Forums36
Topics41,111
Posts559,639
Members18,589
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
9 members (catscratch, Retired on 40, B BUG, Shorthose, Knobber, lmoore, Cloudfeather, rjackson, tim k),
910
guests, and
236
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 15
Fingerling
|
OP
Fingerling
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 15 |
Any suggestions (or pictures) for easy access into a newly excavated part of my recent pond expansion? I'm trying to incorporate a small swimming hole for the nieces and nephews but the clay is very slippery and the slope of the pond after a couple of feet gets pretty steep.
I'm thinking of some type of stairway that goes into the water with a landing at the bottom (3-4 ft deep) that they can be comfortable on before getting into the deep water. Has anyone else done something like this? Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2 |
Hey TB... Is the specified area under water yet? - We poured our concrete boat launch whilst waiting for the pond to fill. I laugh now to think that it might never even see a boat trailer, but we use it ALL THE TIME for swimming, wading, and taking baths. For an unintended reason, it's one of the best pond decisions I ever made. - Bill Cody has a pic of a super deluxe poured concrete swim zone.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 15
Fingerling
|
OP
Fingerling
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 15 |
Yep, already done ... I added some sand for a small beach area in one small area that has a less gradient/slope into the water. This is the area that is "newly" excavated ... the following is a picture of how steep it is in some of the areas of the new expansion. This a picture of the other end of the "old" pond to give some idea of what we're trying to do. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5 |
Who (whom?) ever graded our pond graded a nice sloping dirt ramp down to the pond. It's gets slippery and muddy. What we did is to buy some cheap outdoor carpeting from Home Depot. We just lay it on the dirt and slightly submerged into the pond. It works great. We've had it there for two years and it still hasn't rotted out. We'll probably have to replace every few years but it works well. Keeps your feet clean and is much less slippery than mud.
If you're talking about building something then I would build a wood ramp not a staircase if at all possible. Needless to say wet stairs are very dangerous.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544 |
If you build stairs make them removeable, then paint them with a mixture of paint and dry sand every year or two, that should maintain a tractive surface to hold your feet steady as you climb. This is a good way to use up old paint as well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,550 Likes: 288
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,550 Likes: 288 |
See Bill Cody's pic of swimming beach for steep ponds.
Last edited by ewest; 08/10/08 08:21 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5 |
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544 |
Well, of course you could just pour them out of concrete, heh heh. That is a nice deal there, complete with the drain pipe held in place by concrete. I have an idea for he next time I dredge my main pond, that is slicker than butter.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|