How to unload tractor from a pontoon

[acs55812]

Yes thats right, if I want to get a project done this fall at the cabin the only way to get there is via pontoon, now loading on the land side is easy---however I have a problem in unloading on the other side of the lake. I could wait and take it out there after freezeup---however I am not really that keen on working outside in the winter.

I have a rocky shoreline (3-10 inch rocks) with the exception of one small sandy area about 10 feet wide.

If possible I would like to keep the pontoon back far enough as not to bottom out on the rocks and in a perfect world I would take a bush hog, FEL, wood chipper and 4100 John Deere (this would require two trips I am sure---but gotta figure out a ramp for the opposite side.

Thoughts?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am a boat guy and you have me stumped on this one. I am guessing the only real choice is to build a dock by setting up some pilings in the lake bed then drive the pontoon up to the dock and leave the motor in gear at a low idle to hold it in place.

The first question is can the boat handle the weight and is it stable enough to handle this top heavy load? I have seen more than one pontoon rolled over.

Chris

 

[acs55812]

Hex pontoons 25 inches high, and about 22 wide (Pontoon is totally open like a cargo ship!) ---should handle the weight fine, and centering load is easy enough, its just that jump from pontoon to land that bothers me---did I mention I can't swim?

 

[groundcover]

Can't swim,how are you at bridge building ?!

 

[keving]

Sounds like a challenge. Do you have some pics?

I'm thinking about those portable bridges and seeing some industrial planks???

 

[plowking]

Is the camp on an island or opposite shore of lake? The 4100 looks to be subcompact size. Does it have a backhoe? I have seen excavators that will float and have pontoons in place of the tracks. They work in the lake and shoreline while floating. You said you have a ten foot beach to land on. Is the beach rocky? Will you have ballast to hold barge level while loading and unloading. Maybe make a pair of landing ramps with float drums underneath. A large barge could have a crane or tow truck to lift tractor off and on. We have a large lake in NH,with a colony of houses on an island. They have a barge to bring suppiles and delivery trucks or service trucks over. It isn't cheap to have this service. plowking

 

[acs55812]

The 10 foot beach is sandy, the rest of the 200 feet is rocky.

and add to the possibilities that in my stash of goods is 600 feet of 1 inch nylon rope---I'm beginning to envision a "suspension" type bridge from deck of pontoon to shore made of nylon rope---planks or boards across three strands of rope 50ish feet long anchored to tree/trees on shore and secured to deck of pontoon--problem is to hold the pontoon out in the water when weight is on bridge.----all this is thinking/rambling out loud

 

[Todd_C]

You gotta post some pictures. I'm stumped on this one. Could you make a portable bridge out of wood and metal tubing like the top deck to utility trailers to place on the shore and on the boat?

 

[acs55812]

Is the camp on an island or opposite shore of lake? The 4100 looks to be subcompact size. Does it have a backhoe? I have seen excavators that will float and have pontoons in place of the tracks. They work in the lake and shoreline while floating. You said you have a ten foot beach to land on. Is the beach rocky? Will you have ballast to hold barge level while loading and unloading. Maybe make a pair of landing ramps with float drums underneath. A large barge could have a crane or tow truck to lift tractor off and on. We have a large lake in NH,with a colony of houses on an island. They have a barge to bring suppiles and delivery trucks or service trucks over. It isn't cheap to have this service. plowking

Is the camp on an island or opposite shore of lake?---OPPOSITE SHORE OF LAKE WITH NO ROAD ACCESS

Does it have a backhoe? I have seen excavators that will float and have pontoons in place of the tracks. NO BACKHOE, AND TRACTOR WEIGHS ABOUT 1500 POUNDS ITSELF

Compared to what you describe---scale the project back to a 8 X 16 foot pontoon deck and small tractor---remote cabin in the woods with no road access.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I haven't read anything yet (except the commercial barge comment) that isn't going to end in disaster.

Your one and only option as I see it is to beach the boat on the sand beach and drive the tractor down a ramp. Floating and ballasting a working pier is not a job for amateurs.

I'm pretty sure that you have a problem with your boat, too. Having sufficient flotation to float a tractor does not mean that you aren't going to capsize. Flotation and ballast (center of gravity) have to be carefully considered. Wait for the ice or get the advice of a pro.