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Joined: Aug 2014
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Joined: Aug 2014
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I have read through a bunch of dock threads and have not gotten a clear answer. What are the pros and cons to a floating vs fixed dock?? Maybe I missed something. I went through the archives and looked at people considering the options and saw a bunch of people say they went with this or that but never saw why.
So what are the disadvantages/advantages of each?
I see a bunch of y'all pull your floating docks out before ice over. I guess the ice will just destroy them? That seems like a major disadvantage! What if you have a large floating dock?
Thanks in advance for your input!
Last edited by wbuffetjr; 04/15/15 03:37 PM.
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a few things to consider:
Floating dock In most cases easier to install Ability to fluctuate with water levels. Can easily add more or less sections. Move-able once installed. In many cases costs less.
Fixed Dock: Stability...I really like stability. Personally I think they tend to look better. Construction after lake exists more problematic/costly.
I have gone back and forth, but pretty much decided to have a fixed dock built this summer... since I have a pretty constant water table.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jun 2012
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One Con for the floating dock. If left hooked to your on land posts for the winter you can have a winter that the ice will want to pull it off the posts. This winter was really hard on the floating dock. I think next year I will un hook from the posts and pull back on to shore to let the dock move more free then having one end fixed.
Cheers Don.
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I am lucky to have two piers, one at the lake and one @ the pond. The fixed is real nice and is fairly large but the one @ the pond is 12x16 and I use it as a working barge with a trolling motor for such things as dropping large structure items, like 15x6' cedar tree brush piles or 9 foot tall pvc trees, or to float to the middle of the pond for a swimming or bathing pier. To increase stability I have added 5 gal buckets of concrete on each corner and anchored to the bottom and can be unattached when needed. I think u cam make the landing for the pier as nice as u want, using a deck and chairs etc for the place to step onto the floating pier.
Tracy
Last edited by TGW1; 04/15/15 08:27 PM. Reason: additions
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Tracy
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Gotcha. Thanks for the info. If you do a floating dock, is it MANDATORY to pull it out before ice over? Is there a way to leave it in the water to where the ice won't hurt it? I'd like to build a large one and dragging it out seems like it would be quite a job.
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Hey Tracey - great tips on using the dock as a barge...dang, I never considered that before. I've got to try that this Summer.
I have never had issues with ice damaging my floating dock. My dock was built by the Herman Bros and is incredibly stable - I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
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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is it MANDATORY to pull it out before ice over? I'd like to build a large one and dragging it out seems like it would be quite a job. I've seen some people convert large pontoon boats into a floating dock and I guess that could make it easier to pull out of the lake?
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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