Tractor Work at Water's Edge

[lakngulf]

Each year the water level in Lake Martin is dropped 10 feet in the winter time. When it drops my floating pier drops to the ground. This year as the water began to rise, I noticed that one corner of the floating pier was much lower than the others. Obviously, the styrofoam under that corner had gotten out of place. Making a repair with the pier floating is difficult at best. I decided I might could float the pier to the edge of the water, raise up one side and make the repair.

I spent more time making sure the lifted side was secure than I did actually making the repair. I did not want to venture under the pier until I knew it would not fall. My little CK30 was a champ in lifting the one side. Once up I placed some logs upright on each corner, and nailed on some 2x4s. I also left the bucket with some tension.

I got wet, but the pier is now back in place, and fairly level on all corners.

 

[EddieWalker]

What type of floats do you have? how old are they?

Eddie

 

[lakngulf]

What type of floats do you have? how old are they?Eddie

These are the blue styrofoam. The white BBs have been ruled out for a few years now but last year was the crack down. Everyone who had a floating dock with the white styrofoam had to change over. Many go to black air drums, but I have had the blue since I built mine.

 

[Mousefield]

Glad you got that work done safely, :thumbsup: good idea to be careful with that dock over you. Noticed that the CK30 didn't seem to sink at all into the lake bed, must be rock on the floor of the lake close to shore?
Always nice to see your pics, gives us a better idea of what you had to do.

 

[o2batsea]

Those deck chairs bolted down or what?

You must be on some pretty quiet water. That thing would flip over in some of the breeze we get on the Bay. I'm making a similar platform for the Kayaks this spring but it will have to be chained to some anchors.
There's a boat ramp on the far side on my inlet/creek where I can haul it out for the winter.

 

[ryer]

lakngulf.where in Alabama is lake martin? I have family up in northernAlabama in Colbert county.

 

[lakngulf]

Northeast of Montgomery and Southeast of Birmingham. Alexander City is the closest city of any size. That is the birthplace of Russell Athletic wear. As a matter of fact, Mr. Russell saw the vision when the lake was being built and bought up all the land he could. Today, Russell Athletic wear is pretty much gone (everything made overseas) and Russell Lands, Inc is the big player in the area. They have developed some nice subdivisions on the lake, and own most of the undeveloped land.

 

[lakngulf]

Those deck chairs bolted down or what?

You must be on some pretty quiet water. That thing would flip over in some of the breeze we get on the Bay. I'm making a similar platform for the Kayaks this spring but it will have to be chained to some anchors.
There's a boat ramp on the far side on my inlet/creek where I can haul it out for the winter.

I will get another picture of how the platform is attached. We do get some nasty waves, from big boats and storms from the northwest, but it has stood its ground (water) very well.

How will you get the platform to the boat ramp, and how will you haul it out?

 

[jimmyj]

Glad you got that work done safely, :thumbsup: good idea to be careful with that dock over you. Noticed that the CK30 didn't seem to sink at all into the lake bed, must be rock on the floor of the lake close to shore?
Always nice to see your pics, gives us a better idea of what you had to do.

Exactly what I was thinking. I thought you might get stuck.

 

[lakngulf]

Exactly what I was thinking. I thought you might get stuck.

You just have to know where you can go and where you cannot. And some experience on the beach area has helped me with that. I was taking down trees in my garden area several years ago and had rented a kubota TLB. Well, everything was going great. I would use the backhoe to dig around the tree, and push it onto the beach area. Then I would chain them to the tractor and take them to spot where they would be good fish bed.

Well, that was working fine until I ventured too close to the shore line in one area, and it was nothing but MUCK!!!! All four wheels in the black mud. I thought I would just "walk" it out, but there was no traction for the backhoe or the bucket. I had to use the backhoe to raise one back tire, put some 4x4s under it, then do the same for the other one. It took awhile but I got out.

Sometimes those spots are not so noticeable, which makes me pay attention when I am in unknown areas.

Some lake folks do not like the fact that they let the water down each year. I am glad because (1) some work can be done on the pier, etc (2) I can do the type of work shown in the picture (3) the shoreline stays free of junk lake grass and (4) the beach becomes a great place for riding 4-wheelers.