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I am having a new pond built right now and I want to have a dock on it. I live in central Ohio (Urbana). I want to know if I choose a floating dock then will I have to remove it from the water each winter? The pond is going to be 1.5 acres. Thanks in advance for the help!

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seantOH, Up here on the great Sacandaga Lake because of the water fluctuation most people have floating docks or docks on wheels and they pull them in for the winter.
On a small pond in ohio I don't think the ice would hurt the dock
much but there has to be some xtra wear and tear and if you could pull it out you would know for sure. You could also put a small bubbler under the dock.



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I don't believe you do with a pond of that size, as ice surging around as it thaws shouldn't be a problem. Besides you don't get much ice in central Ohio do you?

I have permanent docks in all of my ponds with the biggest at .62 acres. Never had a problem with ice.


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






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Thank you both for the info. Cecil, you are correct that we do not get a lot of ice now in Central Ohio. When I was a kid we seemed to get more ice but not now. I probably would prefer a permanent dock but I am not sure where the final water level is going to be and it seems easier to go the floating route because it will adjust for water level.

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Cecil, none of yours are floating, are they?


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Originally Posted By: esshup
Cecil, none of yours are floating, are they?


No, although one has one or two of those dock floats under it from Menards. However, I wasn't happy with the lack of stability so I went ahead and drove in posts.

I'd like to remove them and sell them if anyone is interested.


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






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Cecil, what size are the floats?


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Anyone know the pros/cons on a floating dock vs. a permanent structure?

I was looking at this floating dock company that appears to make a pretty nice product.



Company Website




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Pros:

Automatically adjusts to water level.

Easier removal if necessary

Cons:

Can be more expensive due to the necessary purchase of flotation

Sometimes they are not as stable as permanent ones.


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






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Originally Posted By: esshup
Cecil, what size are the floats?


Scot,

I'll have to check.


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






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Originally Posted By: Cecil Baird1
I wasn't happy with the lack of stability

Cecil can you elaborate a bit on this?

Did the floating dock lack stability walking
on it....or was it more when lifting or lowering a boat?

I assume on windy days a floating dock may have a lot
of movement with waves, ect....?




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Originally Posted By: Zep
Originally Posted By: Cecil Baird1
I wasn't happy with the lack of stability

Cecil can you elaborate a bit on this?

Did the floating dock lack stability walking
on it....or was it more when lifting or lowering a boat?

I assume on windy days a floating dock may have a lot
of movement with waves, ect....?



Zeb it was just a short section about 8 feet long when I walked on it. I understand if you make a 't' it's not an issue. I don't have a lot of experience with floating docks. I'm sure others here do and will chime in.


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






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Zep Offline
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Thanks Cecil. I am concerned about stability on a floating dock so thats why I ask. I wouldn't want to be walking on it and get a feeling of instability. I really like the way this particular floating dock looks, but I will probably go with a fixed dock. Thus far I really don't see much advantage in my case with going with a floating dock if it's more money and I would have no intention of ever moving it.




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Zep

If your water level is pretty stable, I'd go fixed dock. If it fluctuates consider a floating dock. If you have kids swimming etc also a floating dock is the way to go allowing easier exit from the water. Anything with a 8x12 deck or better, as long as you're not cutting corners on the floats, will be plenty stable in my experience.


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Thanks teehjaeh57. I just bought the lot in Feb 2010, but I am told the water level is pretty stable. I was out there last weekend in the middle of the Texas summer and the lake was looking full. I don't think there will be much swimming. Most east Texas lakes over ten acres can eventually have a gator find their way to them. They tell me this lake is only 4-5 years old and doesn't have any gators....YET. Many people don't realize it but many of the large recreational lakes around Dallas you find people water-ski-ing and on Jet Skis contain gators, but the gators stay way back in the sloughs of lakes so they rarely are seen by people. Thanks again...sounds like a fixed dock may be the way to go.




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Zep,

You may also want to consider thinking outside the box a little. smile

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Gators? Jeesh - no thanks! Guess that's what pools are for. wink

If your water level is stable, and you have no ice concerns, and aren't going to be swimming I agree a fixed dock makes more sense - plus its cheaper.

Can you provide us some photos of your pond? What's your fishery makeup? How are they coming along?


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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Originally Posted By: teehjaeh57
Can you provide us some photos of your pond?
What's your fishery makeup? How are they coming along?


Sure teehjaeh57 I can provide some pics...see below.

Like I said I just purchased my 3.5 acre lot in Feb 2010
so I am just learning the details about the lake. With the
current economic situation I decided to try and work on the
lake before I can build a house. The other owners seem somewhat
supportive of this and I even gave one a gift subscription to
PondBoss this week.

As far as fishery makeup I know there are largemouth bass, crappie,
catfish, and bluegill in the lake. The private lake is 17 acres,
about 5 years old, and is shared by about 8-10 lot or homeowners.
It appears the lake gets very little fishing. Fishing is good but
nothing of any size yet. This past week I had Texoma Hatchery
Fisheries Biologist Chad Fikes
come out for an assessment.
Chad will send me a detailed report, but stated we will probably
do some carp, tilapia, and herbicide treatment to prevent aquatic
vegetation over-growth. Note: pics below were taken before the
aquatic vegetation started becoming a nuisance this summer.
















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Great looking place Zep. And if Texoma Hatchery/Chad Fikes is working with you then you're in good hands.


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Wow what a little piece of heaven Zep!

Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 08/18/10 01:06 PM.

If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






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Thanks Guys. I just wish the economy wouldn't have tanked
or I'd be building the week-end-get-away house. Oh well..
I can work on smaller projects like ramps, the lake, the fish
& maybe a dock until I can afford the house.




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Wow Zep, thanks for sharing! Now we need some fish pics...you have our interest piqued!

Texoma Hatchery...I think I've heard of that outfit before. You are in more than capable hands - I'm jealous.

I hear you on the economy...I was hoping to move out to my place by now too - but don't have enough scratch for even a 1x1 dock! frown


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I have a floating dock as well. I made mine out of 20 gallon water tight drums and 50 gallon water tight drums. The smaller the drums the more unstable they are.

MY QUESTION IS: I used regular fencing pipe and an auger bit to sink the pipe into the lake bottom. I used this pipe to anchor the dock sections. But now i can not get the auger bits out of the lake bottom..... (rocky and muck). Will the pressure of the ice burst the pipe? The lake is about 100 acres (small for MN), and the wind usually blows towards my shore so I do not think shifting ice will be the problem. Only busting pipe. What do you think????

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Water (or ice) pressure inside the pipe won't/shouldn't break it. If the ice thaws on your side of the lake first, and then a strong wind comes up from the other shore, it might be strong enough to push the ice against the pipes hard enough to bend the pipes.

I've seen ice on a large lake, push against the boulders that were used by one homeowner as a seawall, and push them a good 20' up onto his lawn. Each boulder weighed around 20,000#, but the lake is about 3 miles wide/long at that spot.


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Thanks for your reply. The lake is maybe 500 yards wide maybe a little wider. If the pressure of the ice forming from within the pipe is not enough to burst the pipe then I am golden. I am on the East side of the lake and 9 out of 10 times the wind is from the NW to SE so it should not stack up like that. Lake Millle Lacs is one lake that I would worry about the ice pushing things around.

Thanks.


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