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We had that old crane span pulled out a few months back that was set across the pond to be used as a bridge. The thing was rusted and about to fall in on one end anyway. We needed a new solution. So we decided to build our own floating dock. I'll try to give you the basic instructions of what we did and what was used to build this dock. It's made from all pressure treated lumber and the finished size is 10x10'. It's held together with galvanized screws. Mike paid $5 for each of the six barrels that he got from work. Two were missing the small lids on top so we had to improvise. I found an old pickle jar lid and an old frosting can lid. With the use of mass quantities of silicone we sealed all the lids tight. The basic frame is made from 2x6 wood with all the smaller cross pieces being 2x4's. The ramp is made solely with 2x4's and all the decking are 1x6's. Here's the basic frame. 2x6 boards form the outer square and one down the middle. We set the barrels in to measure where to set the next cross boards so that they wouldn't be floating up against the deck. Here it is with all six barrels set. And now we add more 2x4's for support. We wrapped some really good marine rope around the barrels and secured them with some extra brackets Mike had lying around. Have to make sure it's good and tight. We placed L brackets on each outside corner for more support. And now for the launch.... Okay, good, it floats! We were afraid that the two of us wouldn't be strong enough to slide this into the water. There's about a 3 foot drop right now over the edge, but she slid right in. Mike drilling in the planks. Me and Dusty supervising..... Here's the basic frame for the ramp, made from all 2x4's and then planked. So we set the walkway on the dock, ran some rope to the other end and we floated it to the other side. Here's Mike reeling me in. There she is... pretty solid, too. Still have some work to do. We'll need to find a way to secure that ramp. We may end up getting another barrel and floating one end. Mike fell in. We need a to add a swim ladder. Anybody got one laying around that we could use? Oh, and another thing.... We plan to name her like a boat. Any ideas?
Floating Dock With Barrels (UPDATED): This is a floating dock that's easy to make and works beautifully. Here is quick parts list of everything I used:4 - 2x8" pressure treated lumber. 8 feet long.7 - 2x4" pressure treated lumber. 8 feet long.17 - 1x6" pressure treated lumber. 8 feet l…
Yes, my friends, another DIY is here! I have been eyeing these kinds of teepees on Pinterest for years, and when one of my friends contacted me about doing a boho maternity shoot, I was ecstatic. Not only did I get to catch up with a friend from high school, but it gave me the perfect […]
Believe it or not, the dying days of summer won’t mean the inevitable demise of outdoor-party weather for all the Unique Hunters tribe. In fact, for some of our agents in the farther western reaches of the United States, the end of August means that unrelenting arid heat gives way to about eight months of […]
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Gallery of custom sundeck boat dock designs from Flotation Systems
Canoe & Kayak Launch: A local camp has several canoes that are routinely used by novice canoeists. The camp and canoeists were running into trouble keeping themselves dry while launching and retrieving the boats! Additionally there were concerns about some erosion of the…
A country boho wedding on a farm in Queensland with a handmade tipi, a grazing table, oyster bar and plenty of handmade beautiful details.
In this article, I share six easy steps to turning a hand-pulled golf bag cart into a kayak cart that works.
