On The Water Designs

What On The Water Designs does

On The Water Designs is a Canadian manufacturer and installer of custom waterfront systems, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Kilworthy (Muskoka), Ontario. The company designs, builds, and sells modular aluminum and wood-framed dock systems — Pole Docks (Leisure Series, Designer Series), Floating Docks (Classic, Designer, Titan, Commercial/HDPE DuraDock), and Tower Docks — alongside a comprehensive line of boat lifts, PWC lifts, floating boat/PWC ports (via Wave Armor), roller ramp systems, and dock accessories. Core technology centers on marine-grade 6061-T6 aluminum framing with proprietary in-house tooling and 3D CAD modeling, producing bolt-together modular designs with pre-punched connection points and hand-operated adjustment features; the Titan Series adds welded box-style pontoon frames with cross members for rough-water durability.

The company operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market with non-commissioned in-house sales staff supported by a Muskoka showroom on Highway 11 and a network of 15 authorized Ontario dealers. Pricing is quote-based, one-time/perpetual, with financing facilitated through select partners. The business completes approximately 700 dock projects per year with a staff of roughly 20 employees, serving primarily residential waterfront property owners in Ontario's cottage country, with a secondary commercial/municipal segment (resorts, marinas, municipalities). Differentiators include industry-leading warranty terms (10-year non-prorated frame, 100-year pontoon float on Titan), Made-in-Canada manufacturing using Canadian materials, and a vertical integration model spanning design, in-house tooling, factory production, and professional installation.

Name

On The Water Designs

Legal name

On The Water Designs

Website

https://onthewaterdesigns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

On The Water Designs is a Canadian manufacturer and installer of custom aluminum and wood dock systems, boat lifts, and PWC ports, serving Ontario residential waterfront property owners and commercial/municipal buyers through a Muskoka showroom and 15 authorized dealers since 2000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kilworthy (Muskoka)

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Dock Systems Sales: The company designs, manufactures, and sells custom floating docks, pole docks, and tower docks for Ontario waterfront properties. Products are available in multiple series (Leisure, Designer, Titan, Classic, Commercial) with various customization options including decking materials and sizes. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with optional professional installation.
2. Boat and PWC Lift Systems: Sale of boat lifts including vertical lifts, cantilever pontoon lifts, hydraulic lifts, and floating boat ports. Also includes PWC lifts (cantilever, vertical, and floating ports) and roller ramp systems. Products feature various weight capacities and come with optional accessories like canopies, winches, and remote controls.
3. Dock Accessories and Parts: Wide selection of dock accessories including dock ladders, dock cleats, dock bumpers, dock solar lights, anchors, concrete dock anchors, bubblers, dock floats, wheel kits, and fasteners. Products are available for purchase both at showroom and through dealer network.
4. Financing Services: Company offers financing through select partners to help customers invest in waterfront systems, facilitating larger purchases through payment plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

On The Water Designs designs, manufactures, and sells custom waterfront systems including pole docks, floating docks, tower docks, and boat/PWC lifts for Ontario waterfront property owners. Products are made at the company's Muskoka factory using marine-grade aluminum and Canadian materials, available across multiple series (Leisure, Designer, Titan, Classic, Commercial) and supported by an authorized dealer network and optional professional installation.

Product overview

On The Water Designs is a manufacturer and installer of custom waterfront systems, operating as a single unified product portfolio focused on docks and marine equipment. The core offering comprises three main dock product lines: Pole Docks (Leisure Series and Designer Series variants), Floating Docks (Classic Series, Titan Series, Designer Series, and Commercial configurations), and Tower Docks. Supporting products include Swim Rafts (custom-built and Wave Armor branded), PWC Lifts (Cantilever, Vertical, and Wave Armor PWC Ports), Boat Lifts (Vertical, Hydraulic, Cantilever Pontoon, and Wave Armor Floating Boat Ports), Roller Ramp Systems, and a comprehensive Dock Accessories line. The Leisure Series uses modular bolt-together construction for DIY installation, while Designer and Titan Series offer hand-crafted customization with marine-grade aluminum and welded frames. Commercial-grade products target resorts, marinas, and municipalities with enhanced durability specifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leisure Series: Modular bolt-together aluminum pole docks designed for DIY installation, precision-crafted from marine grade aluminum with a classic truss style frame design.
• Designer Series
• Titan Series
• Classic Series

