Permits are moving along and it actually looks like I`ll be putting in a nice pier/ramp/floating dock with tie off pilings combination come spring. One of the hold -ups was the engineer thought (and still does) that the float should be bigger than the allowed 100 sq ft for stability as the area will be subject to wakes. Well, that didn`t fly with the state, which is fine with me. We are going with a 8 X 12.5 ft float, perpendicular to shore, hooped to pilings. The question is would a stabilizer (I hope I`m calling it the right name, I`m thinking those upside down umbrella type things)hung at each end of the float slow down the pitch from wakes?
Stabilizers for a dock float
- Thread starter mx8
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It might not hurt - but are you subject to tides? I have the same set-up (without the pilings). Eight to eleven foot tidal swing with a three to four knot current plus aggressive crosswinds much of the time. Float measures 12x24. The ramp fits into a yoke on the float and about thirty feet of heavy chain runs from posts on the shore side of the float corners to pins into ledge angling about forty-five degrees back to shore. Chain is fairly slack so it moves with the tidal change while the hefty weight of the chain adds stability to the float. Haven't tipped over a margarita yet.
Tides are around 3 ft, current runs both ways,the float can`t be bigger, the ramp will rest on one end. I realize its going to be a thrill ride occasionally, i`m just trying to come up with a way of dampening it a little. I could always put a saddle on a sawhorse and offer a prize for anybody that can stay on for 8 seconds when a sportfish goes by.
I'd go with the saddle.
Imagine a 12' boat in the same position to estimate what will happen. More weight would add to stability as it will increase response time. Many floaters today are concrete for this reason.
It really depends on how big those wakes are. Does the engineer think the pilings will stay in place???
Imagine a 12' boat in the same position to estimate what will happen. More weight would add to stability as it will increase response time. Many floaters today are concrete for this reason.
It really depends on how big those wakes are. Does the engineer think the pilings will stay in place???
There are plenty of other docks in the area so the pilings should be fine with the wakes, ice might be a different story. I thought about a concrete float but I want to pull it up out of the way of the ice in the winter. I originally thought to hang some serious weight from each end w/chains but I don`t want to make the winter storage a major project.
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Robert Beebe wrote "Cruising Under Power" or something close to that in which he discusses "flopper stoppers" or the umbrella thingys that you're talking about. It might be a source of information since he seemed to explain anything he did in some detail.
BF has something to be used on boats in the anchoring section. It looks like a two cookie sheets on steroids hinged in the middle.
http://www.boatfix.com/shop3/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=20155
http://www.boatfix.com/shop3/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=20155
Capt. Bill1
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These things work great on a boat. As do the "cookie sheets". (I've used both over the years.) But your dock is not going to be wide enough to give either of the 2 types much leverage.
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We have a floating dock, but keep a 22ft on it. We do have the same floaters, flooded and strung from one side to the other to provide stability to the dock. It is anchored to 2 pilings, with polly rope wrapped around PVC pilings that have been slid over galv. pipe driven into bottom, and anchored at the top. Let all in all winter and has been frozen solid several yrs, and 14yrs. and no problems.
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Alan,
I know your location well and I can see you have done your homework. Mid-summer on weekends, wakes will be an issue for you and I doubt that you can do much about them short of making the floating dock a heck of a lot wider, which I understand you can't do.
After you pull your dock for the winter, make sure you run a line between the pilings just in case floating ice going down river takes out one of them.
You might want to stop and talk to Jarves at Portland Boatworks up river in Portland. He's been on the river forever and probably knows more about wakes, spiles, ice and floating docks than anyone I know. Sometimes these old timers know some tricks that the engineers don't.
I'll give you a blast on the air horn when I go down river in the spring.
Bill
I know your location well and I can see you have done your homework. Mid-summer on weekends, wakes will be an issue for you and I doubt that you can do much about them short of making the floating dock a heck of a lot wider, which I understand you can't do.
After you pull your dock for the winter, make sure you run a line between the pilings just in case floating ice going down river takes out one of them.
You might want to stop and talk to Jarves at Portland Boatworks up river in Portland. He's been on the river forever and probably knows more about wakes, spiles, ice and floating docks than anyone I know. Sometimes these old timers know some tricks that the engineers don't.
I'll give you a blast on the air horn when I go down river in the spring.
Bill
Bill, I`ll be listening for the horn! Thanks for the tip on Portland,I believe the admiral does some business with them. Good idea on the line around the pilings for winter, it will save me a trip downriver if the ice lifts them out, I have a bunch of light cable I plan on securing the staircase with this winter, it will come in handy for the future pilings.
Alan
Alan