For about 8 years, we've been making use of an old floating (mostly) dock from an expired inholding adjacent to the Upper Goose Pond Cabin.
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| Former dock at winter low water level |
The old dock was waterlogged, heavy, and difficult to get out of the water for the winter (and equally hard to reinstall in the summer).
This spring, the time had come to remove this failing structure--but first (being in Massachusetts) we had to get a license for a new one. This took a couple of months, two meetings and a $95 fee.
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| Removing old dock parts |
The project starts with hauling away the pieces of the old dock--being mostly pressure treated lumber, we could not burn it on site.
On the return trip, we brought in the pre-assembled pieces of the new dock.
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| Returning with new, cedar platforms |
For both trips, we lashed both canoes together to create a stable "barge" capable of carrying a surprising amount of weight.
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| A trip to the transfer station ends Day #1 |
The old dock parts went to a transfer station for disposal. Just a bit over 1000 lbs!
The next week's project was assembly of the parts and installing them in the pond. Unlike the previous dock, this one will be supported on stilts resting on the bottom of the pond.
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| Brackets are installed while the platforms are upside down on the shore. |
Rather than trying to assemble the whole thing while standing in 50 degree water, we bolted the brackets provided by the manufacturer onto each segment, then carried it out and adjusted it for level.
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| Each platform is carried out, placed and bolted to the adjacent piece |
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| Some adjustments are made to make the dock level |
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| At the deep end, rocks needed to be moved to place one of the feet. Water is about 4ft deep. |
Soon, the main part of the dock was in place, now time for the platform at the end. Same procedure, but the water was a bit deeper. At one point, we sent a "diver" down to move some rocks out of the way.
After placing the final platform, a little more fiddling wth the brackets and legs, brought things to their final position. It's expected that over time and use, the legs will settle a bit more. At that point, we'll re-level the pieces and then cut the extra pipe to a uniform length above the platforms.
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| Final platform is installed. |
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| Adjustments are made |
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| Dock is complete and ready for use--or... |
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| ....for hanging around and enjoying the pond |
Soon, the main part of the dock was in place, now time for the platform at the end. Same procedure, but the water was a bit deeper. At one point, we sent a "diver" down to move some rocks out of the way.
