What's the best way to connect a wooden walkway ramp to the ground so it can flex with changing river levels.??  I'm building steps and walkway over a steep slope to connect to a Ramp that leads to the docks, I'm wondering how to connect it? I need it to disconnect somewhat easy, Need to take it out during winter ice, Also needs to be pretty heavy duty cause the ramp will be 15 feet long and 4 feet wide so it's pretty heavy. I'm thinking some steel pipe concreted into the ground with some kind of pin set up?? Any idea's? Pic's?  Thanks... Roy

how much does your river level fluctuate?

With normal heavy Thunder storms it will rise 3 to 5 feet a couple times a summer, It has got to storm for day's for it to rise higher and I would winch the docks/ramp up on higher ground before it rose over 6 to 7 feet. I have huge truck size boulders to connect the docks to it's just the ground/ramp connection I'm not sure about.... Roy.

From it's lowest point it will rise 3 to 5 feet a couple times a summer, Every couple years we get hit by after affects of Gulf Coast Hurricanes where it will flood but we know when that's coming by watching the weather channel/forecast and I'll pull it all up into my driveway.

I'm going out about 75 feet from the shore line with ramp and docks and walk way, I have two 20 foot long x 4 feet wide docks with connecting ramps/walkways that will lead to a 8 x 16 pontoon dock. I need to get out that far so at summers lowest there will be no problem with hitting bottom.

This pic shows how far out I'm planning to be, Past the part of the rope I'm holding, you can see knots in the rope at every 20 feet..   Roy

I like the idea of rollers connecting the ramp to the docks, I will incorporate that into my plans.

I want to connect the ramp to the ground about 1/2 down the stairs in my first pic, I was going to connect them to the stairs but I don't want to ruin the stairs by a constantly twisting/pulling/rocking dock.

I can't use the poles pile driven into the ground like that, It's illegal here because that is considered a permanent structure in a public water way, The first time a law dog boated by I would get a notice to stop construction and remove or be fined. Sucks cause I would love to build it with them, I'm lucky I have those boulders to cable/rope tie to.   RR

ok, so no pylons in the water but how about exposed shore? can you use anchors at the end of the dock?

you might have to shorten the length, without pylons in the water and strong current it might shear off from shore. idk
 good luck
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Yeah I think I can get away with some low impact structure on the shore line, I'm thinking some kind of steel pipe around 4 inch beat into the ground surrounded by concrete and stone re bared amongst the existing boulders with a notch and hole for pins but the pin/joint is what I'm not sure about, was hoping someone had some pics or better idea's.

The docks and walkway ramps are going to be tied to the rocks with a lighter rope so in case a tree or other boat in a smaller flood hit it it will break, I plan on having a steel cable running from shore down the center of ramps walk way to end of dock so if the rope breaks the steel cable will tighten and pull the whole set up onto shore/hillside below where i can pull it all up the side to my parking lot.

I had a boat launch cut in 2 years ago just up river at the end of my property but it's not a good site for docks and a longer walk to the cottage, that's why I'm putting it in such a screwy site on the bottom of that small cliff but when I'm done it will add to the appeal I think.

While that river is low, I would take an excavator down that road and have it dredge a basin close to the shore that could accommodate a boat ramp and a dock.

I used a excavator and a multi-terrain skid-loader to make that road, Notice how I stopped at the vegetation line/river rock/river bed edge. If I went any further that would of been considered disturbing the river bed with heavy machinery without the proper permits would of cost me more in fines then the properties value and to get the permits and the studies and engineering fee's for such permits would cost even more.

Couple miles up river they replaced a bridge pillar, Found a endangered freshwater clam colony living on and near the old pillar and where they wanted to put the new pillar, Cost 100's of thousands of dollars to do the studies on how/where to transplant these clams a 1/2 mile up river and remake there colony with all the proper people and there proper education, Last week I saw where the otters where pigging out on the very same clams, But the otter restoration program cost more then the clam restoration project and the otters eat the clams on my rocks I'm pretty sure I don't wanna apply for that permit.

Oh BTW, The dredge basin would fill up with gravel, sand and silt the very next winter thaw/flood so all that would be a waste of time and money anyway.   RR

just looking out for you

6th pic down on left column
http://www.muskokaleisuredocks.com/dock-hardware/hardware.html



more pics in the gallery
http://www.muskokaleisuredocks.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=2

hope this helps  
like i said wish i had this problem  

Thank you very much for posting this site, I'm stealing some idea's and I'll be buying the parts I can't build myself from there, Very Helpful, Thanks again...  Roy

I worked on the dock and my Baja but never finished either yet  . But since I just bought another jet boat thats ready to go I will finish the dock this spring for sure and I'm hoping to also finish the Baja this winter. 

Hey Roy, where ya been Haven't seen ya in these parts for quite a while. How you doing

Doing great!  Ya the Steelers seem to be hanging in there