anyone build a dock?

[cjnix29]

We just moved into a house on a large pond. The dock that is there is literally just kind of floating...and it's not supposed to be a floating dock! I have no idea what it should cost to put one in, and if it is worth it to try to do it ourselves, or just hire it done. Anyone have any guidance? I know the cost depends on the size, but we are kind of flexible on that.

 

[moburg]

Just a couple of thoughts. I haven't built any, but dealt with more than a handful of docks (swimming and boat).

Whats the rain like there? Is this pond always full? I've seen lots of places that tend to go through droughts, and if you put in a non floating dock, with piers stuck in the ground, you'll have a dock over the mud should you have any droughts. If you have a floating dock, with a long ramp dock leading to it, you can move it in or out as the water level dictates. Floating is probably going to be less expensive too.

 

[Kycha]

That's a good question. We have a small pond on our property too. We have talked about putting in a dock but I wouldn't even have the first clue as to how to do that.

 

[cjnix29]

We just moved into this house at Thanksgiving, so not completely sure about rainfall. Will have to talk to neighbors. Only problem with floating docks is that I hate walking on them! We are going to put a large section at the end so we can sit out and enjoy the pond. And I do not want to do that on a floating dock.

 

[LoriKutchey]

My husband built ours for our cottage in Northern Michigan. It didn't look hard just time consuming. But he likes doing stuff like that. He bought the supports from a local dock place and built the sections out of wolmanized wood. But I've been bugging him to rebuild the sections using white vinyl.
Here's an idea what I mean by the supports. alot of the cottages have homemade supports made out of metal that they weld and angle iron (i think)
but they are really heavy where as the ones we bought are aluminum I believe and are really light to carry and then we just float out the sections.

http://www.dndmarine.net/Sectional Docks.htm

If you need more detailed info just pm me and I could even give you my husbands cell Phone # and he could explain it way better than I.

 

[sharonmickey]

We built the dock at Dad's cottage. It took three of us about a day. We used 4 x 4 posts for supports, 2 x 8 pieces of wood for the sides, and then used 2 x 6 pieces of wood that we had cut into planks for the top. (We cut the 2 x 6 pieces beforehand. We purchased long pieces then cut them to the length we wanted.) We put two posts in every eight feet then used a couple 2 x 6 pieces as cross beam supports on the posts. We used 2 x 8 pieces on the sides; placing them from post to post. Then just nailed the 2 x 6 pieces on top.

This is the third dock we've built. (I've only helped with the last two.) Each dock has lasted over 20 years before needing to have some of the wood replaced. The last time we put a new top on the dock and extended the length.

 

[cjnix29]

anyone have any estimates on cost? I was quoted 1200 for three 4 x 10 sections, and a permanent bench installed. I'm sure we can probably do it ourselves for less than that, but how much less? Plus, I am not sure we could do it the same way. DH works ALOT, and I really don't want him to have to mess with it, rather just be able to enjoy it. But if the cost is that much less, we would do it. I appreciate all the comments.