Yes, but the outer corners of the outer part need to be anchored to the bottom, right? And if I have multiple floating sections, I need bottom anchoring between them, right? Otherwise, won't the ice drag everything along and deform the parts? That's what I thought. But as I said, I don't know about this, so please enlighten me.B Bonafluff said:
Not unless it’s extremely long, I would say, and you have good hinges attached to the part like in the video that only allow the dock to move up and down instead of sideways...WaldenWoods said:
If you're a bit nervous, you could have two large 50mm rings at the front of the dock, and into them, you drive a 45mm iron rod into the ground. That way, the dock can move up and down but not sideways.
Yes, it's of course safest to take up the dock in the winter. But that's not an option in my case (I already have a dock that I drag up in the autumn and in the spring; can't handle another one).pacman42 said:
So even though it will be a floating dock, it needs to be anchored in such a way that it becomes as durable as possible over the winter. I guess it's to anchor it as firmly as possible in the horizontal plane, but give it full freedom of movement vertically.
Now I meant that you should rest it on the hinges so that you don't have to lift it up. Then you get a floating dock at the far end that rests on the stone framework inside during the winter. With a couple of pulls with wheels, you can winch everything up without much manpower.
Thanks, this sounds very interesting. But I feel stupid because I don't understand. Please explain again, sorry that I'm slow 😳
I understand that I have a fixed part on the inside and a floating part on the outside. And in winter, the outer part should be on the inner one. Without me having to lift the whole weight directly with manpower, and instead somehow utilize the winch's strength. But how is that achieved?
By temporarily setting up four tied-together props at the foot of the dock, through which you run a wire through a wheel. When you then winch, you pull the dock over itself.
In the spring, the same thing again, but in reverse. You can even let the dock fall over the props, so they don't need to be too tall. However, they must be slightly taller than the dock is high so that you get the force in the props when the dock needs to be lifted the first bit in the spring.
Elementary physics.
If you have ice in the winter, it's excellent for driving posts/pipes or even filling a stone crib from the ice. Personally, I've driven down telephone poles with a couple of 2*3" studs attached to a suitable log/block and a bunch of friends who helped out.
Thanks, I have no problems with elementary physics. (I am a civil engineer, specializing in physics.) But I still don't understand the basic idea. You say that the float part should rest in the hinges through the lift. Should I then "fold" the dock so that the top of the floating dock ends up facing downwards on the fixed part? And the float elements upwards? To me, that's the only way it can remain in its hinges. But I probably misunderstand you completely, because that can't possibly be what you mean.
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Yes, why do you ask?F fribygg said:
Then the whole thing is quite simple and not really engineering work but more rough work.
Get the necessary tools. Gather all the materials you need on the beach, prepare/build the stone cribs you need and store them on the beach, wait for suitable ice, call in the friends and perform the physical work of getting the stone cribs, poles/pipes, and stones in place.
If you have access to a small tractor or ATV, the work is obviously facilitated, but it’s not a must.
When the dock is ready, you should ideally serve plenty of food and drink, maybe a sauna and ice swimming afterward if the opportunity is there.
Alternatively, you hire a common farm boy and pay what is required, it could be a nice little project for the Christmas break for someone attending an agricultural school if there is no profitable snow clearing available.
I have an ATV. Tools too, I think.F fribygg said:
Yes, that would have worked if the place was further north. In my childhood, the ice on the lake was thick enough to do what you suggest. But rarely, nowadays. I might have to wait 5 years before the ice is thick enough, I'm afraid.
It's a free society so you're allowed to believe..
Personally, I prefer to know, or to have good local contacts so I can figure out what's wrong or broken with my own stuff even if it happens to be on New Year's Day when the ice is perfect.