Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Swim platform anchoring

I just built this 8'x8' swim platform to place in the middle of the pond. I bought 4 cement blocks and was planning on anchoring 2 of them on 2 sides. Do you think this will be sufficient to hold it in place with the grandkids jumping off of it? (none of them are over 100 pounds, but I'm pretty sure they'll get bigger)

Thanks in advance!

Tom

I built the exact same size platform on our swimming hole and I used bigger chunks to anchor it. I wasn't worried about the kids moving it around really, more high winds. There's a good bit of surface area with those barrels for wind/water movement to grab a hold of. 2 years in and mine hasn't moved yet. I used the equivalent of probably 2 blocks per corner - total of 8. I used solid chunks of concrete poured flat with eyebolts through them - more surface area to dig into the bottom too.

We use 4 5 gal buckets with quickcret adding large long eye bolts. Tie a rope on it and lower to the bottom.

I agree with this.. For my water trampoline, i used 6 5 gal buckets with 80 lbs of concrete per 5 gal bucket. worked like a charm.



dustin

Thanks for the input guys. The buckets sound like a great idea.

I read somewhere that leaving a board in the center so it can be unscrewed like a hatch allows you to attach it from the center of the float to your anchors. That keeps the lines in the center of the float (providing you don't use too much excess line) and there is less chance of the grandkids hitting the line. It also makes it much easier to untie the float and bring it ashore for the winter without having to swim under the thing.

Well, it's in place and the grandkids will be here next week. I've decided to build an 8' x 4' dock and attach the float to that. The pond gets deep very quickly and once attached they'll be 16' from shore while jumping or diving. An added bonus is that my wife can get on a float without a going in the water. (something about snapping turtles or water snakes that she doesn't like)

I used stainless chain on two eye bolts on either side of the float so it doesn't spin when jumping off. For anchors I used two large concrete blocks with one side filled with an embedded U-bolt to attach the chain. The dock doesn't move no matter the wind, and using those easily moved climbing clips allows adjustment when my water lowers.

The only drawback is those blocks are brutally heavy!