Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Fixed Dock Posts Installation Options

I'm looking for the best options to set either 4x4 or 4x6 pressure treated posts in a very small pond in the north Ga mountains. Dock will be approx. 10'x10' with a short 4' wide x 4' long walk way. Water depth for deep posts is about 4'-5' and shallow post 1'-2'.

The ground here has a lot of rock and clay in it so I don't think jetting would be a good option but I might consider a test hole if any of you have been successful in similar type of ground.

Its possible to take the water level down maybe 2 feet but I'll still be working in ~3' of water. Can't get any heavy equipment in drive posts but I'm not opposed to working a sledge hammer on a makeshift temporary platform if this will get them deep enough to be stable and not sink over time. I have also seen these post collars that can be attached to set on the bottom to help minimize or eliminate settling over time. Would the driven end of the post need to be taken down to a point or at least partially necked down or does this increase the likelihood of sinking over time?

Are there any other practical options that I should consider? I did see in the archives here some discussion about using buckets or tubs filled with concrete to spread the post loads but I'd be concerned about settling and sliding over time and the posts nearest the shoreline will be on a sloped bank so I'm not real comfortable with that option.

Thanks,
Bruce.

We had the dam on my new pond 99% done when a 6" rain nearly filled it overnight - before I got my dock piers in. I drained about 8' out of the 1.6 acre lake over a month to get the dock built. I used treated utility powerline poles set in holes dug by PTO auger. Interestingly, the top ~6" of clay was wet, but dry below that! I drove spikes into the sides of the poles near the bottom, then poured a "plug" of concrete in the bottom to engage the spikes - mainly to help resist any liftup.

So I would look seriously at lowering your pond, and also build a bigger dock than you think you need! They shrink fast with tables/chairs/coolers/tackle boxes/kids, etc.