Solstice Watersports 8'6" Hex Mesh Dock
Solstice Watersports 8'6" Hex Mesh Dock — Product description
The Solstice Watersports 8'6" Hex Mesh Dock turns the water off your swim platform into a floating hangout for the whole crew. Eight and a half feet across with a removable mesh center for cool-off lounging, it inflates rigid enough to stand on and packs down to a duffle you can stow in the boat.
The Solstice Watersports 8'6" Hex Mesh Dock is built for one thing: turning the water off your swim platform into a floating living room. It's a hexagonal inflatable that measures 8 feet 6 inches on a side and stands 8 inches thick, so you get a big, stable deck that comfortably holds four to six people without a lot of tossing, turning, or tipping. Anchor it off the transom on a calm afternoon and you've suddenly got the best seat on the lake.
What makes it feel solid underfoot is the high-pressure drop-stitch core. Inflate it to the recommended 10 PSI and the deck goes rigid, rigid enough that adults can stand, walk, and step on and off without it folding under them. This isn't a floppy pool float. The 8-inch core gives you real buoyancy and keeps the platform level when everyone shifts to one side to help a swimmer climb aboard.
The signature feature is the center. You get a 20-inch solid dock surround, a dry ring where people sit, sunbathe, and stage coolers and gear, wrapped around a 60-inch mesh hangout area. That mesh sits just below the surface, so you can lounge half in the water and cool off without ever leaving the dock. And it's removable. Pop the mesh out and you've got an open ring the kids can jump through, or leave it in for a shaded, submerged spot to sit out the heat of the day.
Rigging it is straightforward, but plan for it. There are four stainless steel D-rings around the perimeter for anchoring and tying off to the boat, plus four reinforced grab handles that double as climb-aboard points from the water. In anything more than dead calm, we'd run at least a four-point anchor with real weight on each corner. An inflatable this size catches wind, and you don't want it walking away from the boat while the crew's in the water. A couple of half-inch dock lines and fender clips make for a much more secure tie-up to the boat than clipping straight to the swim ladder.
It inflates and deflates through a single high-pressure HR valve, and the kit ships with a pump with a gauge so you can hit that 10 PSI target without guessing. Figure on two people to deploy it on the water once it's inflated, just because of the bulk. When you're done, it rolls up and packs into the included duffle-style carry bag down to about 25 by 17 by 11 inches, small enough to stow in a lazarette or the bed of a truck. The whole package weighs around 30 pounds. A repair kit comes in the box too, which you'll appreciate the first time you drag it across a dock cleat.
A few honest notes from the water. The mesh center will collect algae in freshwater if you leave the dock in for weeks at a time, so give it a scrub every few weeks to keep it from getting slick. Like any inflatable, it doesn't love constant UV, so rinse it, dry it, and stow it in the bag between long trips rather than leaving it baking in the sun all season. Treat it that way and it'll give you years of weekends. This dock shines as a swim and hangout platform off pontoons, deck boats, and cruisers where you're anchored up in a cove. It's less suited to rough open water or as a permanent moored dock. For sandbar Saturdays and quiet-anchorage afternoons, though, it's hard to beat.
Portable, compact, and genuinely fun, the 8'6" Hex Mesh Dock is the kind of gear that changes how your whole crew spends a day on the water. Blow it up, tie it off, and let everybody spread out.
Key Features
- 8'6" x 8'6" x 8" hexagonal platform gives you a big floating deck for four to six people
- High-pressure drop-stitch core inflates to 10 PSI, rigid enough to stand and walk on
- 8" thick core adds buoyancy and keeps the deck stable when people move around
- 60" removable mesh center lets you lounge submerged and cool off without leaving the dock
- 20" solid dock surround gives you a dry perimeter to sit, sunbathe, and stage gear
- 4 reinforced grab handles double as climb-aboard points from the water
- 4 stainless steel D-rings for anchoring and tying off to the boat
- Single high-pressure HR valve for quick inflate and deflate
- Folds to 25" x 17" x 11" and packs into the included duffle-style carry bag
- Ships complete with a pump with gauge, carry bag, and repair kit
Why Buy from NVN Marine
- Authorized Solstice Watersports reseller, full manufacturer warranty
- NMEA member and ABYC certified, advice from real boat techs
- Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock items
- NY headquarters and Fort Lauderdale flagship retail store
Technical specifications
| Title | Solstice Watersports 8'6" Hex Mesh Dock |
|---|---|
| Brand | Solstice Watersports |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 38150 |
| UPC | 723815957931 |
| Weight | 30 lbs |
| Package Dimensions (L x W x H) | 25" x 17" x 11" (folded) |
| Inflated Dimensions (L x W x H) | 8'6" x 8'6" x 8" |
| Shape | Hexagonal |
| Capacity | Up to 6 people |
| Construction | High-pressure drop-stitch |
| Recommended Pressure | 10 PSI |
| Core Thickness | 8" |
| Dock Surround Width | 20" |
| Mesh Hangout Area | 60" removable center |
| Grab Handles | 4 reinforced |
| D-Rings | 4 stainless steel |
| Valve | 1 high-pressure HR valve |
| In the Box | Dock, pump with gauge, duffle carry bag, repair kit |
| Category | Inflatable Docks & Mats |
Frequently asked questions
How many people does the 8'6" Hex Mesh Dock hold?
It comfortably fits up to six people with minimal tossing, turning, or tipping. Four to six adults have plenty of room to sit, stand, and hang out on the 8 foot 6 inch deck.
Can adults actually stand on it?
Yes. The high-pressure drop-stitch core inflates to 10 PSI and goes rigid, so grown adults can stand, walk, and step on and off without it folding. It's a real platform, not a floppy float.
What is the mesh center for?
The 60 inch mesh hangout area sits just below the surface so you can lounge half in the water and cool off without climbing off the dock. It's removable, so you can pop it out for an open ring or leave it in for a shaded submerged spot.
How do I anchor it so it doesn't drift?
Use the four stainless steel D-rings around the perimeter. In anything past dead calm we'd run a four-point anchor with real weight on each corner, since a dock this size catches wind. A couple of half-inch dock lines make for a secure tie-up to the boat.
What comes in the box?
The dock, a pump with a gauge, a duffle-style carry bag, and a repair kit. Everything you need to inflate it, deploy it, and stow it is included.
How small does it pack down and what does it weigh?
It folds to roughly 25 by 17 by 11 inches and packs into the included carry bag. The whole package weighs about 30 pounds, so it stows easily in a lazarette or a truck bed.
What pressure do I inflate it to?
The recommended pressure is 10 PSI through the single high-pressure HR valve. The included pump has a gauge so you can hit that number without guessing, which is what gives the deck its rigidity.
Can I leave it in the water all season?
You can leave it in for stretches, but the mesh will collect algae in freshwater and get slick, so scrub it every few weeks. Like any inflatable it doesn't love constant UV, so rinse it, dry it, and stow it in the bag between long trips to get years out of it.
What kind of boat does it work best with?
It shines as a swim and hangout platform off pontoons, deck boats, and cruisers when you're anchored up in a cove or on a sandbar. It's less suited to rough open water or use as a permanent moored dock.