Anybody ever build a pond dock? Need some pointers.

[Die4Cy]

This will either collate some good responses or drop off the page quicker than your mom can unbutton her overalls...

I drained a farm pond to renovate it this past year. They are coming to rebuild the dike soon. I'd like to build a dock to make getting out into 8 foot water easier for kids to get some fishing done, but I haven't built a dock before. Any tips to getting it built right? I'm handy enough, just don't know what I don't know in terms of materials, best style, whether to go with floating or put piers underneath, etc. Obviously, the time to do this is now before the thing fills up again.

If we can have an extended thread about automobile insurance on here, I can ask about this.

 

[Acylum]

Sounds like you actually want more of a pier than a dock. I’d see what the excavator you already have hired would charge.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I’m no dock expert but I feel like the CBA is telling me get a pre-built roll-in and then put it in yourself? That is if you’re only goal is what you stated in your post.

Might want to give some size/length needs info. @isufbcurt might be a resource here. He’s talked about his ponds in the past iirc so
I’ll tag him in.

 

[Die4Cy]

Sounds like you actually want more of a pier than a dock. I’d see what the excavator you already have hired would charge.

True enough. A fishing pier is probably more accurate, but it's possible we'd have a need to tie down a boat of some kind also. I thought 12 feet might be a little short, but the farther out you go the longer any piers or supports need to be which will drive up expense. How durable are the floating baffles you can build over?

 

[clonehenge]

I haven't built any docks but I've helped build a few duck blinds. Those plastic 55 gallon barrels are fairly cheap and if you're in farm country you might even be able to get some free ones. They do a great job of keeping things afloat.

I watch "Maine Cabin Masters" and they put in a lot of those pre-fab composite docks. They look pretty nice and fairly easy to install. But I have a feeling they're pretty pricey.

 

[isufbcurt]

I’m no dock expert but I feel like the CBA is telling me get a pre-built roll-in and then put it in yourself? That is if you’re only goal is what you stated in your post.

Might want to give some size/length needs info. @isufbcurt might be a resource here. He’s talked about his ponds in the past iirc so
I’ll tag him in.

I haven’t built my dock yet but I have a plan.

Essentially mine will be a deck that will float on top of empty/sealed 55 gallon plastic barrels. It’ll be attached to a permanent platform built on the land. I can then remove the floating section in the winter.

I just need time to do it lol

 

[swiacy]

Have built several docks on the cheap & my latest is the result of trial & error. I took a liquid cube container and converted it to a dock float. These containers are about a 3’x 4’ white plastic cube that are inside a galvanized cage with a forklift base. The cubes hold 200+ gallons. I removed the cube and replaced it with two blue plastic round barrels. The barrels push in place perfectly with a little force. They are held in place with a bar that held the original cube in the frame. The barrels fill about half the depth of the cage. I cut the extra half off but it is not necessary. I made six of these and then connected them making two rows, 6’ x 12’. The base of each unit was now on top to make a solid floor. Connection was done with radiator hose clamps. I then welded angle iron to make a frame around the top, welded expanded metal flooring across the frame and used hose clamps to attach the floor to the floating dock. I then purchased outdoor plastic artificial turf to cover the expanded metal and used plastic ties to mount. End product is a solid floating dock with a turf cover to walk on. Excellent for my barefoot grandkids and the frame works well for a geezer to hang on to and tie his fishing boat on. I floated it out about 12’ from the dam and made a ramp to connect the dock to the dam. I purchased two galvanized spud poles that were driven down in the pond. attached two sleeves to the dock that fit over the poles so the dock can float up and down while staying in one spot. All components that come into contact with the water are galvanized. The cubes were free, the barrels were $5 per, less than $500 in the floor, turf & float poles. Labor was free (me).

 

[JM4CY]

Tie a bunch of ballooned together and then anchor them to an old, nearby tree.