Floating dock for my pond

[dick tabbert]

Was wanting to put a floating dock in the back on my pond. Was going to by a pontoon boat and use it but after looking for a year can't find one small enough. So many questions I have. Being retired don't want everybody to think I'm cheap but would like to keep my costs down weather buying or building a wood dock or aluminum. Next important question is can we leave it in all winter or do I have to pull it, would prefer leaving it in. Want to put feeder on it and I have a mosquito light I made to put on it which would come on at night. I have a plan for fish cover which I will share after I get it hammered out. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

DICK YOU AREN'T CHEAP , FRUGAL IS THE CORRECT WORD BUDDY......

[dick tabbert]

Thanks Tooty does sound better but the fact remains cheap is cheap. There was a time but after retirement I have to think things out.

[carl hendrix]

one cheap trick for floats--  50 gallon barrels!!  weld the lids ;; making it air tight!  frame them in; add post; deck walk.  a good source of information tho dicky;; is a magazine called ;; family handy man.  if its a do-it-yourself- type project-- I can guarantee its in that magazine!!  look it up online!

[dick tabbert]

I thought about that Carl and it's not out of the question but for some reason if you walk to the edge the raft or dock leans that way especially bad if 2 people where on the same side. I don't want something quit so leany it that's such a word.

[Tony Livingston]

Dick, I don't know if this is something you're planning on building yourself, or if you want to buy it "ready made", but I have a couple thoughts. I built our dock myself, by using an old set of steel pontoons. My BIL bought them at the scrapyard, and had them cut in half so he could haul them home....they were 24' originally. He kept the bow sections, as he wanted to build a mini pontoon boat, and sold me the stern halves. Luckily, they were cut in half right at an internal baffle, so I just welded them watertight and was all set.

Our dock is 12 x 10, with a 3' x 8' walkway out to it. In years past I would remove it every winter, but I left it in this year......so far so good, and if it survived this winter's ice then I'm done with pulling it out. If you decide to go the barrel route, and a lot of people do, I suggest using plastic barrels.....just seal the bungs with thread tape and you're good to go.

A better alternative, (depending on your budget), would be pre-made dock floats....you can get them at Lowes or Menards, along with many pieces of dock hardware, and ready-made gangways....check them out.

I've seen docks made with styrofoam as  the flotation, but muskrats will sometimes chew that stuff to pieces.

[dick tabbert]

Thanks Tony and you sorta touched on what I want. Been looking at pontoon boat for a year. You can pretty much walk all around and they don't seem to lean all that much. I have found many pontoon boats but none fitting the bill. All are to long wanted about a 15 footer but most I have seen are 21, 25, or longer. I think a pontoon boat would work great but no luck after a year long hunt and to be truthful I'm getting a little impatient got lots of things I need to do. Been looking in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. I'll continue my search though I thought I would through it out there and search for Ideas. You come up with one in your correspondence here that is cutting and welding. Don't have any idea what something like that would cost sounds expensive.

[carl hendrix]

dicky-- by any chance is there a pipefitter union- or boilermaker union close to you?  either one of these could help you if they can.  they have usually all the machine works you need for any kind of project you can think of.  and have more contacts to people ( contractors  or power plants)  that  usually have great amounts of metal;; that is sometimes donated to them!  my guess is  depending on the local business manager;; can greatly help.  you have to pay ( a small price usually;; but way below any others)  and as far as welding;;  its hard to beat any of these guys!!  if all else fails;; what about getting sheets of metal; and forming your own pontoon type with baffels?  you could even lay in some Styrofoam if you wanted .

[dick tabbert]

Carl that's another avenue I'll have to check but I can't see it being to cheap but I guess I won't know until I can check into it. As far as me making one I have now tools or even the know how.