VaBeekeeper
Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2012
- Messages
- 31
- Location
- King George, VA
- Tractor
- 2016 Kubota L3901 HST with LA-525 front loader
Hi folks,
I might get the prize for stupidity on this one, but rather than construct my 8x8' floating dock on site, I elected to build it in my barn, where I could more easily level and square up the boards, where I had access to my corded power tools, and where I could work any time of the day or night regardless of weather. This spring, however, I'm going to be facing the issue of how to get this thing down to the water. I could always disassemble it and reassemble on site, but I'd hate to do that if I can safely avoid it. I do plan to transport it without the 5/4" decking affixed, to save some weight there. Without the decking, I estimate the weight to be 370 lb.
Presuming I have a means of transportation, there are two ways I can possibly haul it to the water:
The first option involves me going about a quarter mile on the state secondary road that runs in front of my house, at then going approximately 0.5 mile down a driveway / logging trail to my landing. The trail is in pretty good condition, with vertical and horizontal clearance sufficient right until the last 50 yards, where the land slopes down to the creek and the assembly would have to be carried at an angle to make the 5' clearance between the trees. Which means taking the dock down off the vehicle and three or more stout fellows proceeding very carefully down a hill. Hmmm...
There might be a second option. A gentleman who lives a couple of bends down the creek has given me permission to use his landing for launching my jonboat. I may be able to persuade him to let me put my floating dock in the water there, quickly screw back on the deck boards, and use a pole to propel the dock on the incoming tide like a big cumbersome raft to my landing. If I can get his permission, then I'm looking at driving about a half mile on a secondary road and two miles on a primary state highway, before exiting to a nice, smooth, wide sandy drive with such a slow dropoff that you can't tell you're going downhill, right to his beautiful wide boat landing. (You can probably tell which option I'm hoping for.)
Either way, I've got to use something to haul the dock. Here's what I have on hand: A 2005 Dodge Dakota 4WD pickup truck with a 2" trailer ball; a Harbor Freight trailer I use to tow my 14' jonboat, the platform 48" in width; a Kubota L3901 4WD tractor, with a bucket equipped with hooks and a 7' carryall; a lot of tiedown straps and 3/8" twisted nylon rope and whatnot.
Does it look like carrying the assembled dock is doable, or will I be forced to take the thing apart before I move it?
Thanks for any advice...
I might get the prize for stupidity on this one, but rather than construct my 8x8' floating dock on site, I elected to build it in my barn, where I could more easily level and square up the boards, where I had access to my corded power tools, and where I could work any time of the day or night regardless of weather. This spring, however, I'm going to be facing the issue of how to get this thing down to the water. I could always disassemble it and reassemble on site, but I'd hate to do that if I can safely avoid it. I do plan to transport it without the 5/4" decking affixed, to save some weight there. Without the decking, I estimate the weight to be 370 lb.
Presuming I have a means of transportation, there are two ways I can possibly haul it to the water:
The first option involves me going about a quarter mile on the state secondary road that runs in front of my house, at then going approximately 0.5 mile down a driveway / logging trail to my landing. The trail is in pretty good condition, with vertical and horizontal clearance sufficient right until the last 50 yards, where the land slopes down to the creek and the assembly would have to be carried at an angle to make the 5' clearance between the trees. Which means taking the dock down off the vehicle and three or more stout fellows proceeding very carefully down a hill. Hmmm...
There might be a second option. A gentleman who lives a couple of bends down the creek has given me permission to use his landing for launching my jonboat. I may be able to persuade him to let me put my floating dock in the water there, quickly screw back on the deck boards, and use a pole to propel the dock on the incoming tide like a big cumbersome raft to my landing. If I can get his permission, then I'm looking at driving about a half mile on a secondary road and two miles on a primary state highway, before exiting to a nice, smooth, wide sandy drive with such a slow dropoff that you can't tell you're going downhill, right to his beautiful wide boat landing. (You can probably tell which option I'm hoping for.)
Either way, I've got to use something to haul the dock. Here's what I have on hand: A 2005 Dodge Dakota 4WD pickup truck with a 2" trailer ball; a Harbor Freight trailer I use to tow my 14' jonboat, the platform 48" in width; a Kubota L3901 4WD tractor, with a bucket equipped with hooks and a 7' carryall; a lot of tiedown straps and 3/8" twisted nylon rope and whatnot.
Does it look like carrying the assembled dock is doable, or will I be forced to take the thing apart before I move it?
Thanks for any advice...
