Ideas for a floating mini-barge for the pond.

[Stephen Henning]

I have a 15' x 45' pond and need to transport my marginal plants to the
shallow end to set on the bottom for the winter. I go into the pond
with waders and would like to load the plants onto a mini-barge and
float to the shallow end. What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'
x 4' would be an ideal size. Looking at boat docks, it appears that a
2' x 4' sheet with edges and foam floatation underneath under the edges
would be ideal. Does anyone have any ideas on materials would be useful
and still lightweight for such a project?
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

[Reel Mckoi]

"Stephen Henning" > wrote in message
...
>I have a 15' x 45' pond and need to transport my marginal plants to the
> shallow end to set on the bottom for the winter. I go into the pond
> with waders and would like to load the plants onto a mini-barge and
> float to the shallow end. What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'
> x 4' would be an ideal size. Looking at boat docks, it appears that a
> 2' x 4' sheet with edges and foam floatation underneath under the edges
> would be ideal. Does anyone have any ideas on materials would be useful
> and still lightweight for such a project?
> --
> Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
> 18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
> Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
====================================
First I'm in zone 6 and don't move my pond plants. They stay where they are
year round and we can get some real cold weather here in middle TN. The
water is only a few inches over the pot tops. There is no need to put them
on the bottom unless you have the pot tops above the waterline and get deep
freezes where you are. Tropicals are composted or brought in for the
winter. Many of my pond plants spend the winter in above ground 40 gallon
propagation tubs.

You can also buy those styrofoam sheets at a hobby shop or at Wal*Mart and
glue them to the bottom of those large low plastic tubs they also sell. The
sheets come in different sizes and thickness. Quick, easy and it should
work.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Snooze]

"Stephen Henning" > wrote in message
...
>I have a 15' x 45' pond and need to transport my marginal plants to the
> shallow end to set on the bottom for the winter. I go into the pond
> with waders and would like to load the plants onto a mini-barge and
> float to the shallow end. What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'
> x 4' would be an ideal size. Looking at boat docks, it appears that a
> 2' x 4' sheet with edges and foam floatation underneath under the edges
> would be ideal. Does anyone have any ideas on materials would be useful
> and still lightweight for such a project?

Probably a pontoon boat design would be the most stable design, as you
described. Perhaps lay a sheet of plywood across 2 boogie boards.

-S

[[email protected]]

My friend Marilyn (wholesale water plants) uses that thick white styrofoam to float
the heavy water lilies out from the middle of her greenhouses. Ingrid

Stephen Henning > wrote:

>I have a 15' x 45' pond and need to transport my marginal plants to the
>shallow end to set on the bottom for the winter. I go into the pond
>with waders and would like to load the plants onto a mini-barge and
>float to the shallow end. What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'
>x 4' would be an ideal size. Looking at boat docks, it appears that a
>2' x 4' sheet with edges and foam floatation underneath under the edges
>would be ideal. Does anyone have any ideas on materials would be useful
>and still lightweight for such a project?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List at
http://weloveteaching.com/puregold/
sign up: http://list.lovemyoldhome.com/web/wa.cgi?REPORT&z=3
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for
any of the recommendations I make.
AND I DID NOT AUTHORIZE ADS AT THE OLD PUREGOLD SITE

[sean mckinney]

Re a floating platform/work-bench.
A kiddies inflatable dinghy, stiffen the floor with a sheet of plywood
or lay the sheet on top of the dinghy with NO overhang


--
sean mckinney

[~Roy]

I just use one of those plastic kiddie pools in the pond as a sort of
waterbarrow.......I have a line tied to it, which I tie to my belt
loop, and use it to put any leaves etc I cut from lilys etc in it,
flat it all over to the shoreline when full and slide it out... YOu
would be surprised how much those kiddy pools will hold up while
floating.


