Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations First swim in the new pond.

Yesterday it reached 65 and like a good Michigander I started thinking about taking a swim in the pond. There were a couple empty fertilizer bags that my neighbor thoughtfully allowed to blow into the pond and they were out far enough out that I couldn’t reach them without a rake, so I put on the swim trunks and dove in. First thing I noticed was the Thermo cline. The top foot of water was not that bad, however, below that got really cold really quick! I hurried across the pond and picked up the bags and exited the pond.

When I climbed out I noticed the pond walls are steep making it difficult to get out. Does anyone know of a small dock that I can install now that the pond is full? The pond walls drop to over 6’ deep in the first 3-4 feet.

You could make a floating dock with plastic 55 gallon drums and frame it with 2x6's. For the decking you coud use pressure treated deckboards. I'm in the works of makeing one myself. The size I am building is 8'x16'. Put a stainless steel ladder off to one side. I can tie the paddle boat off from the other side. The wife wants one to layout on and absorb sun, I want it to fish off from and when we jump in you never have to touch the bottom. I am going to use ratchet straps to hold the plastic barrels in place. I figure I'll pull it out of the water with my 4x4 4 wheeler for the winter and when I go to put it back in the spring I'll pressure wash and stain it with some Thompsons water seaal or something I'm going to anchor mine to land with cable and rebar and just make some kind of steps/ramp to get onto it from land. By the way, you crazzy jumping in the pond already?

Bender, if you want to have a quick & dirty easier egress route from the pond at the steep area (in case someone falls in or your neighbor contributes more "structure"), you might consider buying a small ladder and securing it in the water to climb out on. After you get a dock, you could move it there if you wanted.

We keep the lower half of an aluminum 16' extension ladder secured to the dock in season for easy access to the water while swimming.

We used Trex to deck our dock. It will last longer than I will. But you pay more for it.

Also, if you want to help someone who's in the water to get out, just throw a snake in the water.