Rake Pond Rake

[McCaskey]

Latest project was an "Extendo-Rake" built to clean up the debris & vegetation along the banks of a pond. 20 feet long, fabricated with 2x4 steel tubing. Hinged at bottom to prevent excessive downward pressure from the skidsteer arms. Weight of steel is sufficient to rake up debris without digging into the pond banks. I needed raking action rather than digging. Lifting cables are 5/8 and crossed to prevent sideways swinging. Quick adapter is a 3 point adapter plate using the lower pins as hinge point. Skidsteer stays up on safe, hard ground.

Works better than I anticipated. Where the vegetation was heavy, a few weeks in the sun to dry out before burning. Grass seed over other areas of ballast, muck & mud germinated quickly. Water was cloudy for a few days but cleared quickly. Pond was being overtaken by cattails, the rake pulls them out by their roots. Stone ballast originally around the banks was pulled back up.

Video is displayed 2X times actual rate. Three pulls in the same spot brought up most vegetation and muck. Also works good from a tractor, but skidsteer is easier without braking & shifting a tractor transmission.

YouTube Video: http://youtu.be/mV0id9CKJCo

 

[HarryN]

That looks like a useful tool. There has been tons of "how do I clean up around my pond" questions.
You sir have a good solution. Now to figure out how to mow around it without slipping in?

 

[Thomas]

Good idea,what did you do where less area to operate?

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Ingenious. Thanks for posting.

 

[Dr Dave]

You could make an attachment, for use as a roof rake, for heavy snow removal.

 

[Baby Grand]

Good idea,what did you do where less area to operate?

Telescoping boom on the next version?

 

[rekees4300]

An excellent engineering project. :thumbsup: Last year I decided to try a "bio-solution" sterile Grass Carp (aka White Amur). Jury still out since it takes 2-3 years for them to grow large enough to have an impact. I put 12 into my 1 acre pond.

View attachment 405892

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_carp

 

[McCaskey]

I have Grass Carp also. About 9 have survived from original 12, about 3 feet long after 4 years. They seem to only eat tops of vegetation that has not broken the surface. Once cattails are above water, they won't touch them or go into shallow water. They are susceptible to Blue Heron strikes when sunning themselves. They die shortly after the Heron stabs them.

 

[rekees4300]

Thanks for the Blue Heron info. That's news to me and we do have them occasionally. Didn't expect the Grass Carp to control cattails, I do that manually and it's a PITA. Got the Carp for American Pondweed which hopefully the Carp will like?

 

[Thomabear]

I have Grass Carp also. About 9 have survived from original 12, about 3 feet long after 4 years. They seem to only eat tops of vegetation that has not broken the surface. Once cattails are above water, they won't touch them or go into shallow water. They are susceptible to Blue Heron strikes when sunning themselves. They die shortly after the Heron stabs them. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/attachments/405993-pond-rake-0513082005a-jpg"/>

Just curious but how can you tell how many you have? I started with 7 in a 1-1/2 acre pond about two years ago and haven't spotted any to date. However, my pond seems to be in good shape.