Wave Armor and EZ Dock are the two most popular dock manufacturers around. Both have good reputations and are overall amazing.
But some things make them different. Material, durability and stability, sustainability, and ease of installation are some of the major differences you’ll see between them.
If you own a jet ski, you know how important a stable dock is. They pretty much protect your jetski when you’re not riding it so choosing the right one is important.
Both Wave Armor and EZ Dock are good, but which one should you choose? Here’s a comparison to help you.
A Quick Summary of Comparison
| Feature | Wave Armor | EZ Dock |
| Material | Foam and reinforced polymer | Polymer |
| Durability and stability | Better | Good |
| Sustainability | Good | Better |
| Ease of installation | Better | Good |
Have time to dig in? Good, let’s get to the details then.
Key Comparison Between Wave Armor And EZ Dock
Both Wave Armor and EZ Dock have solid reputations going on for them, and you know there has to be some truth to that. With both of them being so close neck-to-neck, differentiating between them can get hard.
Both these brands have neat and well-rounded products. But don’t fret, that doesn’t mean there are no differences between them.
Material, durability, sustainability, and ease of installation are some of the major differences you’ll spot between them.
Let’s see how these make Wave Armor and EZ Dock different.
- Material
The difference isn’t about quality, that’s for sure.
The brands just use different materials for their dock units, and that’s what makes the difference.
Wave Armor goes for more multi-purpose material while EZ Dock prefers the idea of uniformity.
Wave Armor dock units have two layers in them. The exterior is made of polyethylene material and the interior has a polystyrene layer.
Using two materials makes this material more withstanding. The outer layer counters the force of your jetski weight.
The interior layer on the other hand keeps the structure steady. Having a polystyrene inner layer also means you won’t have to worry about rat issues.
The layer is thick enough to stop the rats from chewing through it. And even if they did chew through it, the outer layer will still hold strong.
EZ Dock is more of a traditionalist in this department. They prefer having one material do it all. And instead of having a full inner layer, they focus more on making the outer layer stronger.
EZ Dock’s units are made of low-density polyethylene. Traditional material but it holds up very nicely.
The inside is hollow for these panel units, but the build material adds extra buoyancy to cover for that. As for pest issues, you might have to worry a little. They seem to like chewing on hard materials.
The biggest perk Wave Armor has over EZ Dock is the weight of units. Wave Armor units are much sturdier but pretty light compared to EZ Docks.
Also Read: Differences Between TideSlide And SlideMoor Docking Systems.
- Durability and Stability
This is probably the most important feature when it comes to jet docks. Both Wave Armor and EZ Dock have enough things going on for them. But when it comes to durability, Wave Armor is slightly ahead of EZ Docks.
Wave Armor’s first line of stability is its material. The combination gives it the head-start for durability.
But that’s not where it ends though. Polyethylene and polystyrene are both extremely durable no matter what you put them through.
One thing we have to mention for Wave Armor is its excellent UV rating.
The panels are so nicely weatherproof that they hold up strong no matter how harsh the sunlight is.
You could match the panels or replace them multiple years later and the colors will still match pretty well.
EZ Dock is a little behind in durability, but not by much.
Since their material is primarily focused on durability, everything holds up really nicely. However, the biggest strong point of these is the stability-ensuring texture.
EZ Dock dock units have special textures on the bottom of their panels. These panels are supposed to provide extra suction that gives EZ Docks better stability.
- Sustainability
EZ Dock has sole reign in this department. Their materials aren’t exactly all-green but are more sustainable than Wave Armor.
They use recycled rubber for anchors which means less carbon footprint. If sustainability is something you care about, EZ Dock has your back.
- Ease of Installation
Both docks are pretty easy to set up, but EZ Dock takes a little more skill. Part of that is because of their different structure. But mostly it is because their dock panels aren’t very scalable.
Wave Armor makes its dock units as versatile and scalable as possible. They have anchors and joint mechanisms for all kinds of docks.
You have something for your small single-line dock, something for big ones, and something for scaling a different dock up.
So if you’re using Wave Armor, you won’t have to buy a full setup. You can start small and go as big as you want. Kind of like playing with Lego blocks if you think about it. Here is its installation guide for you.
EZ Dock is a little behind in this area. Sure, you can set up your dock pretty easily but that’s about it.
Scaling or transforming it will take a whole lot of effort. You’ll have to start from scratch and expand your dock if you want to, which means extra money and a leftover dock.
Which One Should You Choose?
That is a question without any straight or simple answer. As you know by now, both brands are very similar and have good reps going for them.
Their pros and cons almost neutralize each other so if you want to choose one, you’ll have to do a trade-off of features.
The most important thing here is to know what you want. That will narrow down your pros and cons list and make choosing a brand easier.
If you want to go for something you can easily install and don’t mind spending a little extra dough, go with Wave Armor.
Wave Armor is probably the easiest doc to set up and it is very versatile. The durability is top-notch so you won’t have to worry much about damaging your ski.
If you’re looking for something cheaper but with excellent quality, then EZ Dock is your friend. They’re light and have almost all the qualities of Wave Armor.
Plus, if you’re looking for sustainability, EZ Doc is far ahead of Wave Armor. The only problem is they’re less durable.
Overall, Wave Armor is the better choice here. It may not be high up on the sustainability meter but they’re durable and easy to set up.
But if you’re strictly aiming at sustainability or your bank, then feel free to go with EZ Dock.
Also Read: Mooring Whip Substitutes For Your Boat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Depends on how the water in your area is. If it is mostly calm, you can go for a piling dock but if you want the best solution overall, plastic floating docks are the first choice.
Unfortunately, no. Keeping the dock in water during winter will void the EZ Dock warranty. If you want to retain that, you’ll have to take the dock out in winter.
Wave Armor is a USA-based manufacturing company. All of their products are assembled in the USA and distributed through flagship stores.
EZ Dock is based in the USA. They have three home offices. One for the East USA, one for the West part, and one for Sweden.
Final Verdict
As complicated as the Wave Armor and EZ Dock comparison gets, the final answer will always depend on your personal preference and what you expect from your dock materials.
Then there’s the question of availability too. But if you had both available and had to pick one, Wave armor would be the better choice overall.
Wave Armor customer service is terrible. I bought an Extreme X24 from Mike at Jersey Shore Docks in Toms River last May (2023). Used the dock(on/off) about 10 times last season. This season, I had trouble getting the boat off the dock.
Upon inspection, I noticed the rollers were not spinning and are deformed (flat spots). When I contacted Wave Armour, I was told the rollers are not covered under warranty because they are a wear item.
Really, so these rollers dont even last a year? If that is the case, why didnt anyone make me aware that I would need to replace these rollers after just about a dozen uses.
Caveat Emptor.