Could get in literally over my head on this one

[8NTX]

The estimate of $200 to $300 for pilings was basically $200 for treated wood, set about 5 or 6 feet deep into the bottom; up to an average of $250 to $300 each for steel depending on how deep before the pile driver ran into clay under the sandy bottom. He rams 'em until he hits clay then goes about 3 feet more to ensure they won't sink.

After talking to local folks and looking at the various boathouses on the lake (some of which are sinking a little on the heavy end where the lift supports the heavy end of the boat), I have decided to have steel pilings driven by the local builder, and I will finish the rest. He has quoted $10 per linear foot to set the pilings. I will need 14 pilings and at an average of about $250 to $300 each I expect to spend around $4,000 for that, and it will cost me a little over $2,000 for the materials to finish it up.

I appreciate your help and ideas on this. Now I can stay out of deep water.

 

[WellsF15]

Just another thought on this subject. We built our dock - 40' out in North Texas lake- using 3" steel pipe with thick walls, bought from an oil well service. We made a pile driver from 6" pipe about 18" long. Made handles out of steel rebar and put a plate on one end. It was heavy enough to use as a pile driver but not too heavy to lift and drop. We just drove the pipe into the lake bottom until it stopped. Usually about 4 ft. We then welded "C" channel to the inside of the pipe and put cross pieces at the top of the pipe. Then we used cable and those twist in anchors (used for mobile homes) in an X fashion to anchor the "c" channel to the lake bottom about every 10'. We then bolted treated runners on the channel and screwed cypress lumber to the runners. We do not have a boat house but others around us do with similar construction. It's been there around 20 years with minimal replacement of the cypress with treated lumber. BTW, we had to anchor to the lake bottom due to the lake not being a constant level. You are lucky in that respect. One other thought, tho, you wouldn't be able to pile drive the longer poles to hold the winch "I" beam and roof of the boat house. Might get the contractor to drive those. Unless you have really long arms.

Steve