Make a run to your nearest building supplies store and pick up the materials required including:

• Dimensional pressure-treated lumber

2-by-8’s for the framing and joists — don’t make the mistake we did by going with 2-by-6’s instead.

• Dock hardware

Floats, aluminum round posts, anchor plates, dock connector clips, dock cleats, hinge kits, outside corner brackets, pipe sleeves and side leg holders.

• Small hardwood trees

Two or three small hardwood trees cut into sections and left “au naturel” to make the bowling pins.

• Hardware for pinsetter

Eye hooks and nylon rope.

• Lumber for the table that will house our pinsetter and ball return

Since we’re building this with our best guess, a good amount of lumber on hand is a necessity.

• Bowling balls

If you can get them, candlepin or five-pin balls are best as they are smaller and lighter than standard ten-pin balls.

• Clear acrylic plastic

A sheet measuring 18″ by 24″ and around 3/8″ in thickness, to serve as the top of our Solar Nacho Table

• Aluminum foil trays

To hold our solar nachos.

• A large insulated cooler

A cooler with at least 48 quarts of cubic volume is more than enough to hold ice and beverages for down on the dock.