Has anyone out there ever tried to build a floating dock on their farm pond.? And how did you go about it?
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We built one using empty plastic 55 gallon drums as the floatation devices. The raft was 15 x 15 ft and we used 8 drums. I think we could have gotten away with only using four, but we did two to a side just to be sure.
My relatives all have them. They just use the old pontoon tanks from pontoon boats and put a wooden platform on top. Pontoon boats aren't particularly popular right now. You could probably find an old one for a decent price.
You could go with a polyethelyne material that adds a nice touch to a dock. contact the Floating Dock Shop in Hoama, LA for more information. not sure of their phone number. they will design, and ship you all of the specialized material you need.
The easiest way is find empty steel drums similar to those use in the oil-patch. Fill about a 1/4 full with sand, weld the tops shut, lay them on their sides and build the dock's decking on top. The sand will help sink the barrels below water level and help stabilize the platform.
To secure the dock in a particular location, simply attach chains to cinder block and drop for blocks into the water. Fasten the chains to the platform and clip off the excess.
Do not use metal drums, you'll be replaceing them all in 10 yrs. Use plastic 55 gal. barrells.( hint: go to your local water treatment plant, they will usually give you all the plastic polymer barrells you need)
Build a treated lumber deck complete with floor joists and throw it in.
huff300,
Im doing the same thing with the 55 plastic drums, I was wondering how did you secure the drums together and then how did you secure the platform to the drums? Also any way to send me some pictures of your set-up. Thanks!
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