In the case of my dock, I did not see a need for a "footer" in the traditional sense, needed under the posts under water. Rather a pad, to keep the post from sinking into the mud would suffice. I do have a solid clay bottom. I was at a boat show in Columbus, Ohio an saw some maybe 1/8" wall 3" diameter pipe posts that spawned the idea for what I used. The posts this dock installer used had a screw type bottom that they said they screwed in about a foot before attaching their deck system. They said that a "footing" was not necessary below water/freezing level. This I would assume is that if the dock was high enough above full water level that ice would not force the dock up. I noticed that I gave the incorrect dimensions of my posts in my previous post. I used 3" dia. x 1/4" wall pipe with a 1'x1' steel plate welded to the bottom with an 18" steel pin welded to the plate. The pin was driven in until the plate hit bottom. My pond was full when I installed my dock and I envy those who are adding docks before their ponds fill.