On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 03:33:18 GMT, wrote:

>===<>My friend Marilyn (wholesale water plants) uses that thick white styrofoam to float
>===<>the heavy water lilies out from the middle of her greenhouses. Ingrid
>===<>
>===<>Stephen Henning > wrote:
>===<>
>===<>>I have a 15' x 45' pond and need to transport my marginal plants to the
>===<>>shallow end to set on the bottom for the winter. I go into the pond
>===<>>with waders and would like to load the plants onto a mini-barge and
>===<>>float to the shallow end. What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'
>===<>>x 4' would be an ideal size. Looking at boat docks, it appears that a
>===<>>2' x 4' sheet with edges and foam floatation underneath under the edges
>===<>>would be ideal. Does anyone have any ideas on materials would be useful
>===<>>and still lightweight for such a project?
>===<>
>===<>
>===<>
>===<>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>===<>List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List at
>===<>http://weloveteaching.com/puregold/
>===<>sign up: http://list.lovemyoldhome.com/web/wa.cgi?REPORT&z=3
>===<>www.drsolo.com
>===<>Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
>===<>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>===<>I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
>===<>compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for
>===<>any of the recommendations I make.
>===<>AND I DID NOT AUTHORIZE ADS AT THE OLD PUREGOLD SITE


==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!
"The original frugal ponder"
~~~~ }<((((o> ~~~~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~~~~~ }<(((((o>

[Stephen Henning]

>> What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'x 4' would be an ideal
>> size.

"Reel Mckoi" > wrote:

> First I'm in zone 6 and don't move my pond plants. They stay where they are
> year round and we can get some real cold weather here in middle TN. The
> water is only a few inches over the pot tops. There is no need to put them
> on the bottom unless you have the pot tops above the waterline and get deep
> freezes where you are. Tropicals are composted or brought in for the
> winter. Many of my pond plants spend the winter in above ground 40 gallon
> propagation tubs.

My marginals are on submerged benches and are in clay pots that stick
out of the water. I need to submerge the pots to keep them from
cracking. My lilies and lotus are in submerged pots that don't need to
be moved except for maintenance.

> You can also buy those styrofoam sheets at a hobby shop or at Wal*Mart and
> glue them to the bottom of those large low plastic tubs they also sell. The
> sheets come in different sizes and thickness. Quick, easy and it should
> work.

Thanks for the ideas. I am familiar with the insulation foam, but don't
know what plastic tubs you mean. Which department are they in? What
are they called?
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

[Stephen Henning]

>> What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'x 4' would be an ideal
>> size.

"Snooze" > wrote:

> Probably a pontoon boat design would be the most stable design, as you
> described. Perhaps lay a sheet of plywood across 2 boogie boards.

I thought about that and was looking for something lighter that I can
easily take out of the water. I have pieces of 2' x 4' plywood and can
use it if I put an edge on it so pots don't slide off, but I would like
something lighter.
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

[Snooze]

"Stephen Henning" > wrote in message
...
>
> Thanks for the ideas. I am familiar with the insulation foam, but don't
> know what plastic tubs you mean. Which department are they in? What
> are they called?

Probably the Rubbermaid storage tubs, they come in all sizes/shapes,
probably you want one of the ones that are designed to store junk under a
bed. Sold in the housewares section.

-S

[Phyllis and Jim Hurley]

The kiddie pool sounds very good. We have used them. Something with a
BELOW water center of gravity would serve you better than an above-water
surface, especially a a 2 x 4 size. A heavy plany would easily tip a
2 x 4 sheet. The pool is robust and stable and cheap.

Good luck.

Let us know what happens.

Jim

Stephen Henning wrote:
> I have a 15' x 45' pond and need to transport my marginal plants to the
> shallow end to set on the bottom for the winter. I go into the pond
> with waders and would like to load the plants onto a mini-barge and
> float to the shallow end. What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'
> x 4' would be an ideal size. Looking at boat docks, it appears that a
> 2' x 4' sheet with edges and foam floatation underneath under the edges
> would be ideal. Does anyone have any ideas on materials would be useful
> and still lightweight for such a project?

[Reel Mckoi]

"Stephen Henning" > wrote in message
...
>>> What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'x 4' would be an ideal