Products and services

• Pole Docks Pole docks designed for shallow water installations (typically less than 6 feet deep), featuring lightweight aluminum construction for easy seasonal installation and removal. Available in Leisure Series (modular bolt-together for DIY) and Designer Series (hand-crafted welded frames).
• Leisure Series Pole Docks Modular bolt-together aluminum pole docks made from 6061-T6 marine grade aluminum with pre-punched connection points for easy assembly. Features adjustable leg system with hand-operated knob and supports Western Red Cedar, ThruFlow Plastic Decking, or Solid PVC Decking. Frame-only or complete kit options.
• Designer Series Pole Docks Hand-crafted aluminum pole docks built with marine-grade aluminum framing and stainless steel fasteners. Features decking support stringers every 16 inches with custom deck panel clips. Standard sizes 4', 6', 8' and 10' wide and 10', 15' and 20' long, with custom options.
• Floating Docks Custom-built floating dock systems designed to adapt to changing water levels while providing consistent stability. Available in Classic Series, Titan Series, Designer Series, and Commercial configurations for residential, commercial, and municipal use throughout Ontario.
• Classic Series Floating Docks Traditional wooden floating docks built with Micro Pro Sienna Pressure Treated Lumber and extruded aluminum structural hardware. Features foam-filled plastic PermaFloat dock floats with over 50 standard float sizes, 3-year warranty, and 15-year warranty on floats.
• Titan Series Floating Docks High-performance floating dock system combining welded aluminum frame with reinforced pontoon floats featuring welded box-style design and cross members. Designed for commercial applications and permanent cottage use with 10-year warranty on aluminum frames and 100-year warranty on pontoon floats.
• Designer Series Floating Docks Aluminum floating dock systems built with marine-grade aluminum framing and stainless steel fasteners. Uses foam-filled plastic PermaFloat dock floats designed for 25 lbs/SqFt (upgradeable to 40 lbs/SqFt). Standard sizes 4', 6', 8' and 10' wide and 10', 15' and 20' long.
• Commercial Floating Docks Commercial-grade pontoon floating dock systems featuring rugged 18 or 24 inch fully welded HDPE pontoons with proprietary HDPE crosser system. Designed for resorts, marinas, and municipal applications with maximum design flexibility and durability.
• Tower Docks Designer Series Tower Docks offer the ultimate in pole dock design with integrated lifting capability. Can be completely removed from water like a drawbridge without disassembly. Available in 20', 30', 40' and 50' lengths with 4', 6' and 8' widths, in straight or T-shaped designs. Designed for one-person winterization.
• Swim Rafts Custom-crafted swim rafts for summer relaxation and waterfront activities. Options include traditional custom rafts with aluminum or wood frame (96 x 96 inches) and pre-manufactured options including Otter Island Swim Raft (120 x 96 x 18 inches, 3,000 lbs capacity) and Oasis Swim Raft (105 x 90 x 12 inches, 2,000 lbs capacity).
• Cantilever PWC Lifts Economical PWC lifts designed for shallow water with pivot-based operation. Features 32 inches of lift travel with 16 inches of independent leg adjustment. Available in 1260 (60 inch width), 1272 (72 inch width), and Catamaran (108 inch width) models, all rated at 1,200 lbs capacity. 15-year warranty.
• Vertical PWC Lifts High-clearance PWC lifts designed for rough water conditions with 60 inches of lift travel. Model 1263 features 1,200 lbs capacity, 63 inch inside width, and 24 inches of independent leg adjustment for steep underwater grades. Operates in 6 inches water plus draft.
• Wave Armor PWC Ports Rotomolded polyethylene PWC drive-on ports fully filled with marine-grade EPS foam. SLX Series (5 and 6) and PRO Series (5, 6 and Wide Body) options with weight capacities from 1,500 to 2,250 lbs. Features independent wheel systems and non-marking rollers for scratch-free loading. 8-year warranty.
• Vertical Boat Lifts Elevator-style boat lifts providing maximum wave clearance with up to 64 inches of lift travel. Capacities range from 2,500 lbs to 8,000 lbs with bolt-together design for hard-to-reach locations. Includes accessories such as High Top Canopies and Remote Controlled Power Winches. 15-year warranty.
• Cantilever Pontoon Lifts Shallow water specialist lifts for two-log pontoon boats supporting from under the deck rather than under pontoons. Five models (32BL18, 32BL22, 32BL25, 42BL25, 42BL28) with 3,200-4,200 lbs capacity and 57-69 inches of lift travel. 15-year warranty on aluminum frame.
• Hydraulic Boat Lifts Premium low-profile boat lifts using hydraulic cylinders for smooth, whisper-quiet operation. Engineered exclusively for V-Hull boats with 4,000-6,000 lbs capacity and 43 inches of lift travel. Features 12V DC power with solar charging kit included and remote key fob operation. 15-year warranty.
• Wave Armor Floating Boat Ports Drive-on modular floating ports with foam-filled rotomolded construction. Four models: Pro 170 (2,600 lbs), Pro 220 (3,400 lbs), Pro 8 (4,200 lbs), and Extreme X24 (8,000 lbs). Includes Sea-Doo Switch conversion kits and optional Power Launch Assist and ProTect'R Canopy System accessories. 8-year warranty.
• Roller Ramp Systems Shore-based storage systems for bringing craft completely out of the water. Includes Aluminum Roller Ramps with wobble rollers for aluminum fishing boats, PWCs, and small V-hulls; Keel Rollers for canoes and kayaks; and DIY Roller Ramp Kits. Capacities up to 1,500 lbs.
• Dock Accessories Full line of dock accessories including Concrete Dock Anchors, Elongated Corner and Side Bumpers, Mud Foot Plates, Porta Cleats, Solar Rail Lights, Stainless Steel and Galvanized Fasteners, Bubblers (1/2 HP), Inflatable Mooring Buoys, and Dock Hardware (Fasteners, Anchors and Chain, Wheel Kits).

