Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Floating Docks - need advice

Okay - originally started out wanting a custom floating dock - dimensions around 10-20 or so. All estimates came in from $7,000+. I'm not opposed to paying that amount, if I had it.

Menards [I know, I know] had a special in last week's paper for these:

http://www.playstarinc.com/docks/Aluminum.aspx

4x10 sections of aluminum framed docks cost $760. I figured I could use three sections - one for the walkway and two at the end forming an 8x10 platform. Not exactly the dimensions I was hoping for, but it's a place for the kids to hang out of the mud and grass. I figure I can always add on a section on later if need be and create a larger platform if needed.

My questions are:

Anyone have any experience with this company and the quality of their product?

Anything you recommend I consider prior to tackling this project?

Would you recommend pressure treated lumber for decking?

Thanks guys - TOTAL novice on this topic - your advice is GREATLY appreciated!

TJ

TJ:

Does the water level in the ponds vary much?

Does that price include the posts and supports?

I'd go with pressure treated lumber vs. any plastic stuff, but with the new pressure treated stuff I'd be leery of it attacking the aluminum under it and the fastners (what do they suggest?)

You could use a barrier tape (we used 2" wide mylar tape), but I don't know what to do about the fastners. Stainless is recommended thru the new treated stuff, but how to attach to the aluminum? Stainless and aluminum start to corrode pretty quicly at point of contact - electrolysis.

Hey, as fumble fingered as I am, if Nate Herman was closer, I'd give him a call to build it. Have you seen some of the stuff that he's posted? Nice stuff!!

Tj being in the frugal family I think i am going to build one of these if I ever get the time:

Floating dock plans with bill of materials

If it works out I would build more on to it for size increase.

Yikes! That walkway seems like it would be very tippy, sorta like walking on a tightrope.

I'd be so happy to have a dock i'd be content to swim or wade to it. Seems, however, it'd be rather easy to build a decent walkway to it.

These guys will give you a custom design (using their floats) and a material list if you furnish them enough information
dockbuilders supply

I'm going to make a floating dock, and they gave me figures on how much flotation I would need. I bought all the hardware from them, so as soon as the pond freezes up enough to assemble the dock on the ice, I will.

I built a 16x8 out of treated 2x12 frame and treated 2x6 decking. Best $400 I ever spent. We've spent many happy hours on that deck. When you sit on the edge, your feet barely touch the water. It really is over built. I could have built it $100 cheaper, and still plenty strong.

Thanks guys for chiming in.

Bobad - what did you use for floats ahd how many?

I used 20 55gal plastic drums. (4 lengthwise and 5 across)

TJ, if you end up going with a floating dock, don't buy any barrels. I think I can get you some.

That's an 8x8 design they build on the website - you simply doubled it up and made it longer, correct? Any issues joining the two 8x8 sections together? I think an 8x16 would be large enough for my family, feeder, hammock, and a couple benches. Maybe I'm dreaming.

thanks josh...I really want to get this done. $500 is hard to even believe. it actually doesn't look that terribly difficult for us to put together.

Yeah, let me know when you get the materials and have time. I've never built one so I'd love to help.

Thanks Josh - I'll let you know. You need to get out here and catch some of these HSB - they're just surpassing 17" now and a blast on a UL rig!

I can't imagine and am very much looking forward to it.

I bought an air filled plastic pier section from Menards that I mounted under a couple of 2 by 6's and the top was I believe 1 X 6 decking. The air filled flotation was about $80.00. Most dangerous thing I've ever walked on. I ended up putting two galvanized posts on each end and it's much more stable. The flotation was a waste of money. One of these days I will remove it and sell it, or install it to be removable to float new pier sections before I drive the posts.


I build this 8 or 10 foot pier section for about $100.00 total in lumber, galvanized posts, clamps, deck screws, and bolts from Menards. If the posts are more than $20.00 each you bought the wrong ones. My dad and I put one in exactly like this minus the flotation using a come-a-long (rope pulley) and a heavy mower to pull back with. I was in a boat in the water driving the posts into the bottom with a pile driver. I would think you could temporarily float another section in front of it, bolt it the previous pier section, and drive two posts for it, and on and on. Of course this is all much easier on ice in the winter.

I have been been building brackets to hold my piers from mostly scraps. I have an abundance of 1 1/2 square tubing around here from some old cattle fence panels. I also happened to have some 1/4 inch thick square tubing that I bought for a project I never started (you know how that is) that is the right size to go over the 1 1/2 inch tubing. So with some angle iron and flat iron I started making clamps like these.

As you can tell by the stud going into the tube I have a fixed pier. With the size of my pond I fear that there would be too much side stress on a floating one. However to make these clamps for a floating dock all you would have to do is drill a hole through the post under the tube and run a bolt or pin through it, instead of the stud and nut.

TJ,

Here is a picture of the dock me and my dad built last year. It's 16 feet long with a 10 foot T on it. My walkway is 40 inches wide. It's ok but if I had to do it again I would have made my walkway 60 inches to accomadate 2, 30 gallon barrels side by side. and my T I would have made 14 feet long instead of 10 for better width support. I used 30 gallon barrels and they worked just fine. Me and my son walk on the dock no problems and we are a combined weight of 370lbs. The 55 gallon drums are a bit more stable but set you up a lot higher too. Anyway just thought I would share.

I wouldnt go less than 12 feet wide or long for a floating dock. 12x 12 is way more stable than 16x8.

12' x 12' fixed dock connected to 12' x 12' floating dock.

TJ.
I put in 2 Sections (20') of the Menards Playstar units.
I used pressure treated material and bought their floats.
I would not recomend the $199 hardware kit... i took that back.
I also made my own hinges, they wated $25 each, but are galvanized.
By all means if you want to come out and test the waters, feel free.