Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Cantilevering a dock

Everytime I think of a cantilever design I see Wile E. Coyote nailing those unsupported wooden planks together, trying to make a bridge over to the other side of the canyon. As I recall it usually ended in freefall.


Snrub I hear you on metal over wood..... I much prefer the welder over the nail gun.

Engineers always ask for 4-1 on cantilevers but 3-1 is usually the most economical when calculating out structural sizes. Less than 3-1 just increased the footings, anchors and beam sizes which increase cost. I would not go less than 3-1 without an engineer doing calcs. and detailing the connections. The dock at Jim’s place uses 80’ beams for a 20’ cantilever.

I would also suggest using square tubes and not pipes, lot more strength for the cost. I also think they look nicer than I-Beams.

Jim do you have any photos of the finished dock?

Those are 2 good reasons for sure.

Here is the thread - with pics

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=87582&page=1

This pic is back when the pond was at full pool. My female friends say the little bit of spring at the end of the deck made them nervous...added a few more braces and all is well. Just a little FYI had 11 adults out on the end at one time and only 9 walked back….you can guess what the other did.

Yikes!

Don't beat me up to bad guys but what if i stick with my 4" pipe and weld angle iron across the two ends and then from the center of the angle one support in the pond. There goes my cantilever.

JCN, nobody here will beat you up whatever you decide. Go with whatever works best for you. Most of us do something out of the norm all the time, and some great stuff is learned by all because of it.

If you want a cantilever go for it. You could always add a brace after it's done if you need or want to.

I would also consider adding "Y" braces.... from the outside edges of the pond/pier down to the center support. Without them, I think it would still move around anywhere except right over the support.

JCN, like FireIsHot said "If, you want a cantilever go for it" Hell, if it wasn’t for people trying new things we would still be living in caves.

JCN,

Beams came in at $1,310.00 each (those were the 40')

It depends on the end fixity of the beam in a solid setting, and how solid that foundation is.

If you used I beams, I think you could bore in and pour 4 concrete piers, use 24' beams, with 9' anchored on the piers and 15' hanging over the water.

I think that would be reasonable, but there is a lot of number crunching involved.

I really like the idea, but like I said, It's probably not the best candidate project on a DIY level, if you are not familiar with the engineering involved and want to make it safe for everyone you love.

Actually Jim, there are a lot of people dead because someone was trying new things that they didn't know what the hell they were doing. Worst thing is, they killed someone they loved from their ignorance.

You know!! A number of years back I was in Circuit City trying to learn about HD tvs, always been an audio video guy. Back in the day all you had was the sales man for any tech information. Some had great knowledge, most not. I was shooting the bull with another customer and said just check it out on the AVS forum. Well the knowledge I gained from that forum was amazing. First HD TV was a 50" 720p Panasonic plasma for 3400.00 dollars ordered from the internet. Who ordered a TV from the internet for 3400 bucks? A lot of people but certainly not the majority. I've been lurking on this site for a while. Could not find enough specific information on the web. So I threw my question out. The knowledge to gain From The Pond Boss forum is really amazing along with many forums. Just thought I'd throw this little story out there and appreciate the conversation.

Thank you very much for the info, gives me an incite to that approach.