Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Here's the small dock I built...

Here's the small dock I built...thanks to some examples I found here. I used four 55-gallon drums, 2x10s for the perimeter, 2x4s for joists (secured in metal hangers).

And with 5/4 decking installed...

For the gangway, I started with a 12-foot storage rack upright (like the ones in Lowes). I bolted 2x6s to the sides and ends, then bolted a 2x4 in the middle. To make everything even, I built it upside down...until time to put on the decking.

Then I cut hinges out of 3/8 plate and affixed them to both ends.

Then I used the tractor and loader boom pole to move it out to the pond where the dock awaited.


I made the dockside hinges out of 3x3x1/4" angle and bolted them up with lag screws.

I added one barrel to the dock end of the gangway to support the weight.

Then the two were connected with some homemade 1/2" pins and the whole thing was floated out.

Wife and grandson just couldn't wait any longer...

I dug two post holes about 3 1/2 feet deep and concreted them in. I secured the gangway to the posts with lag screws and washers between.

We got enough runoff to fill up all the digging I did during the drought last year. I took care of the turbid water by adding all the leaves and grass clippings I could get over the winter and early Spring. The water continues to clear, and looks really nice for a north Texas tank. I had built a floating island a few years ago, and it had grown vegetation nicely, providing much needed cover for minnows. It capsized this Spring...and when I started to pull it out after putting the dock in, I noticed just how much life it was supporting, so I'll leave it alone for now.


Well, that's what's happened here so far this year. If anyone has any comments or ideas, I'd be glad to hear them. Hoping much success on your projects this year, I'm off to work on some submerged lighting!

Very nice! It's always great when a good plan turns out well.

Leaves and grass clippings???


Dock looks amazing job well done..

Yep, dry leaves that I picked up in town, and they were (mostly) already bagged. I had a lot of green growth in the yard this winter, so I cut it with a bagger and put it in the pond as well. Yards of the stuff.

My dad told me that when he was a boy, people that had freshly dug ponds would make the rounds to farms picking up rotten hay bales and cleaning out barns...all to put in the pond as a "starter". Worked pretty good for me. The suspended clay dropped out after a little while.

BTW, thanks for the compliments!

Thanks for sharing your dock and walkway pictures and details. It looks really nice and sturdy. Been thinking about adding one myself. The only thing I'm wondering is if some type posts need to be included on the dock end to prevent the wind from moving it around.

I'm not sold on the leaves and grass clipping clearing your pond up..

Got it covered...in one of the last pictures you'll see a couple of 4x4s planted in the ground. The walkway is bolted to the inside face of each. It can pivot up and down, but the arrangement prevents side to side movement. This was something of a concern for me as well because we get some pretty high winds here in north Texas.

Oh, it isn't clear by everyone's standards. but it sure is a sight better than it was. I'll see if I have some pictures to show the difference. Maybe it is just our red clay soil type...

Nice dock

I have heard about the leaves and that to help seal a pond too. I wonder if that would work. I have a friend that is having that problem right now. Just had one dug and it isn't holding water. He is looking into clay or a liner. Both are not cheep.

Short answer, no. The only success that I've seen (long term) for stopping leaks is using either properly compacted clay 18"-24" thick or a liner. All other techniques have failed over time.

Or live with the fluctuating water levels and spend the $$ on electricity keeping it topped off with a well. That's what I'm doing with my pond. No clay in the area, sandy soil. My pond will fluctuate up to 6' depending on the level of the ground water if I don't supplement it with the well.