How to make a jon boat dock

[Aaronhl]

I recently purchased some flood plain property with a 15 acre pond and was wondering what ideas you guys have for a dock? The pond is connected to a small river so the water level changes throughout the year based on weather, more rain, higher water level...I was considering a floating dock to tie the jon boat to but the issue I see is how "drastically" the water levels can change...let me know ur thoughts

[David - WI]

Don't they usually make a "raft" section that floats, connected to a hinged "ramp" section that can angle up or down depending on how high the water is?

[Aaronhl]

Actually that is a pretty good drawing and what I was thinking of building myself. I think the entrance or bridge to the dock will be underwater at times, maybe as long as I secure that point it wont float away when water levels get really high

[David - WI]

You could make the ramp longer... have it start out further on shore.

[CDave]

The Louisiana way is to sink a post or a metal pipe up on the bank and tie the boat to it. Done and done.

[Aaronhl]

The Louisiana way is to sink a post or a metal pipe up on the bank and tie the boat to it. Done and done.

I like that ! Plenty of trees along the pond I could tie up around

I plan to race rc boats in the pond and with the tree cover and floating debris along the banks, I need to have something floating a little bit offshore to launch the boats...

[Turtleherder]

You could make the ramp longer... have it start out further on shore.

Put casters under the ramp on the dock so it can move back and forth over the dock as the water goes up and down.

[Turtleherder]

I had a situation like this on a river with lots of water fluctuations. The cheapest thing I figured out was to use on of those bungee cord dock lines. You sink a post out in the water and use an eye to attach the bungee to the post. Attach other end to stern. Put a post in up on the bank and run a regular rope from it to the bow. When you want the boat You pull it in and tie off the bow line to the post. You undo the bungee from the stern and hook it to an eye on the shore post.

[David - WI]

But he's talking about launching & recovering little remote controlled race boats... just needs a "launch platform" away from shore.

[Turtleherder]

But he's talking about launching & recovering little remotes controlled race boats... just needs a "launch platform" away from shore.

oh I didn’t get that. Sure the ideas of the hinged ramp is the way to go.

[Aaronhl]

Great ideas everyone
I was able to use the pond the other day without a dock but for the not so limber it would be easier with a dock. I think it will hinge