Built a barge lately

[CurlyDave]

It's a doable thing just can I do it afordably?

Of course a second option is to get a used tractor, drive it over to the island on the ice and just leave it there.

That would certainly set an upper limit on both what I would pay for a barge and the time I would invest in building one...

 

[mx5guy]

Well Curly Dave, then I would need even a bigger barge to put two tractors on it:laughing: Plus I could not find a resonably priced used on in the first place.

 

[pat32rf]

Are you going to have a use for a 32x8 foot floating dock at your cottage? If so, just build two 16x8 foot sections (narrow enough so they can be trailered to the launch) using 2x8PT for 16' stingers with 2x6 top decking. Use a spacing that allows you to insert your floats, keeping to the ends of the 16' sections. When you go to use them put them crossways with a couple of 16' -2x8 (or 2x10) planks for boads to drive on (and tie them together). You then have a 16x16 ft barge.
A barge this size won't need full floatation but will spread your load for stabilty.
If you have a level spot to land at your cottage, just back the tractor up a LITTLE bit so the front floats higher, pull up onto the beach, then drive to the front and down your six foot ramps....
(where is your cottage, over in our area?)
Think re-use, recycle when you calculate your cost....

 

[gwjd]

rubber encapsulated dock foam nice and wide and long i would guess

i like the drum idea cause you can sink it though. you build it good enough you may become the ferry

 

[mx5guy]

Hi Pat32rf
The two barges is a neet idea, how would you tie them securly together?
I amd south of you Palmerston Lake,, was contemplating a 12 by 24 barge. would also use as main dock, when not barging.

 

[Willl]

How deep is this lake ?

I'm thinking 'snorkel'.

 

[pat32rf]

If you think multiples of standard length, ie 16' and 8', when you put them side by side(tight together) you just have to bridge them with a few 16' 2x10's on the flat to tie them together and provide a driving surface. You can also screw another 2x8 to the two edges.
You could either build them with the main stringers (16 ft-2x8) running lengthwise and your decking (8 ft-2x6) running crosswise, or vise-versa, with your stingers running crosswise (8ft-2x8) and your decking (16ft-2x6) running full length. I prefer running the stringers full length.
My dock is an old MNR seaplane dock, two 8x16' sections with solid floatation. I will try my JD4300 on it later today if the rain lets up...

 

[nickel plate]

To help offset the cost of actual use time verses building expense, build it so you can also use it as your own floating boat dock in front of your cabin or rent it out to someone else on the lake during the summer months.
Do check in to your local vessel safety regulations if you motorize it. Maybe best to keep it just towable for red tape reasons.

 

[PILOON]

From a lot of dock building experience,
drums are a bad solution as they will sink rapidly 'til they reach the bouyancy level because of the fact that they are round (narrow at bottom) and will result in a very tippy platform.
Add tractor relative high center of gravity and U have a probable salvage job on hand.

4 ea 250 gal oil tanks. being oval (flat sidded) laying on their sides is one good way to obtain a stable platform. (and cheap in some areas as they might be date code replaced, but still leak proof).
Would be simple enough to weld up steel frame to install some 2 x 8 (or 2 x 10) decking.
Think of a typical trailer frame that is plank decked, but with 4 old oil tanks in the corners for floatation.
Heck not much welding is even needed as the tractor weight will create enough pressure to keep the framework in place.
Any welding would be mainly to keep things aligned and to prevent tanks from sliding out from under.

For that matter any typical flatbed trailer with 4 250 gal oil tanks, one per corner, could serve as a 'barge' to float a typical CUT.
Grease the bearings afterwards. LOL.

 

[dirt ditch]

I want to see ya make it self propelled by hooking up a propeller to the PTO shaft. :confused2: