OT Fishing Dock

Heyseed · Jul 7, 2012

Drawing up plans to build a small dock on my pond. I am wondering what is the best method to set the pilings. The water will be at least six feet deep at the far end. The bottom seems muddy but I"m sure there are some rocks there. They live everywhere else on this property. This will be about a thirty foot long and five foot wide pier. Thanks for any Ideas.

thurlow · Jul 7, 2012

No rocks where I am and I was able to get the water low enough to work in the dry; used (creosoted) utility poles 12-16 inches in diameter, set in 4 ft deep holes w/dry pre-mixed concrete poured/watered/tamped around them. Built it about 10 years ago.........the year after I retired (from row-crop farming, still had a few cows). I've no doubt that it'll be there long after I'm gone.

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Heyseed · Jul 7, 2012

WOW that is very nice, It looks like it will outlast us all.

jon f mn · Jul 7, 2012

Going to make it out of wood or steel? When I did them out of steel I would use a 1 1/2 inch pipe welded to a used disc blade for the legs. Run the pipe through a 2 inch pipe with a set screw in it so you could slide it up and down with the water and as the disc blade settled into the muck. The longest one I did ran 300 ft through a swamp to the lake edge because the DNR wouldn't let the guy dredge it. It's still there after 15 years. You could do 30 ft with only 2 or 4 legs easily. We made them in 20 ft sections because the angle comes in 20 ft.

mjbrown · Jul 7, 2012

I'd consider a floating dock.

jackinok · Jul 7, 2012

the way ive always done is to simply drive them in.

old · Jul 7, 2012

Where do you live that can make a big difference as to what and how you do it and the cost. In my area a guy can pretty much pick one up for little or nothing just by hauling it off. But then too at one time I worked at a place that built boat docks so I have a clue as to how to do them. From what you have said I would make a floating dock with a concrete piling at the bank to hold it in place. I have one sort of like that in my small lake but it is only held in place with a couple fence posts but it also cost me nothing but the cost in fuel to haul it away

Heyseed · Jul 7, 2012

This is in Rappahannock county VA and I don"t want to do floating. The water stays pretty much the same level all the time. Steel is out for looks, I want a more traditional look like Thurlow has on his beauty. I watched a crew set pilings with a high pressure hose many years ago. I would need to round up a pump for that. Still doing research. I"ll post a photo when I get it done.

Dieselbreath · Jul 7, 2012

I placed 4x4 treated posts on some concrete pier pads I had left over from building the house. They are about 2 ft dia., 8" thick. It's about 9' deep on the deep end. I built the dock with a little bow in it to allow for settling. But after 15 years the bow is still there. You might as well go for 6' wide as a 12' board cut in two is just right.

Bryan inIowa · Jul 7, 2012

Well heres what i did . 30foot long dock with a "tee" at the end. 4x4 treated posts. Sharpend ends, then I took some old car rims,torched them out in the centers so 4x4 posts would fit through. About 2 ft from bottom I drilled 3/4 hole in post and slide 1 ft piece of rebar through it to act as a stop when it hit the wheel. Pound them in till wheel hit bottom.

Heyseed · Jul 7, 2012

Drive them in with what? It will be a bit wet for my tractor.

jackinok · Jul 8, 2012

tripod made of pipe,with a snatch block at top.driver made of a larger pipe weighted with lead.rope from top of driver ,thru snatch block,to shore or the dock itself if its floating.even a boat will work.nephew that builds docks has a barge about 8x20 he works off of.with three or four borrowed anchors you can even stand in a flat bottomed boat and do it.if you cant reach the top simply cut your pipe in half and rethread,or weld it in sections.heres a tip,two flat bottomed boats lashed together with planks about a foot apart makes a excellent work boat for this.simply drop your pipe between the two,screw a cap on your pipe and start in with sledge hammers.when you get low enough screw on another section.heres another,in asmall lake or pond you wont get the big rolling waves you do on a big lake,so your pilings can be smaller.of course you could always jet them in if you rig up the equipment.

OT Fishing Dock

Heyseed

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thurlow

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Heyseed

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jon f mn

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mjbrown

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jackinok

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old

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Heyseed

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Dieselbreath

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Bryan inIowa

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Heyseed

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jackinok

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