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bridge for Island
2 used pontoon boats and you are across the pond. Not sure how much weight you need to move over the bridge, but pontoon boats might fit the bill. You can get pontoon decks pretty inexpensively if you look around. Anchoring them would be simple enough, spud them or drop anchor. for sure you would want to either spud, or pre-load drop anchors. Pre-loading the drop anchor will make the deck very stable. A little imagination, and dressing to be somewhat appealing to the eye wouldn't be too difficult.
We've put 275 ton cranes on pontoons. Once you spud them, they are very stable.
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bridge for Island
I found two pontoons 27'from an old boat for $500. The only info I could get was there was no way to stop them or assure any pontoon from leaking. When under the boat they can be trailered out and drained. That is the only reason i did not jump on it, but that was the cheapest way by far. Build a couple of ramps and I am there. Do you know a way to asure that they will not leak because if they sink water is 9 lbs per gallon over 50 gals and that mean I will need a around a 60ton crane min and a crew of riggers.
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bridge for Island
Never done it, but have heard of old pontoons filled with foam. They don't even try to keep them from leaking any more, fill them with foam and keep going.
A marina may be able to help. I Don't know what kind of foam was used, and how much bouyancy is retained, but it has been done.
55 gallon drums make great pontoons for docks. Each drum has a bouyancy value of about 3200lbs. That could be an option. All you need to do is frame the deck. I would still recommend pre-loading drop anchors to give the bridge stability.
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bridge for Island
OK explain pre loading drop anchors. I was going to tie what ever i do with nylon lines on all four corners, anchored on the island and the dike is this close to what you mean. Bad weather is not a problem, the dike is appox. 12' higher than the island but I can make a landing from cinder blocks and concrete to support the ramp. I like your pond, mine is similar with sea wall and all.
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bridge for Island
Beagle a 55 gallon drums bouyancy is equal to the water it displaces, therefore if it is full submerged it would be about 450 lb. You need 7 barrels to give you 3200 lb.
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bridge for Island
You might want to look for a curved truss from an old airport hanger. You can do a lot with these type trusses available in wood or steel. Good concrete bases and about three or four run and you should be safe for any thing that might be six foot wide.
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bridge for Island
Simply said, you pre-load your anchor ties for about the amount of weight each tie would see. If the load influence to a tie down point would be..say..500lbs, you would pre-tension the tie down to about the same or slightly less. The pre-load keeps the float from moving under load, so you have a stable structure. If you used barrels, you tie down at each barrel. The more tie downs you use, the less pre-load (and smaller anchor)is required at each anchor point.
The exact same philosophy is used for floating off-shore drilling structures. You float the platform out, then anchor to the sea bed and draw it down. The draw down pre-load is based on a lot of factors, including dynamic loading from wave influence. The floating platform is then "stable" enough to set drill points. A bunch of stuff you don't have to worry about in your pond.
Of course pre-loading the tie-downs isn't required if you don't mind the bridge bobbing a little as you drive over it.
We did the wall around our pond a couple years ago. It was more out of necessity that appearance. Needed to stop the erosion from eating up the property.
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bridge for Island
OK the way you are telling me is that the anchors will be under water and not tied off to the Island. Got ya. Du that was the reason for the barrels. It does not take long for the pond to fill in and all of the dike to wash away. Old carpet works great until grass or sea walls come to bear.
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bridge for Island
See if you can find an old commercial truck flat bed trailer that has been put out to pasture. Dig a trench for the axles or remove them and have a crane lift it into place or you might try floating the front half with barrels or some other floatation and push it across to the island with a big tractor or bulldozer. We have one on one of our properties that crosses a creek and it works great.
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bridge for Island
That last idea sounds the most cost effective to me and old trailers ought to be easy to come by
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Gas Generator Weather Protecti
01-20-2006, 20:41 
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