock owners → https://craigenmarine.com/blog/dock-repair-vs-replacement-cost-lake-lbj/ Or call us: (325) 388-2140

Should you repair your Lake LBJ dock or replace it? Craigen Marine's honest cost comparison and decision framework — including the specific factors that tip the decision each way on Highland Lakes.

07/01/2026

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BUILDING OR REPAIRING A DOCK???- MAKE SURE TO DO SOME RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE NEW TO THIS AREA.

***Don't let a low price become an expensive mistake. Ask questions, compare construction methods, materials, experience, warranties & workmanship. The quality of your dock should last for years, and it starts at your foundation - not just until the next storm. The 2018 Flood - Craigen Marine did NOT lose one foundation and that says everything!!!!! We lost a few upper structures during the tragic 2018 flood, but only because debris and trees floating downriver knocked them out.

***ENGINEERED DESIGN & PERMITTING: Our engineered design typically includes permitting costs, but if a contractor isn’t aware of the various requirements, it could be a red flag and worth doing a bit more research. Permit violations fall directly on the homeowner, and an established dock builder will know which permits are necessary and to obtain them for your project.

***GALV>PILINGS: Craigen Marine uses ONLY sch 40 galv. pilings with an engineered foundation frame! A lot of my competitors will say that sch 40 galv. "IS NOT LOAD BEARING," but that is very misleading and Craigen Marine can prove it!

***Galvanized pilings provide strength, corrosion resistance, and, best of all, these types of pilings DO NOT attract zebra mussels! Plus, this feature gives your dock a polished look, you can sleep at night knowing your money was well spent & your foundation isn't going anywhere!

***DRILL STEM: The companies that offer drill stem - PLEASE keep in mind they are offering you RECLAIMED oilfield pipe with an UNKNOWN history, unknown wall loss and visually you can see corrosion has already set in unless protected with the right product. There is reason drill stem has been discarded from the oilfield.

***We use ONLY high-end industrial marine-grade paint, and trust me, it makes a difference!

***SERVICE AFTER SALE: Nothing can ruin a perfect weekend faster than a boat lift not working. Make sure you hire a reputable company that will be there long after the projects completed.

***CURRENT INSURANCE: Ask to review the company’s general liability insurance and understand what it covers. This helps protect your investment during construction and long after the project is finished.

For those new to the area: It’s IMPORTANT to know that dock construction is a specialized trade, and hiring an experienced boat dock contractors is key.
Just this week, several customers have called asking us to fix their docks, with some appearing to be left unfinished and posing safety hazards, all because the contractors wouldn’t return calls or claimed there was no issue with their workmanship.

I want to wish everyone a HAPPY & SAFE - 4th of July! We always look forward to hearing from you and will assist in anyway we can.
GIVE US A CALL! 325-388-2140

Thanks!!