Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Anchoring Swim Platforms

I am not sure where to look so I am asking for advice. I would like advice on anchoring a 10X10 swim platform in about 12 feet of water. The pond is protected from high winds by hills all around.

When we anchored a ski jump, we didn't anchor it solid. We ran a "rope" from a very heavy anchor at each corner up to the corner and about half way down again to the bottom we suspended a heavy weight. We criss crossed the anchor lines, so they weren't out to the side. The rope slid thru pulleys on each corner so the ski jump could bounce up and down with the waves, but not bounce up hard against the anchor and pull them around on the bottom of the lake. It was self centering.

Yes what he said.

I have four five gallon buckets as anchors for our dock. Air craft cable through a cloths line pulley. The pulley is hung off large eye hooks off the dock. One bucket is full of concrete with large eye hook poured in concrete. Other bucket is filled 80% full of concrete and hung half way off the bottom at full pool. Repeated on other side. Pulling the mass of the five gallon pails 80% full of concrete through the water takes 95% of the jounce out of the dock and it is nice and stable. Dock is 16X16 and all three of my kids are 180# (yes football is kinda big in our house) and it is nice for everyone even with the wife and I on the dock.

In my case the water level can go down 6 feet from full pool before both buckets are on the bottom.

Cheers Don.

Edit: you can just see the pulley at the front corner of the dock right at the water level in the first picture below.

Donno:

Didn't you make a thread about building and anchoring the dock? Can you find it?

No luck on the Dodge so far..... But there IS a Superbird that someone has locally. I'll see it driving around once or twice a summer. I believe it's a real one, not a clone.

I used large concrete blocks, half-filled with more concrete to hold a stainless U-bolt, and stainless chain up to eye bolts on the platform. Then I used those things that mountain climbers use, I don't know the name, but this lets me adjust the chain length at the pond goes down so the dock doesn't wander too much. Anchors are heavy as heck out of water, probably overkill. The strongest windstorm has yet to move the platform.

I am looking to level my new dock and plan to simply suspend the appropriate amount of weight on the two outside corners. Is the two "anchor' buckets described by Don necessary? If I remember my Merchant Marine training classes correctly on block & tackle, the first turn just redirects the force and is not a force multiplier. Assuming this is correct, wouldn't suspending the two buckets that are 80% full have the same effect?