Below are some basics, and check out the Welcome Packet for Members.
The Good Neighbor Manifesto
- Know your dock rules. If you didn’t get a written list, ask for one from a member of your dock board.
- Get to know your neighbors! Building relationships creates a stronger community. Introduce yourself, have conversations, and be friendly–don’t wait for issues to arise.
- Help whenever you can. Helping each other makes daily life easier and brings us closer together.
- Keep noise in check. You’ve probably noticed that our homes are very close and water amplifies sound, so being respectful with noise is essential to happy living. Please respect quiet hours for music and outdoor conversations, especially in the early morning and after 10pm. Reserve screaming for emergencies and if you need to alert the dock in a crisis, an air horn works better. Remind your visitors about these same courtesies.
- Human visitors: The great thing about the floating home community is that folks watch out for each other, so they often question visitors they don’t recognize to minimize unwanted crime. It is helpful to let your dock mates know if you’re expecting visitors or hosting a party, and give guests a heads up that they might get asked, “Are you visiting someone on the dock?” Have fun in communal areas, but leave them as you found them.
- Wildlife visitors: We share the lake with more than just people! Ducks, birds, beavers, otters, raccoons, rats, fish,… it’s their home too. Never feed the wildlife for our safety and theirs. Avoid leaving trash or any food outdoors or unattended. It will almost immediately attract aggressive raccoons or others. Note: Hummingbirds can be fed, but only with boiled and filtered sugar water (4:1 water to sugar). It must be cleaned and changed weekly, and you should continue feeding them throughout the winter or the little guys may starve.
- “Petiquette”: Please keep dogs leashed in common areas, clean up their waste immediately, and avoid prolonged barking (by you or your dog 🙂 Pet potty patches can get really smelly and only work if you buy the weekly service. Consider skipping them and taking your pooch for a nice walk instead!
- Garbage and recycling: Please dispose of garbage, compostables, and recyclables (flatten boxes) in the appropriate onshore bins. Items like paint, solvents, batteries, and oil must go to a King County Household Hazardous Waste Station–never put these in the dumpsters. Most importantly, never dispose of anything from your dock or home into the Lake as it harms all of us and the beautiful lake (and it’s illegal). Environmental stewardship starts at home!
- Secure ‘yer stuff. Make sure household items near the water are secured so they don’t blow or fall into the lake. Umbrellas like to take flight in a storm. More on this in the Safety tips…
- Sharing is caring. Since storage space is limited, sharing tools and other large items is a great way to increase inventory/resources without increasing your footprint.
- Enjoy! 4th of July fireworks, FHA concerts & socials, Duck Dodge races, paddle boards, birdwatching, kayaking to dinner, crew races, sunbathing, Dragon Boat Caroling and Reverse Trick-or-Treating, polar bear plunges, hot tub boats, dock parties, heron fly-bys, eagle sightings, beaver visits, goose hatchlings, Christmas ships, stormy nights, sun rises, sunsets….it’s a pretty great way of life!
Safety & Maintenance Tips
- Keep the dock clear. A clutter-free dock is safer and lessens the probability that critters will nest there.
- Secure ‘yer stuff. This one is so good that it makes it onto both lists! Secure personal items like kayaks, SUPs, and boats to prevent them from drifting into the water or blocking the channel. Late fall and winter winds can turn umbrellas, chairs, and cushions into dangerous projectiles. Tie them down or store them safely. Storing umbrellas and cushions also prevents mold and weather damage. For bikes, invest in a strong U-lock and lock frame to an immovable object as they’re a thief favorite.
- Hire good contractors. You are responsible for their actions. Educate them on the unique needs of floating homes and to ensure they know and follow water safety practices. Even better, consult your dock mates or Resources on FHA website for recommended contractors seattlefloatinghomes.org with experience working on floating homes (as they are much different than land houses!). Lastly, consult your own dock rules as they change from dock to dock.
- Inspect sewer lines regularly. Check sewer lines annually and after strong winds. Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper and waste (no coffee grounds, no kitty litter). Sewer backups are never fun – you can take out the entire dock with the wrong flush.
- Prevent freezing pipes. When freezing temps are predicted, turn on all faucets to a slow stream to prevent pipe breaks. Installing heating tape on outdoor pipes can also be very effective.
- Painting and staining: Use tarps to catch paint chips or dust. Keep small amounts of paint in drip pans and clean up spills immediately so they don’t go into the lake.
- Gardening: Use tarps while potting to prevent soil and debris from falling into the water. Avoid over watering plants treated with fertilizers, as runoff can harm the lake ecosystem. If you notice thirsty plants in communal spaces, be a cool neighbor and water them. Keeping shared spaces tidy like sweeping leaves off of stairs is also a cool thing to do.
- SNOW: When the snow comes, floating home owners band together and react quickly as snow loads can ‘turtle” floating homes. After a snow, clear roofs and docks quickly yourself or find/hire someone else for the job. A snow shovel is definitely worth making room for!
- 101 uses for a dining tray... To prevent your last screw or screw driver from joining many others at the bottom of the lake, designate a dining tray for outdoor projects and you won’t regret it!
- Boating and repairs: For engine work, use absorbent pads for oil changes and recycle waste oil, batteries, and filters appropriately. For painting and varnishing, use tarps to catch dust and debris and clean up spills. The Center for Wooden Boats at the south end of Lake Union is a great resource! They have classes on environmentally safe practices.
- Float planes: When the lights flash on the buoys, be on the lookout for the sea planes. We all share the lake.
- Fire is the biggest risk to floating homes, so precautions are paramount. We saved this most important item for last. No open flames–candles may smell lovely, but they’re not safe on floating homes. Opt for flameless alternatives. Gas or electric cookers are safer than open flames. Always stay with your cooking device and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Most docks have a yearly fire safety meeting to review hose and fire extinguisher locations and operation–attend these and know how to react in an emergency. It could save your life and that of your neighbors.