Dock Building and Jet Setting New Posts

[@cheftomsd]

Must be a whole lot of silt on the bottom. This would not work on the St. Lawrence River where the bottom is basically bed rock with maybe a foot of silt on top of it. We build rock filled cribs.

[@kgrafton4582]

How did you hook the pipe to the hose? That’s a trash pump correct? Thanks Kelly

[@williamduff596]

Thank you so much for the video. I am about to do the same project in a Scottish loch. I have exactly the same set up as you have. The solum of my bay is clay, was this clay or sand you were jetting through? It seems a great way to punch a hole. Thank you in advance for your response. Billy

[@jabman549]

thank for the video

[@bwauditor]

Needed this video. I assume the floor is silt? Do you hammer in the posts further or does the silt create a suction once the jetting is done?

[@dabbleoutdoors6973]

The floor here is mostly sand with some boulders. We do not drive the posts down further than what we can jet. The excess is cut off if need be once the joist are attached.

[@nev5238]

That seems like a long span and definitely not 16" on center between joists. I'm wondering how much those deck boards flex between the joists.

[@dabbleoutdoors6973]

Sorry for the late response, I just discovered I have not been receiving notifications on this video. You are correct the joists are 24". There is no flex as we use 2x6 material for the decking.

[@jo_nathan_nation6544]

It’s a dock not a house buddy. Treated 2x6 can span 11’9’ with 3 joists. And 24” on center is typical for docks and boardwalks. Tell us you’re an aluminum dock guy without telling us you’re an aluminum dock guy….

[@BillHaenel]

Really helpful video. Been looking for some guidance for a while from someone who deals with lots of ice each year as we get 8-10” or more most seasons and can’t leave our dock in. We use steel pipe legs and one season we left just two legs on one dock segment in at the waters edge over the winter, then came back in the spring to find them folded over and the dock in splinters. Needless to say we decided not to do that again. This is the first video I’ve seen that acknowledges that reality. I’m wondering how often you have to replace these 4x4 posts. Do they get damaged often? Why’d they get damaged this time?

[@dabbleoutdoors6973]

The ice pushes every year. The posts do not need to be replaced often but they do need to be adjusted just about every year. We simply just use the jet to loosen and adjust the dock. No disassembly when resetting as usually it just pushes the dock up, so jet and jump on dock to push back down. Also note for most docks we use a minimum 4x6 post which move much less.

[@drewkaree]

Nice job! Looking at a similar project, can you give me some info on what was used for the jet? Is that a 3" pump, or a 2"? It looks like there's a reducer on the hose from the pump, so what is the size of the pipe that you connected to the pump hose? Is that 2"? Lastly, is that a galvanized pipe, or is that PVC? It doesn't look like PVC, but based on the color, I think it could be electrical PVC conduit, which is gray. Thanks for the vid, and any answers or tips you have.

[@dabbleoutdoors6973]

Sorry for the late response, I just discovered I have not been receiving notifications on this video. Hopefully your dock is complete by now! Anyway, the hose is a 2" hose and the pipe is 1" galvanized. We also tried a shorter pipe this year which was a lot easier maneuver. That said we did not need to drive new posts or posts in deeper water, we just needed to make adjustments to current docks due to ice damage.

[@KarenFrederick-ee8fz]

@@dabbleoutdoors6973 Thank you for the video. Looks like that pump made the job much easier. What size water pump and brand is that? Did that hose come with the pump? Thank you again

[@dabbleoutdoors6973]

@@KarenFrederick-ee8fz unfortunately I am unsure of the brand of the pump but I do know the hose did not come with the pump. They were purchased separately 15-20 years ago.

[@williamterry3177]

Harbor Freight has inexpensive dirty water pumps and discharge hoses

[@chippydog2]

Wouldn’t it be better to leave the posts so you can tie off your boat?

[@benjaminwise8614]

how do you line up up the posts (set the strings)?

[@dabbleoutdoors6973]

Sorry for the late response, I just discovered I have not been receiving notifications on this video. Hopefully your dock is complete by now. In this build the post are set by using the frame of the dock for placement. It isn't exact science/measurement as in building a deck above ground. The jetted holes allow for a lot of movement and adjustment as needed. On longer runs or when necessary we will use a string line from end post to end post.