Six docks, photographed twice.

Every job below is shown the way a dock owner actually experiences it: what it looked like when we got the call, and what it looked like when we left. Rough Water Dock has been built and repaired by the Crabtree family for over 30 years at the Lake of the Ozarks. “We Like it Rough!”

Ameren UE Certified Dock Builder
Best of the Lake 2010–2019
Authorized Wet Steps dealer
Certified Poly Lift dealer
Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber member
Family run, 30+ years

Job 01

A new residential dock

A new dock starts as a conversation about slip sizes and which boats are going in it, then becomes a drawing, then becomes steel in our shop. We build by hand, start to finish, custom to your shoreline.

Before

Photograph to come — the design drawing Rough Water produced for this customer, photographed flat or exported as an image, beside the bare shoreline it was drawn for. Rough Water already produces a layout drawing for every residential job before fabrication starts — this is the one thing no competitor at the lake is showing.

The drawing, and the empty water.

After

Photograph to come — the finished dock from the water, wide, mid-morning. Rough Water already owns this photograph — the New Residential Construction album holds 146 of them, captioned with the job names Show Dock, Ross, Murray, Murphy, Manne, Faulstich, Flick and Leverich. Pick the strongest one.

The dock, built to that drawing.

FrameI‑beam construction for the roughest water, or angle‑iron truss frame with 10″ trusses — both main‑channel approved
OptionsStiff arm braces, frame bracing, angle iron roof support, roof colour and style, trim colour, hand rails, upper decks
Fitted outBoat lifts, PWC slips, swim platforms, Wet Steps, electricity, custom high dives
PermitsAmeren UE certified, so on‑water regulations and dock permit filing are handled for you

Talk to us about a new dock — 573‑374‑0470

Job 02

Re-foaming a dock that sits low

Old flotation waterlogs. The deck starts taking water at one corner, the walkway pitches, and the dock stops sitting level in the slip. Re-foaming puts it back where it belongs without rebuilding it.

Before

Photograph to come — a dock riding low — water over the deck boards at one corner, or a visibly uneven waterline along the outside edge. Shoot from the water at deck height so the tilt reads clearly.

Waterlogged flotation, corner going under.

After

Photograph to come — the same dock, same angle, same lens, riding level with a clean straight waterline. Matching the camera position is what makes the pair convincing.

Re-foamed, sitting level again.

AlsoCable adjustments, anchor resets, underwater inspection, general repair — our crew handles any problem you may have
WeldingPortable welding, on‑site, so a repair does not mean removing the dock
BargeBarge available for commercial and residential jobs — call for a quote

Book a repair — 573‑374‑0470

Job 03

Rip rap and stone work

Wake and winter drawdown take the bank a foot at a time. Rip rap armours the shoreline so the ground your dock is anchored to stops moving. We also do stone and masonry work, piers and retaining stone built to suit.

Before

Photograph to come — an eroding bank — undercut soil, exposed tree roots, slumped ground at the waterline. Include a fixed reference in frame (a set of steps, a seawall corner, a tree) so the “after” can be shot from the same spot.

Bank undercut and losing ground.

After

Photograph to come — the finished rip rap from the same reference point, graded stone running to the waterline. Late afternoon light gives the rock texture.

Armoured, graded and holding.

Ask about rip rap — 573‑374‑0470

Job 04

Moving a dock, dam to dam

Sold the house. Bought a dock. Bought a house that came with the wrong dock. We push, relocate and install used docks anywhere on the Lake of the Ozarks — and we have been doing that part of the job for 24 years.

Before

Photograph to come — the dock under tow behind the work boat, open water, cables slack. This is the most distinctive photograph in the whole business and almost nobody at the lake publishes one.

Under tow, on the way.

After

Photograph to come — the same dock set, cabled and squared at the new property, with the house visible behind it.

Set, cabled and anchored at the new shoreline.

AlsoTear‑downs and removals, and used docks, lifts, ramps and accessories bought and sold
CommercialBuilt to your design and specification with engineering drawings, delivery and set‑up. Past commercial work includes Millstone, Captain Ron’s, Paradise, Franky & Louie’s and Coconuts.

Get a dock moved — 573‑374‑0470

Job 05

Winter Watch, de-icers and snow removal

The lake draws down every winter and the snow does not wait for you to drive out from St Louis. Winter Watch means somebody is checking your dock while you are not there — cables adjusted for the drawdown, de‑icers installed, roof snow cleared before the load becomes a problem.

Before

Photograph to come — a loaded dock roof after a snowfall, or a dock left tight on its cables as the water drops during drawdown. Grey light is fine — this photograph is supposed to look uncomfortable.

Snow load, and a falling waterline.

After

Photograph to come — the same roof cleared, cables slacked off correctly, a de‑icer running with open water around the slip.

Cleared, slacked off, de-icer running.

Winter WatchScheduled checks on your dock through the off season while you are away from the lake
De‑icersSupplied and installed
DrawdownCable adjustment for the annual winter drawdown, which happens every year
SnowRoof and deck snow removal

Put your dock on Winter Watch — 573‑374‑0470

Job 06

Tiki bars, dive platforms and swim docks

The part people actually remember. A plain deck becomes a tiki bar, a high dive, a swim platform with Wet Steps and a shed that matches the roof. Custom sheds with many options, built to suit.

Before

Photograph to come — the bare deck or empty swim platform before the build, shot from the shore end looking out.

A deck with nothing on it.

After

Photograph to come — the same deck with the tiki bar, high dive or swim platform in place, ideally in use. If a customer will let you shoot it with people on it, that is the single most persuasive picture Rough Water can own.

Tiki bar, high dive, Wet Steps.

CustomTiki bars · dive platforms · swim docks · add‑on slips · upper decks · hand rails · custom sheds with many options
Dealer forWet Steps (authorized) · Poly Lift (certified) · Drew Boat Lift Company · new and used boat lifts · dock accessories

Design something — 573‑374‑0470

Why Rough Water

Certified where it counts

Crabco LLC is listed as an Ameren UE Certified Dock Builder, so your dock is built to code and compliant, and the permit filing, on‑water regulations and electrical side are handled from start to finish.

Built by hand, in our shop

Docks are built here from start to finish rather than assembled from a kit. Each one is custom, made to your specification, for your shoreline and the water it has to sit in.

Built for the main channel

Back of a no‑wake cove or the roughest water on the main channel — the frame changes to suit. That is the whole reason the company is called what it is.

Family run, in the community

Run by the Crabtree family, building and repairing docks here for over 30 years. Members of the Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber of Commerce, LOMDA, NMMA and the local BNI chapter.

Three questions, then we call you back

That is the whole form. If you would rather just talk to somebody, call 573‑374‑0470 or email sales@roughwaterdock.com.

Where we are, and where we go

Sales office

17685 N Highway 5
Sunrise Beach, MO 65079

Sales office — no mail. Please do not post anything to this address.

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Hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00–4:00
Saturday, by appointment only

Reach us

Office 573‑374‑0470
Fax 573‑374‑8025
sales@roughwaterdock.com

Service area

The entire Lake of the Ozarks, dam to dam — Sunrise Beach, Laurie, Gravois Mills, Camdenton, Osage Beach, Lake Ozark, Four Seasons, Porto Cima, Horseshoe Bend and every cove in between. Camden, Morgan and Miller counties.