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
4 members (Sunil, rjackson, catscratch, badgerboy), 2,378 guests, and 72 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 22
N
Nolan Offline OP
OP Offline
N
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 22
I want to build a 8ft x 16ft float to put at the end of the dock. I have attached a picture of the plans for it. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with a difference between dock floats vs plastic barrels? I have personally never been on a float with either but it sometimes seems on videos that the floats made with barrels are a little more tippy and after a few years the the wood and frame look like they twisted or are uneven. Now the ones that use the square floats seem like they don’t move much at all. Not sure if this is really the case or not so trying to get some advice. Barrels are definitely cheaper and way easier to come by. I have found a few used floats on marketplace but it is hard to find more than a couple. For this project I would need 8. Thank you!

Attached Images
IMG_2406.png
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
W
Offline
W
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
Hi. I built a T - Dock approximately 20 feet long by 12 feet across at the end. I used all treated lumber and plastic barrels. That was 19 years ago. Never had an issue. It is in the pond year round. 365 days. Don't know anything about the floats. The barrel dock DOES tend to roll/dip a little I used nylon webbing to secure the barrels.

1 member likes this: DeerTexas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 29,021
Likes: 1011
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 29,021
Likes: 1011
Wallman, I am glad that the barrels worked and are continuing to work for you.

I put mine in around 2012 using the blue (and some white) plastic 55 gal barrels and have had the white ones crack and leak, the blue ones are much better, but when I re-do the pier I will be using the rectangular floats from Dockbuilders Supply.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 22
N
Nolan Offline OP
OP Offline
N
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 22
Thank you very much. I will end up pulling this up to shore in the fall. I am in Michigan, so I don't think I will be leaving it out in the winter.

Thank you for the honest opinion about the rolling. I am not sure if it is because they are rounded and the floats are square?

I really appreciate the feedback!

Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
D
Offline
D
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
Originally Posted by esshup
Wallman, I am glad that the barrels worked and are continuing to work for you.

I put mine in around 2012 using the blue (and some white) plastic 55 gal barrels and have had the white ones crack and leak, the blue ones are much better, but when I re-do the pier I will be using the rectangular floats from Dockbuilders Supply.

Yikes, esshup! I just bought 6 white barrels this morning for this purpose. I chose white reasoning that they’d be a little bit cooler than blue or black and thereby be less likely to add even more heat to the water beyond what the Texas sun naturally adds. Do you think it had something to do with what was stored in them before, or are the white barrels just more prone to cracking?

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 29,021
Likes: 1011
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 29,021
Likes: 1011
Originally Posted by DeerTexas
Originally Posted by esshup
Wallman, I am glad that the barrels worked and are continuing to work for you.

I put mine in around 2012 using the blue (and some white) plastic 55 gal barrels and have had the white ones crack and leak, the blue ones are much better, but when I re-do the pier I will be using the rectangular floats from Dockbuilders Supply.

Yikes, esshup! I just bought 6 white barrels this morning for this purpose. I chose white reasoning that they’d be a little bit cooler than blue or black and thereby be less likely to add even more heat to the water beyond what the Texas sun naturally adds. Do you think it had something to do with what was stored in them before, or are the white barrels just more prone to cracking?


I don't think the white plastic has UV protection built into the plastic. White PVC pipe will shatter if out in the sun for years, the purple PVC won't because it has UV protectors in the plastic. I had some of the white barrels crack and break as I was pushing the pier into the water after completing it. (pushing it over wet grass). So, I lifted it up and replaced the white ones with blue ones.

The blue ones still leaked a bit and I will never build another pier with barrels. (or treated wood that isn't rated as ground/water contact). I want to build it once and have it last 20 years, not rot away in 15.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
1 member likes this: DeerTexas
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 44
L
Offline
L
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,226
Likes: 44
Rectangular float should be far more stable than round floats. Think of how much water is displaced as weight increases. Rectangular should be a near linear amount, while round displaces little at first, then increases until the full diameter is reached, then decreases again.

Round is perfect for a diving and swimming dock with kids that like to rock on it and wrestle. Rectangular for docks that need walking on.

1 member likes this: jludwig
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 970
Likes: 231
G
Offline
G
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 970
Likes: 231
Originally Posted by liquidsquid
Rectangular float should be far more stable than round floats. Think of how much water is displaced as weight increases. Rectangular should be a near linear amount, while round displaces little at first, then increases until the full diameter is reached, then decreases again.

Round is perfect for a diving and swimming dock with kids that like to rock on it and wrestle. Rectangular for docks that need walking on.
Very good point,, way more bounce in round barrels then in flat bottom square cornered floats. mine was built with the floats and is very stable compared to my buddy's that has barrels, way more bounce with the round bottom barrels.


All the really good ideas I've ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 44
J
Offline
J
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 44
Much simpler to mount dock floats than round barrels. But I echo liquidsquid's comments.


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