Quantifiable outcome

• Frame life expectancy of 30+ years for pole dock frames
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Wave ArmorcoreTechnology or IntegrationWave Armor is a manufacturer of roto-molded PWC ports and floating boat ports that On The Water Designs resells and installs. Products include SLX Series and PRO Series PWC ports with drive-on/drive-off functionality, and Pro boat ports for various vessel sizes. Wave Armor products feature foam-filled construction, 8-year warranties, and are designed for durability in Canadian waterfront conditions. On The Water Designs offers these as part of their complete waterfront solutions portfolio.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Techno Metal Post: Techno Metal Post supplies helical pile foundations used in dock and waterfront structure installations. Adjacent ecosystem participant providing foundational infrastructure that supports the dock installation market On The Water Designs serves.

Direct peers

• Floe International: Floe International manufactures aluminum dock systems and boat/PWC lifts distributed through a dealer network across North America. Closely overlaps On The Water Designs' product mix including sectional, roll-in, and floating dock configurations.
• ShoreMaster: ShoreMaster is a leading North American manufacturer of aluminum dock systems, boat lifts, and waterfront accessories distributed through a broad dealer network. Highly comparable product portfolio spanning sectional docks, floating docks, boat lifts, and PWC ports.
• PolyDock Products: PolyDock manufactures modular floating dock systems from rotationally molded polyethylene for residential and commercial waterfronts. Competes in the same modular floating dock space as On The Water Designs with overlapping customer base.
• EZ Dock: EZ Dock produces modular polyethylene floating dock sections used in residential and commercial waterfront applications across North America. Directly competes with On The Water Designs in the floating dock category with similar modular configuration philosophy.
• Tommy Docks: Tommy Docks designs and distributes aluminum sectional dock systems and boat lifts primarily to the DIY/residential market via dealer and retail channels. Comparable in targeting cottage and residential waterfront owners with modular aluminum dock offerings.
• Candock: Candock is a Canadian-based manufacturer of modular floating dock systems made from high-density polyethylene. Competes directly with On The Water Designs in the floating dock category for residential and light commercial waterfront applications.
• Hewitt (Roll-A-Dock): Hewitt manufactures aluminum roll-in dock systems and boat lifts serving the Great Lakes and Midwest waterfront markets. Directly comparable product lines including sectional docks and a range of lift capacities.

Emerging players

• Wave Armor: Wave Armor designs and manufactures rotomolded PWC ports and floating boat ports. Functions as both a reseller partner to On The Water Designs and a partial competitor in the floating port category.

Regional players

• Great Lakes Marine Products: Regional dock and lift manufacturer serving the US Great Lakes region with comparable product mix targeting cottage country waterfronts. Operates in a different geography than On The Water Designs but in adjacent lake regions with similar customer profiles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/on-the-water-designs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about On The Water Designs