>>> size.
>
> "Reel Mckoi" > wrote:
>
>> First I'm in zone 6 and don't move my pond plants. They stay where they
>> are
>> year round and we can get some real cold weather here in middle TN. The
>> water is only a few inches over the pot tops. There is no need to put
>> them
>> on the bottom unless you have the pot tops above the waterline and get
>> deep
>> freezes where you are. Tropicals are composted or brought in for the
>> winter. Many of my pond plants spend the winter in above ground 40
>> gallon
>> propagation tubs.
>
> My marginals are on submerged benches and are in clay pots that stick
> out of the water. I need to submerge the pots to keep them from
> cracking. My lilies and lotus are in submerged pots that don't need to
> be moved except for maintenance.

## Oh I see. I use regular black plastic pots or those pond plant pots. I
keep their rims just under the surface to they don't show when looking at
the pond.

>> You can also buy those styrofoam sheets at a hobby shop or at Wal*Mart
>> and
>> glue them to the bottom of those large low plastic tubs they also sell.
>> The
>> sheets come in different sizes and thickness. Quick, easy and it should
>> work.

> Thanks for the ideas. I am familiar with the insulation foam, but don't
> know what plastic tubs you mean. Which department are they in? What
> are they called?

## They're in the plastics dept. with/near houseware items. Some people
call them blanket or sweater containers or tubs. They come in all sizes and
heights. They're very handy for a ponder.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm

[Reel Mckoi]

"Stephen Henning" > wrote in message
...
>>> What would make a good stable mini-barge. 2'x 4' would be an ideal
>>> size.
>
> "Snooze" > wrote:
>
>> Probably a pontoon boat design would be the most stable design, as you
>> described. Perhaps lay a sheet of plywood across 2 boogie boards.
>
> I thought about that and was looking for something lighter that I can
> easily take out of the water. I have pieces of 2' x 4' plywood and can
> use it if I put an edge on it so pots don't slide off, but I would like
> something lighter.
============================
Then go with the Styrofoam and plastic tubs. The weight is minimal and
they'll be easy to handle. The Styrofoam also comes in all shapes and
sizes. Michael's Craft Stores carry the biggest selection but Wal*Mart
should have what you need or want.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Stephen Henning]

Phyllis and Jim Hurley > wrote:

> Let us know what happens.

Thanks everyone for their input.

I elected not to use an inflatable product since I didn't want to risk
deflation at an awkward time. However, for anyone that already has one
of these kiddy pools, it sounds like a perfect solution.

I elected to use the Rubbermaid tub and placed 2-1" foam inserts in it
to make it unsinkable. The tub is the Rubbermaid 16.8 gallon, 43" x
19.5" x 6.7" Underbed Box which sells for about $13 at most stores. The
foam I got is blue insulating foam that sells for $7 at Lowes. It will
float with a concrete block in it even if it is full of water. It
doesn't tip unless you place the concrete block in one corner. A wider
tub would be more stable, but this works fine.
--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
18,000 gallon (17'x 47'x 2-4') lily pond garden in Zone 6
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA

[Reel Mckoi]

"Stephen Henning" > wrote in message
...
> Phyllis and Jim Hurley > wrote:
>
>> Let us know what happens.
>
> Thanks everyone for their input.
>
> I elected not to use an inflatable product since I didn't want to risk
> deflation at an awkward time. However, for anyone that already has one
> of these kiddy pools, it sounds like a perfect solution.
>
> I elected to use the Rubbermaid tub and placed 2-1" foam inserts in it
> to make it unsinkable. The tub is the Rubbermaid 16.8 gallon, 43" x
> 19.5" x 6.7" Underbed Box which sells for about $13 at most stores. The
> foam I got is blue insulating foam that sells for $7 at Lowes. It will
> float with a concrete block in it even if it is full of water. It
> doesn't tip unless you place the concrete block in one corner. A wider
> tub would be more stable, but this works fine.
=====================================
You'll find all kinds of handy things for ponders in the plastics dept. of
these large chain stores. Watch for sales. I even found handy ponder
things at Dollar General such as large clear glass cookie jars to keep fish
food fresh for $1 each. Cheap dishpans are excellent to grow water lilies
in etc.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>
http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/anti_troll_faq.htm
Make sure of which Reel McKoi you're replying to - the TROLL from
alt.religion.jehovahs-witn is using other people's names to bypass
killfiles. There are now TWO Reel McKoi's posting here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~