Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
DavidGillham, JPCooper, Buster1956, Ed R, david_cannon
18,798 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics41,441
Posts563,926
Members18,798
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 29,021
ewest 21,664
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,429
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 2,283 guests, and 73 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#89600 06/15/07 02:29 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
H
Hey Joe Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
H
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
I realize this question is loaded with "it all depends", but if you could make a general guess as to how long it would take to dig this pond, it would be helpful.

Pond stats;

1/4 acre
mostly excavation, with a small 2-3' dam
"dam" length is roughly 125'
core trench
shape is kinda like a flattened heart
depth 8-10'
equipment--large track hoe and bull dozer.
spoil dirt to be deposited very close-30-50'

I am just looking for ball park figures here. Hopefully my test pits are going to be dug this afternoon and I will be sitting down to work out the details of the project. More hopeful is that the test pits show the project is a go.

Thanks,

Joe

#89601 06/15/07 02:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 130
T
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
T
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 130
Joe, As you said "its loaded question". How big a track hoe and bulldozer? What size of a bucket on the track hoe? Do you have 2 operators for the equipment? What is the terrain around the new pond like? There are a lot of other factors that could play into it also. Those are just some off the top of my head.


#89602 06/15/07 02:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
H
Hey Joe Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
H
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
I don't know the exact details on the equipment, but I will find out today. I got the impression that he was going to bring a "large one" based on our initial conversation. I don't remember anything about the bull dozer size. Two operators, yes. The terrain is a mostly flat shelf that slopes gently toward a creek bottom.

Joe

#89603 06/15/07 02:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 130
T
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
T
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 130
There is a big difference between a D8 dozer and and a D3 and the same thing goes with track hoes. Example: I have a Gradall G3WD, It has a 5 foot bucket that holds about a yard of dirt with each scoop but they also make 1 foot wide bucket for the same machine that is used for digging trench for water lines or electrical lines. The same thing goes as far as reach goes on the track hoe some have longer than others making it possible to reach most of the digging with having to move around much.

My Point is equipment can vary.


#89604 06/15/07 03:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 198
O
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
O
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 198
It took my dozer guy 2 full days to dig my 1/4 acre pond.


brand new, never before used 1/4 acre pond.
#89605 06/15/07 03:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 355
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 355
 Quote:
Originally posted by okiefish16:
It took my dozer guy 2 full days to dig my 1/4 acre pond.
Yep around 2 maybe 3 days tops....If he knows what he is doing that is.
\:D


Chris
#89606 06/15/07 04:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
H
Hey Joe Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
H
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
Wow!!!! The time he came out to bid the job, he scratched his head and said..."4, maybe 5 days". I wonder if those guys like to keep their "small jobs" at least a week long.

Joe

#89607 06/15/07 04:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435
R
Ambassador
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
R
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435
Joe, you're right. they are not going to finish on a Wednesday eve.
It's going to be a 5 day job.


Just do it...
#89608 06/16/07 06:58 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,276
Likes: 332
D
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,276
Likes: 332
It takes a lot less time to dig a fixed cost hole than an hourly one. I've proven that one several times.

BTW, according to reports that I've heard, Mike Otto is an exception to that rule. One guy told me that Mike used a D8 on his pond with the rippers down to be more efficient. He told the guy "Time is money".


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa
#89609 06/16/07 09:06 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
H
Hey Joe Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member
H
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 84
Thanks for the feedback. Well, my dirt guy canceled out at the last minute (again). So I wasn't able to get the test pits dug, but there is a silver lining.

When I first began my search for a dirt guy I was really surprised at the lack of experienced folks in my area. I talked with a ton of people who were completely willing and able to come dig a giant hole in my back yard. They often spoke in generalities and were found to be down right evasive on some specifics...not impressed.

I was able to find ONE guy who seemed to know what he was talking about, my present dirt guy. This however made it a one pony race, which made me nervous. Out of the blue my neighbor recomends this other outfit. After a very impressive 45 talk (during dinner time, from his home phone) we now have a two pony race.

The test pits will hopefully be dug on Monday with some insight into the go/nogo pond project. Sorry for the long ramble.

Joe


Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
claybird
Recent Posts
Adding bullfrog tadpoles
by Hotbiggun - 02/05/25 07:40 PM
Boom Boat Rev2
by Kelly Duffie - 02/05/25 06:07 PM
New Pond Water Want Clear Up
by DavidGillham - 02/05/25 05:10 PM
How do i pivot from LMB lake to RBT
by Tinylake - 02/05/25 04:35 PM
Creating a natural filter bed stream
by Tinylake - 02/05/25 04:30 PM
My new pond documentary :)
by BDBeaux - 02/05/25 03:27 PM
New pond
by Bill Cody - 02/04/25 07:08 PM
Heading North
by Dave Davidson1 - 02/04/25 03:08 PM
Can I test for zooplankton?
by BJ Nick - 02/04/25 02:11 PM
How steep can I make a clay bank?
by FishinRod - 02/04/25 11:44 AM
Dock and Overflow questions.
by Tinylake - 02/03/25 10:09 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Koi
Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, October 12
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
by Theo Gallus, September 21
How to Out Condello Bruce Condello ...
How to Out Condello Bruce Condello ...
by Theo Gallus, August 3
Major change since 2009
Major change since 2009
by SENKOSAM, July 3
Fishing with my Best Buddy
Fishing with my Best Buddy
by Theo Gallus, June 29

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5