Floating Dock with Barrels (UPDATED)

Step 6: Float.

One thing that is nice about a floating dock is that you can untie it and float out in to the middle of a lake or pond for a nice swimming platform or just a nice place to hang out.

I'm still working on a ramp and a good way to keep the dock from drifting while actually on shore. I'll be sure to post that once it's complete.

Comments

[mijoette]

My friends plan on making one of these, but with an old bike with the drivetrain extended back with some nice paddle wheels for peddle power!

[spritzstuhl]

Very nice. Maybe you can add a a sun screen and a floating box for cool drinks.

[Silence]

Drop a screen tent on that and a couple posts to hook a cot and you have an awesome stress free zone. Could mount a battery/solar trawling motor and some fishing pole holders.... I so wish i lived near a lake !!

[UK_Westy]

Instead of poles sunk into the lake bed, what about a couple of buckets of concrete with rope attached and the other end a small barrel to act as a buoy ?

[gjensen11]

Very Cool.. I built one almost identical a couple of years ago.. I added a bit of water to the barrels to give is some stability ( it helps keep the other side in the water when you are on the opposite side.) I then drove 1" pipe sections down into the lake bottom outside the four corners and installed screw eyes into the wood frame so it can rise and fall with lake levels but stays put. My ramp I just built with rubber wagon wheels siting on the dock and anchored to the shore. Nice Job.. you forget to mention the quantity of beer required (g)

[pilx]

I was thinking something similar with the pipes to keep it still but I'm thinking of an easy way to detach it from the pipes and ramp to move it out if I want. I'm curious as to how the stability would feel if I did add the water to the barrels. It's quite nice already but yeah with enough weight and it tends to dip a bit.