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After forever and a day, the metal cart writeup is finished. My goal was to design a very rugged, bolt together cart that would work well with the 2012 Ride 135's pontoon style hull. This design carries my fully loaded kayak (100+ lbs) with ease. The previous Palmetto Kayak Fishing PVC cart works great, but I wanted to design and build a cart that better mimicked some of the commercially available options. The new model had to be super strong, lightweight, easy to disassemble/reassemble and somewhat aesthetically pleasing. Let me start by saying this project is a little on the expensive side as compared to some of the other PKF builds due to the initial cost of a few items. For example, the SuperStrut metal framing channel costs around $15 for a 10' section, but the build only requires 15.5 inches of material. Same goes for the thick $10 professional dense poly cutting board from Sam's Club. One board is large enough to make 3 pairs of the bunks that the kayak rides on. The build also requires drilling out thick metal and two flat washers to accommodate the 3/4" axle. Many machine shops will drill the required holes on the cheap if you don't have a step bit available. With all this being said, take one look at similar commercially available offerings that cost north of $150 and in the grand scheme of things, this cart isn't so bad on the wallet. Most importantly, it fits my Ride 135 like a glove and can handle many different types of terrain with a heavy payload. The cart weighs in right at 11 pounds - that is just one pound heavier than the popular C-tug cart. For me, it's not always about the destination, but more about the journey getting there. I find these DIY projects to be very fulfilling and enjoy sharing the process. Round up a friend or 3 that are interested pursuing this project and the per-cart costs go down significantly. Lastly, for the steel axle, call a metal or scrap shop that will sell you a small section of the 3/4in. x 1/16in. in plain steel tube and pay less than HD's price of $10. If you can find a stainless steel tube in the same size, even better. Parts List: (click red text for links and pictures) 10' SuperStrut metal framing channel - (only 15.5" is needed per cart), Home Depot - $15.57 3/4in. x 1/16in. in plain steel tube - cut to 25.5", holes drilled in each end to accept the linch pins, Home Depot - $9.32 Bakers & Chefs Commercial Cutting Board 1/2" thick, 15" x 20" - cut two 3" x 15" sections per cart (1 board is enough to build 3 carts) Sam's Club $11 2 - 10" Low Speed Tires - Northern Tool - $9.99 each. NOTE: I chose these over the cheaper Harbor Freight wheels b/c of the reduction of weight and simplicity of design. They look very similar - if not the same - to the wheels that come on Hobie's Universal Kayak Cart or the pneumatic C-Tug wheels. 2 - Superstrut 2-Hole 90-Degree Angle Brackets - $1.34 each 1 package of Crown Bolt Inc. 1/2" Create-A-Bolt - Home Depot - $3 2 - Crown Bolt Zinc Plated 1/2 in.-13 x 1-3/4 in. Rod Coupling Nut (the only link is for a 25 pack, HD sells them in single bags, HD part no. 030699191567, at $1.31 each) - Home Depot - $1.31 2 - Crown Bolt 3/16 in. x 1-1/2 in. Zinc Plated Linch Pins - Home Depot, $1.73 each 2 - Crown Bolt Zinc Plated 1/2 in. - 13 x 1-1/2 in. (the only link is for a 50 pack, HD sells them individually)- Home Depot, >$1 for two 2 - Crown Bolt Zinc Plated 5/8 in. Flat Washers & 2 additional 1/2" Flat Washers (the only link is for a 65 pack, HD sells them individually) - Bore out the center hole of the 5/8" washer to 3/4" to fit over axle - this size is modified b/c the outside diameter fits the wheel profile perfectly, Home Depot, >$1 for two. The additional 1/2" washers do not need to be modified. 1 Crown Bolt 1/2 in. x 12 in. Zinc Threaded Rod - Cut into two 6" sections, Home Depot, $1.57 2 - 1/2" stop nuts 6 - 1/2" PVC couplings 2 - 3" sections of 1/2" PVC Outdoor Carpet scraps and padding of choice to cover the cutting board bunks 11" zip ties Loctite thread locker Lashing strap to hold the cart to the kayak OPTIONAL PARTS: Foam tubing to cover the vertical PVC arms. U bolt and 1/2" PVC parts to fabricate a tube to accommodate a push pole of some sort to get the cart in place under the kayak (see video). I use a stake out pole for this, but just about any rigid tube will do. Automotive 15 oz. Truck Bed Coating - Home Depot, $8 Detailed VIDEO The Build: The video pretty much explains the process but here are some tips. I cut the SuperStrut to 15.5" for my application, leaving 8 of the oval cutouts. If the build is for a different model kayak, adjust the length of the SuperStut, axle and kayak bunk placement for a custom fit. Make sure to measure and cut the axle at the end of the entire processes to ensure proper fitment. Enjoy! - Paul
For too long small businesses within various communities have been overlooked and lacked the recognition and respect they deserve. When hundreds of individuals were polled most felt that small businesses could be as competitive in the business arena as larger national chains when given the opportunity. Today, small business owners in the Pacific Northwest are being given the opportunity. Swannee Rivers, developer of Women's Showcases in the Renton Community has created a business directory showcasing these hidden treasures recognized by the public as being special. Residents can now learn of new businesses within their communities, discover others in Northwest regions, receive valuable business tips. Business owners can also network with each other and support each other by discovering who else is in business. It is an opportunity for uniting that is long overdue. The emergence of small businesses will create synergy helping each to reach their full potential.
