Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Dock Size

Beautiful dock and pond Dr. Pratt!

Thanks Zep!

After much reading we decided on the above design, it was a LOT of work, but very fun.

send me a message if you need help launching yours!


dustin

I have been just working on mine. A few more minor details and it will be done.. The walkway is 5 to 6 feet wide. Comfortable for two people walking out side by side, or setting stuff down and getting by it without tripping over it.

The end is 8x10, which makes the area between all the posts 6x10. I feel that this is good enough for two people to fish, or have chairs and still have a bit of room. I do plan on putting a feeder on the one corner. Now if I want to put a grow-out cage off it, then I will wish it was a bit bigger, but I imagine I will make do.

It is a combination of permanent posts and floating. The deck can float by means of the wood's own buoyancy. It is not fastened to the posts and cross headers it is setting on. I wouldn't plan on standing on it if the water comes up that much, but we get some heavy rains that will raise the level of our pond as much as 16-20". Then it will flow back out in about a weeks time.

I have about a 1+ acre pond and I didn't want something so big that it would be overpowering the setting.

fish & chips I love your dock!

it has a bit of the "old, but new look"
and the size I am interested in.

great combo on floating vs fixed.

if you have any additional pics
and ya have time PM them to me.

"The deck can float by the woods own buoyancy"

Does that mean that there are no floats under it?

Thanx

Good question? I don't think it'll float with people on it without floats.

That's correct, there are no floats underneath it. As BGK mentioned, it probably will not hold anybody up when it needs to float. But, you can be guaranteed that I will give it a try to see how it reacts when the occasion arises.

It is normally held up by horizontal 2x's that are fastened to the posts. The platform/deck is not fastened to the poles and horizontal 2x's. The deck sits were my water level is at normally. When it floods, the deck will rise with the water and when the water recedes it will settle back down in place. I just couldn't justify the extra money it would cost to make it a true floating dock, for the once a year its needed. However, I didn't want the post to be popped up out of the ground due to a flood, thus letting it move. Time will tell how this all works out.

More ideas: Ramp/Dock/Barge Combo

jsfatl....here is another nice floating dock.
Made by PondKing. It's offered with a
10 or 20 foot walkway. Looks well made.

Any links to a nice ladder to be used on a dock to get out of the water??

http://www.dockbuilders.com/dock-ladders.htm

I bought one of the ladders that you can pull out of the water a couple of years ago. I think it is the L-L5 model. Not cheap but works great and looks like it will last a lifetime.

dj...those look really well made and come in "wide-step"...pretty cool.

nice underwater lights too
http://www.dockbuilders.com/fish-attraction-lights.htm

I'll have to wait until I get electrity at the pond before i canput in the lights!

We put a pool ladder off craigslist for cheap to use on our dock.

Ok... my dock went thru the floodwater test that I expected to happen. It's nice when things finally go the way you planned. We got 6+" of water in less than a 24 hr period. Water rose like I never seen it before. Even the national weather service said that flooding happened in areas that never had it before. My whole goal with this is that I did not want my poles to pop out of the ground during high water times. The water will settle back down to normal in short time.

Here is a shot of it after we got over 2" of rain during the night. It floated up about 6" high from the underframeing. Yes, you could walk on it. Mainly you want to stay centered, otherwise it tips. Doesn't tip so bad that you fall off, if your steady on your feet.




This pic is about 8 hours later. We got over 4" more in less than two hours. It rose up so high that it was about ready to float free.



And this pic is after wiggling it a bit, it dropped back into place.

Isn't it nice when your "what if" plan succeeds?