I really like this topic, and thought I would add my dock in a bit prematurely. It is 24x32, and is situated on a ledge of hardpan so that the deepest posts are in about 5' of water, but at the end of the overhanging joists it is 8-10', and three feet further out it is 12-14'. We had the pond builder dig straight down in this area for this purpose. There will be a 15x15 covered section in the middle of the dock...which I will finish at a later date.
BTW...I sketched the dock out in great detail for the better half, discussed it, compared it to other docks, etc. She saw all the posts in the ground, then the beams on the posts. When I finished the last joist, she said "why did you make it so big?" We do have a large family nearby, and we've had 20-30+ people at the lake the last two weekends eating, fishing, swimming, playing water polo with beach balls, etc. I'm sure we will use the entire surface.
Sorry this pic is in low light...completed versions will be better.
