Valheim: How to build docks for your ships

Your base can receive a major upgrade if you decide to build some docks but the process isn’t as simple as it seems. 

At some point during your Valheim journey, you will build either a Raft, Karve or Longship and store it near your base. 

The best bases are near water, so docking your ships is fairly easy if you went this route. While you can simply get off near the shoreline and leave your boat by itself, wouldn’t a dock and boathouse look much better? 

Many Valheim players have had this line of thinking when developing their bases. However, some have run into the trouble of actually supporting the docks since they tend to go over the water.

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Today, we’ll show you how you can support your construction over water and build a dock for your ships in Valheim. 

Building docks in Valheim 

A simple boathouse and dock is all you need in Valheim. (Picture: Iron Gate AB)

To start, you’re going to need to select the spot you want your dock to go. A recommended spot is not too far from your base but far enough so that you have some space between your actual house and the water. 

Next, you’re going to need to decide if you want to simply build the docks platform only or construct a boathouse that the docks lead out of. Both options are viable, as both accomplish the same goal, but, obviously, a boathouse looks nicer. 

If you decide to build a boathouse, it needs to be around 5-10 Wood Stair lengths away from the water to allow for enough room for the docks and boat. The house itself can be a smaller version of your actual house. However, since it’s your base, you can construct it however you’d like. 

For the actual docks themselves, it’s preferred to have Core Wood on hand along with regular Wood. The Core Wood is used for the support beams underneath the docks, as it’s stronger than standard Wood. To start, install the Core Wood support beams on the shoreline. This establishes a foundation for your dock. Next, lay down some Wood Floor panels on top of the support beams. 

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Keep in mind, you don’t want your docks to extend too far out into the water. That requires more support and if the water is deep, you’ll have a hard time getting support beams attached to your dock. You only need a small number of Wood Floor panels on your dock. 

Docks are a great way to improve the look of your base. (Picture: Iron Gate AB)

Once you have the basic structure of the dock down, you can start to get into more advanced building mechanics. This includes building an adjoining dock so you can place your boat in between the two or building separate docks for each of your boats. However, once you have the basic foundation down, the advanced construction should come relatively easy,