I designed this 120' pier at the mouth of the Perquimans River.  This is a classic example of strength through mass.  It's built with hog slats which are concrete slatted floor system panels used in hog pens, instead of the traditional treated wood planks. They're rigid, virtually indestructible, much heavier and most importantly don't float.  When the water rises above the pier during a storm, which it does sometimes, it's mass keeps the structural integrity intact even beneath the water.