Permanent Dock/Pier???

As I get older a permanent dock/pier starts to look better and better. I live on a narrow lake of about 200 acres. Out in front of the house the lake is about 600 ft wide. My shore line is protected from the south by a short point.

Towards the south end of the lake there are two properties with permanent wood piers that have been in the lake for at least 10 years. The current owners of those properties that have piers have no idea who installed the piers.

Over the last five years I have contacted a couple builders of permanent pier.

One of them was a fellow I found on craigslist out of Longville, MN. He was a contractor that installs wood piers in the winter through the ice when he can drive his equipment on the lake. It kept a revenue stream flowing when he was not busy. He was the first person I had contacted and I went into sticker shock when he hip shot me a price. I have lost his contact information but would like to talk to him again. If anyone knows him, please PM me.

The second one was a fellow out of Alexandria, MN that I contacted a couple years ago. He and his wife drove over chatted for awhile and e-mailed me a quote. He had lots of heavy equipment. He installs both wood and steel piers; and recommended a wood pier for me with driven wood piles into the lake. He told me he was the contractor who was contracted to install the 260′ pier in Lake Waconia, that has been discussed on this site. He was really to rich for my blood. From his estimate I got the impression he wasn’t interested in my work.

The third, I just found is Remer Iron Works. He build steel docks/piers. His prices are really temping. Does anyone out there have permanent pier built by them.

I am really getting close to pulling the trigger on this project. There are probably some of you out there that will say put in a rollin. Or have some one install and remove your dock. We live here year round and my wife doesn’t want to look at the dock sitting on shore obstructing her view.

Any and all input would be appreciated.

I’m in Outing and I’m going to build one this winter.
The “KEY” to the system is the water mover.
I’m going to build it in March,set up scaffolding, and jack hammer 4 x 6 wooden piers in, I’m having 1/4″ gusset plates made for the cross members, 2 x 6 diagonal decking.
I’m excited to get started.

No matter how strong you build it, ice will wreck it if your not protected or use bubbler.

Get a rolling dock, and instead of rolling it up onto the lawn, take the panels off and roll it underwater for the winter months

It would double as a fish crib and not be an eyesore for the wife!

https://www.google.com/search?q=cantilever+dock&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#imgrc=cgT85kIhBvXLNM:

Might be a cheaper better option…if your shoreline is deep enough. Crank/winch up and down

Have you checked into permits both in terms of cost and how long it’s going to take to get approval?

Grouse

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Have you checked into permits both in terms of cost and how long it’s going to take to get approval?

Grouse

depending on size, none needed

Not sure but in WI any permanent shore structure you need permit/DNR approval.

MN permanent dock rules

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   Permannt-Dock.pdf
   

eelpoutguy,

Have you looked into water jetting to sink your posts.

I have thought about doing this myself but I would rather find someone with some experience as my age climbs into the 70s.

My long gone uncle had a place on the south shore of White Beer Lake back when it was surrounded with seasonal lake cottages (60 years ago). He used to set his dock posts with 3/4″ galvanized pipe and garden hose connected to the cabin well. I was to young to participate but he built his dock every year with a bucket of rusty nails and some old 3″ diameter pine poles. Then he added the decking. He took it out in the fall in reverse order putting the rusty nail back in the coffee can. This was back in the day when there was water in White Beer and the water lapped up against a shoreline retaining wall.

DJS,
I kicked the water jet idea around but after pricing out pipes and connectors I figure I will try wood. Plus I’m a nail bender by profession.

I’d shop around a little maybe call some places that don’t necessarily specialize in it. If doing wood should be a good amount of contractors that could build one.

A developer built a permanent dock I share with the neighbor. In the winter used augers and drove posts way down. The only issue we’ve had is on the dock not in the water but through a long stretch of the cattails it heaves. Evidently those posts weren’t down deep enough.

I was reading your post. We install permanent docks in Minnesota and Wis. Our company Custom Boardwalks please look us up on the web if you have any question I would like to help you out.