Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations My Pond Project

Pond is located near Mtn. Grove, Missouri--south central part of state. Cabin is probably going to go on the "grassy knoll" (hoping for grass anyway) located on your right as you look at the cave (i.e., up and to your left if you waded out of the cave). This area actually extends beyond the photos some, creating a flat location before hitting the treeline and the upslope of the hills behind. Power is nearby and pretty easy to get to that particular location. We also buried a 2" pvc line connecting that location with the end of the concrete block wall. The hope is to run power to the block wall for underwater (and perhaps above ground) lighting sometime in the future.

As for the excess blocks, I'd been trying to think about what I like doing at ponds. Personally, I love to walk along and look into the water to see fish. I wanted to create a good fish viewing location, and maybe someplace that would serve as a jumping-off point for swimming, etc. I'd considered a number of different ways to do this, including a variety of dock options. I saw the excess blocks at the local cement plant when I was looking at gravel. It seemed to me that they would work, so we tried them. Originally, it was only going to be about a 50' long stretch. It eventually became close to 100'. The blocks cost about $40 each. It cost more than a normal shoreline, but seems reasonable in light of the outcome and avoiding having to build a dock. I really like how it allows the land to come right to the waterline.

So, if a guy had a shallow slope at the edge, and a track hoe operator with even a bit of skill, and the bux to buy a few of those concrete ingots....
hmmmm....the wheels are turnin'

I just called my concrete guy. Their molds are 2' x 2' x 6', 4000# each, $30 each.

Brettski:

How many trips using your trailer, or would you have them delivered?

MoMule how did I miss this thread until now.

An outstanding job and a great location.

A swimming bench via Bill Cody. We hardly see those around here but they are used a bunch up north or anywhere steep sided ponds are common.

one per trailer load ain't cuttin' it
It would have to be a tri-axle job. I know a guy that would run 10 of 'em at a time. Guesstimate about $150 - $200 for dely. Add in the track hoe cost and the plan evaporates into an empty bank acct.
(sigh)

Ya know Ewest, that crazy concrete boat launch we poured wound up being one of the best decisions I made on our development. I have taken more baths on that thing...
It's really nice to wade out into 4 or 5 feet of water on a firm concrete surface.

Wow, I really like the looks of that "swimming bench". I never considered adding a concrete "floor" anywhere in the pond.

As for transporting the blocks, my contractor was able to pick up about 7 of those blocks at a time on the same trailer that hauls his dozer; my property is only 3 miles from the concrete plant, which certainly helped. It also helped that the backhoe was already on site doing other work.