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Have a new project building a dock on a river. Since we talk a lot about decks thought maybe I could get some advise about docks and ramps.
The river flows at about 7mph. The bank height ranges from normal of 8′ to a few inches at flood. River depth at dock site ranges from normal 2′ to 10′ at flood stage. The river freezes in the winter. So would like to be able to raise the dock and ramp during freezeup and meltout.
Need design and construction methods ideas.
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Replies
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Don't tell me I've stumped this panel of experts!
*What size craft is berthing at this dock? How many passengers need to embark/debark at any one time. How much storage is desired, dockside?How much money is at stake, I can be packed in an hour... :))
*Now THAT is service!Different sizes of shallow draft boats from 14' to 24'(river is normally only 2' deep).Location is remote so dock and ramp will be used for passengers and freight of all types. Everything it takes to operate a home 22 miles from the road. Say, a capacity of a thousand pounds or so for the ramp and more for the dock without sinking.No dockside storage is needed as it is private property. Do need to support fuel, lumber etc being offloaded from the boat to the shore.
*We mainly use a dock and pier on pilings here, with a lower section that you can pull the boat up to for loading and unloading. I have seen some floating docks with some type of plastic floats under them that are attached to permanent pilings at the corners in a way that allows them to rise and fall with the river. They had a box at each corner that surrounded the piling loosely and a gang plank type ramp that pivoted up and down as well. I also saw one with a post at the center with a winch on it that could raise the entire dock clear of the water during freeze. Ill see if i can get a little more info on the const. details. These were in some photos that a friend brought back from alaska where the tides fluctuated greatly.
*Fred, as Charles noted, the common approach is to sink two to four pilings at the corners, and use either wood or iron to encircle the pilings.For your application, a floating dock supported by either chambers or plank foam, riding on two pilings would do. The ramp is secured at the top, on iron hinge pins, the bottom rides on two iron rollers, with iron wear strips on the dock. Most employ a safety chain to secure the dock to the ramp.Winter, release the dock from the pilings, and haul out. Same for the ramp, release the hinges, and haul out. Ice may raise hell with the pilings, so be prepared to straighten or replace come ice-out. Construct from durable wood, and go heavy. 12 ft x 20 ft might do for size.
*Charles: Look forward to the details.George: Is what you vision light enough it could be lifted out by some type of gin pole on the bank?