Question 1

What is DockDisk coverage guidance and how do I use it?

Accepted Answer

How many DockDisks do I need?
Typical guidelines:
 • Boat slip: 
 • Slip 20 ft: 1-2 Disks
 • Slip 30 ft: 2 Disks
 • Slip 40 ft: 3 Disks
 • Slip 60 ft: 4 or more Disks
 • Dock sections: 1 disk every 12–15 ft
 • Boat lift: 1 disk near bunks or frame

Where should DockDisks be placed?
Place disks:
 • Below the waterline 3-4 ft
 • Near attachment-prone surfaces
 • Away from propellers or moving parts. If the disk is hanging off the boat to protect the hull or engine remember to remove it from water upon leaving dock.

How long do DockDisks last?
DockDisks provide protection for up to 6 months, typically one boating season.

Do I need to remove DockDisks in winter?
Yes. DockDisks should be removed before ice formation to prevent damage.

Question 2

Is DockDisk environmentally safe?

Accepted Answer

Is DockDisk safe for fish, pets, and swimmers?
Yes. DockDisk is safe for people, pets, fish, and aquatic life when used as directed.

Will DockDisk harm beneficial organisms or plants?
DockDisk is designed to target mussel attachment behavior, not broader aquatic ecosystems.

Is DockDisk legal to use in the Great Lakes?
Yes. DockDisk does not contain regulated chemicals and do not require permits for private use.

Does DockDisk pollute the water?
No. DockDisk does not dissolve, leach, or discharge chemicals into the water.

Question 3

Will DockDisk work for my situation?

Accepted Answer

DockDisk is designed for prevention, not removal. If surfaces are already colonized, clean first, then install DockDisk to help prevent re-attachment.

What DockDisk will NOT do
❌ It will not:
Kill adult zebra mussels already attached
Break existing byssal threads
Remove established colonies
Clean hulls, props, intakes, or docks

Once zebra mussels are attached, they are biologically stable and require physical or chemical removal.  High speed won’t shake Zebra mussels off, even at boating speeds (20-60 mph). Zebra mussels are built for turbulence.

What DockDisk WILL do
✅ It does:
Prevent new larvae (veligers) from settling
Stop recolonization after cleaning
Protect clean surfaces for up to ~6 months
Reduce long-term maintenance and cleaning cycles and unwanted costs

Where does DockDisk work best?
DockDisk is designed to hang in the water to protect the following areas:
 • Boat outboard lower units and water intake openings
 • Transducer, trim tabs, prop shaft, 
 • Hull waterlines, keels, and any submerged fittings, lines or buoy
 • Boat slip pilings or dock flotation supports
 • Boat lifts or any submerged equipment

What affects DockDisk effectiveness?
Effectiveness can be reduced by:
 • Strong currents or heavy wave action
 • Improper placement
 • Dense existing colonization
 • Intense sunlight and water temperature are factors that cause the effective life of the disk to vary. Generally the disk is rated for 6 months of effectiveness. 
 • Algae and debris buildup on the plastic shell that houses the DockDisk. Sunlight promotes algae growth on submerged objects. If a DockDisk becomes heavily coated in algae or other organic debris due to warm, sunlit water, its ability to interact with the surrounding water through ionic exchange is reduced. The manufacturer recommends checking and cleaning the disk if such “blockage” is noticed.

Question 4

What are the high-risk areas where DockDisk is needed?

Accepted Answer

The high-risk areas that zebra mussels typically attach to include:
 • Engine lower units and water intake
 • Transducer, trim tabs, prop shaft
 • Hull waterlines, keels, and any submerged fittings, lines, or fenders
 • Dock piling and Ladders
 • Water filtration systems

Question 5

What are zebra mussels and how did they arrive in Lake Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Zebra mussels are invasive freshwater mussels that can cause severe damage to boats, docks, and water infrastructures.

They are small - about 0.5 - 1.5 inches long - with yellow, and brown-striped shells. Zebra mussels attach themselves to hard surfaces underwater and grow in large, dense clusters, forming colonies on solid surfaces below the waterline.

They are native to eastern Europe and western Asia. They arrived in untreated ballast water that was dumped by international ships. First detected in Lake St. Clair near Detroit in 1988, then spread
rapidly across the Great Lakes, traveling with river currents and on recreational and commercial boats.

Question 6

How do zebra mussels attach?

Accepted Answer

Adult zebra mussels and veligers (juvenile microscopic larvae) attach to submerged surfaces using strong byssal threads they
secrete, allowing them to cling to boat hulls, engines, docks, and water systems even in fast-moving water. Once attached, they stay
secure at normal boating speeds and resist vibration and turbulence.

Question 7

How long do zebra mussels live?

Accepted Answer

Zebra mussels live 2 to 5 years and in colonies that can reach tens of thousands of mussels per square meter. This colony-forming behavior is why they are so destructive.

Question 8

Do zebra mussels die out of water?

Accepted Answer

Adult zebra mussels can survive outside of water for several days or even weeks, depending on temperature and humidity. In
contrast, their veligers (juvenile, microscopic larvae) die almost immediately once they are removed from the water.

Question 9

What are the key steps to prevent spread of zebra mussels?

Accepted Answer

KEY PREVENTION STEPS

Always clean, drain, and dry boats, trailers, and gear after use.

• Clean: Scrape off or pressure wash any visible mussels or debris.
 • Drain: Remove all water from the motor, bilge, live wells, and intakes.
 • Dry: Let the boat and gear dry completely for at least 5 days
before launching elsewhere.
 • Decontamination: Use hot water flushes (~140°F) for motors and trailers if coming from an infested area (high-temperature pressure washer needed).
 • Cost-Effective Solution: DockDisk is a preventive deterrent to stop reattachment after the area is cleaned.   Available through Mo Coastal Interiors.  Call for inquiries.

DockDisk™

Invasive Mussel Defense

What is a DockDisk™?

How it Works

Key Benefits

Construction & Design