I want to convert my 25 ft. pond dock into a floating dock. I've searched some for floats. The foam seems pretty expensive, more than the dock materials cost. Anybody have any experience? Ever use metal or plastic barrels? How long do they last before leaking?

Thanks.

-- charles (cr@dixienet.com), April 23, 2002

Answers

Post script: Mitch and others who have previously written in the archives, the plastic barrels I've seed have metal lids and a ring that compresses the lid to the barrel. seems like this would leak once the metal corroded. Do they make the blue barrels with plastic plugs?

-- charles (cr@dixienet.com), April 23, 2002.

All plastic barrels are sometimes available from soft drink bottlers.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), April 24, 2002.

This is going to sound kinda weird but . . .

I remember watching an episode of "Ripley's Believe or Not" where some guy made his own island by tying ordinary 2 - 3 litre soft drink bottles in a net, then placing plastic on that, then placing a thin layer of soil on this, and built a small hut on it. Contrary to John Locke advise, this man made his own island.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), April 24, 2002.

i wanna make my own island!!! that's awesome!

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Hi Charles,

We used 4-6 inch wide PVC pipe with PVC caps glued on each end for floats under our duck dock. Fastened them to the wood with hurricane strips (footlong metal strips you nail in place at each end.) It's been over a year and it still floats fine.

Good luck with your dock, elliemae

-- elliemae (elliemae@surfsouth.com), April 25, 2002.

Has anyone ever tried 55 gal. plastic barrels filled with styromfoam?? I was thinking of doing the pvc pipe with the ends sealed. Maybe it would be cheaper filling the barrels with pieces of styromfoam just in case someone accidently shot holes in the barrels.Mary

-- Mary (marwel@microserve.net), April 25, 2002.

I remember the show about the island! It was great! He used plastic bottles. I have seen river races where they used disposible bottles to make rafts also plastic milk jugs were used! They were put in nets of chicken wire I believe.

-- PJC (zpjc5_@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

I work at a paper printing plant and we get cleaning soap in 55 gal. barrels that are all plastic including the bungs and are non-returnable. They are free for the asking. We had a dock that had the foam flotation under it and the muskrats chewed it all up. Replaced with the plastic barrels. They should last indefinitely.

-- Dave (drcomer@rr1.net), April 26, 2002.