FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The quick answers on cost, accounts, offline use, the kinds of docks you can design, material estimates, quotes, permits, and collaborating with a team.
- Is Dock Builder free?
- Designing is free: the no-account Home Owner mode lets you sketch and visualize a dock right in the browser, saved on your device. The paid Dock Builder plan adds automatic material takeoff, quotes, permit-ready PDF export, sharing, company branding, and cloud sync. Marina Builder adds unlimited team seats and sourced map overlays.
- Do I need an account to use it?
- No — you can design a dock without an account in the free Home Owner mode, and it saves locally in your browser: one dock, up to three sections. To unlock material take-offs, quotes, PDF export, sharing, site location, and cloud sync, you upgrade to Dock Builder, our paid plan.
- Does it work offline?
- Yes. Dock Builder is offline-first: the canvas runs locally and persists your project in the browser, so it keeps working with no internet connection and syncs back up automatically when you’re online again.
- What kinds of docks can I design?
- Floating docks and pier/piling docks, plus gangways, cradle and PWC boat lifts, and covered structures like boathouses and canopies. You can also mark up the site with property lines, shoreline, setbacks, and measurements.
- Does it estimate materials and lumber?
- Yes — with Dock Builder. As you draw, each dock section calculates its decking cut-list, framing (rim, joists, blocking), float layout, pilings, and hardware. You can switch between dimensional lumber and composite decking and the take-off updates.
- Can I create a quote or bill of materials?
- Yes, on Dock Builder. The material take-off rolls into a quote with your labor rate, margin, and tax. Product prices are snapshotted from the catalog at quote time, so an old quote never changes when prices update later.
- Can I export permit-ready plans?
- Yes, on Dock Builder. Export scaled PDF exhibits with a title block and applicant/engineer blocks, suited to a dock permit application. Jurisdiction requirements drive which views and scales the exhibits use.
- Can my team collaborate on a plan?
- Anyone can view a read-only or comment link with no account. Sharing links and company branding come with Dock Builder; Marina Builder brings your whole crew into one workspace with unlimited seats and a shared template library.
- How do I get in touch?
- Use the contact form on our Contact page for sales, support, or Marina Builder questions — or the in-app feedback button while you’re in the builder. Both reach our team.
- What devices and browsers does it run on?
- Any modern web browser on desktop or tablet — there’s nothing to install. The canvas supports both mouse and touch (pinch-zoom and pan), so it works on the go.
Still curious? Just try it.
The fastest answer is to draw a dock yourself — it’s free and takes a couple of minutes, no signup.