Buying Pontoon-Mooring to Shore vs.Floating Dock

[stevetruitt]

I will be purchasing a new Sylvan or Voyager 18-20 ft. pontoon in the next month or so. Live on large reservoir that has pretty significant water level fluctuations during the year. I will likely build small 250 square foot floating platform style dock (Wahoo) with 12 to 20 foot gangway. In lieu of building a dock, is there a good method for mooring pontoon boat to shore in light of water level fluctuations? I know the dock would be a much better option, but wouldn't mind saving some money. Thank you.

 

[sfy]

Re: Buying Pontoon-Mooring to Shore vs.Floating Dock

in the area you would be placing the dock, what is the depth, and how much fluctuation can you expect there? are we talking 5 feet or 15 feet+?
also, what is the lake bed like right there, sandy,muddy,rocky?

 

[stevetruitt]

Re: Buying Pontoon-Mooring to Shore vs.Floating Dock

The Reservoir Easement policy limits my dock a 3 ft. depth or approx. 25 ft. from shore max. Bottom is muddy. Water level fluctuations can be pretty dramatic, especially during dry summer months. 15 ft. or so. Hope that is correct and makes sense. Wondering if there is a good way to securely tie up or moor the boat to shore (trees) realizing that I will have some periods where water will recede to a point where boat is aground and unusable. A floating dock with long gangway makes most sense as water fluctuations won't impact me as much. Just wondering what others do on bodies of water that fluctuate in lieu of constructing a dock. Many thanks.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Buying Pontoon-Mooring to Shore vs.Floating Dock

why not just put a mooring in?
and instead of a hardball which chains attach to. use something like polydine.
make it so you can adjust the rope/polydine so when the water level decreases you can pick up the slack and vice a versa

 

[stevetruitt]

Re: Buying Pontoon-Mooring to Shore vs.Floating Dock

Mooring sounds like a great idea. You can tell I am a novice! Appreciate your help.

S

 

[NYGiants]

Re: Buying Pontoon-Mooring to Shore vs.Floating Dock

anytime. just make sure you take care of the excess slack or add more when the water level increases. i had too little chain and a hard ball mooring, being in a tidal river i never worried, then we had heavy rains the river rose a foot or two and the boat picked the mooring out of the mud and went flying down the channel. almost got run over by a tanker! luckily the marine police found it in time