At Green Heron Docks, we use creative thinking to facilitate homeowners’ access to deep-water with equal emphasis on cost, safety, efficiency, durability and environmental protection.

Our story began in 2003 when John Rob Holland, while on a boat trip, saw a small truck out on the end of a long dock and thought, “There must be a better way.” John Rob has an established track record of thinking out-of-the-box as the founder of Sally Corporation, an animatronics company. He enlisted the help of long time friend and fellow boater Walter Lampe to start the company. Holland also recruited Ben Wilder, a young inventor, to help develop the products.

The first Dockrider, called the DockChauffeur™, came out in the fall of 2004. It was an eight-foot bench on a battery-powered motorized frame that travelled down a dock guided by an aluminum rail.

“We sent out the first DockChauffeur™ mailer, coincidently, the same week that Hurricane Frances hit. Then Hurricane Gene hit 3 weeks later. We saw that docks were being destroyed by 'upward wave action' acting on the deck and realized that we were in a unique position to develop a new type of dock that would be hurricane resistant because it would have no decking.” – Ben Wilder

During the next year, we developed the SunDock/Dockrider™ System. The SunDock™ was a strong dock foundation that used the dock pilings and framing to create a reinforced track for the Dockrider™ trolley. Similar to a railroad track, our SunDock™ allowed light (and storm waves) to pass freely through the track, while providing the extra support needed for the Dockrider™ trolley. The SunDock/Dockrider™ System was shown on the news in 2005 during the Hurricane Katrina coverage. Some homeowners on the St. Johns River saw the story on the news and wanted one of our systems. Their dock had been destroyed twice in the previous ten years due to storm waves. The dock was beautifully built to our design by Pickett Marine Construction, a local Jacksonville dock builder.

In 2005, Dockrider Systems invited the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to see our new SunDock/Dockrider™ system. They were impressed with the significant decrease in dock shading impact. In sensitive wetland areas, a normal five foot wide dock casts a large shadow on the marsh grass, affecting the density of growth which in turn can affect the surrounding ecosystem. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources advocates docks that allow light to pass through holes in the decking, making a reduced shading impact. They were particularly impressed that our dock allowed three times more sunlight to pass through it then even the best eco-decking.

Two SunDock/Dockrider™ systems were permitted and built in Georgia. We provided plans to the homeowners’ dock builders and installed the Dockriders™ upon completion of the SunDock™ tracks. During the construction of these docks, it became very clear that although our products were eco-friendly, traditional dock building techniques in wetlands were not. We were surprised at the amount of damage caused by foot traffic and equipment rolling through the marsh as they built the docks. We were also surprised by the amount of trash and dock material debris left in the marsh after they were finished. It was then that we decided to create a new machine to build docks--one that would leave the marsh completely untouched by equipment and workers.

The Green Machine™ was our innovative solution.  With our top-down construction method (or ToPS, for Totally Pilings-Supported), this lighter-weight machine supports itself on the dock foundation as it builds.  It provides a work area and scaffolding to allow our workers to build the entire dock efficiently without touching a foot to the delicate wetlands below.  The Green Machine™ also has superior strength and pile-driving capability.  This means there is no need for traditional water-jetting which decreases pull-out suction and increases disturbance to surrounding marine wildlife.

Although our SunDock/DockRider™ trolley system offers the ultimate in storm-resistance and environmental sensitivity, we understand that most people want a traditional-style dock.  For this reason, we now offer our SunDock™ base with traditional decking.  This gives our clients the look and access of a traditional dock with the added strength of our SunDock™ foundation and the building technology of our Green Machine™.  Green Heron Docks continues to expand and look for innovative materials and processes.  We now offer eco-friendly alternatives to wood pilings, framing, and decking, adding even more strength and durability to your dock.  Check out our Technologies page to see all of our innovative products and services.

Where our name comes from...
The green heron is symbolic of our company and our approach to dock construction. Whereas the common blue and grey herons walk in shallow waters as they feed, the lightweight green heron sits on a perch above the water to hunt for fish. By leaving the water below undisturbed, the green heron is able to efficiently catch its unwitting prey. Likewise, the common dock builder builds through the marsh by having their heavy machinery in the marsh and their workers walking through it. Green Heron Docks builds the dock entirely from the structure without having to get in the water or touch the marsh. 

Innovation. Durability. Conservation.



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