Oops, I guess I came along a bit late. Is it better late than never or never than late? I too, was figuring out that I would like a small 3PH mounted PTO driven Sicklebar mower. I too have ponds that are a pain to mow around with a 6ft brush hog. Can't get close enough to do the deed without getting into the soft and risking erosion starting ruts. Even when I can get close it is by backing up toward the water, pulling forward at an angle and backing again to get another bite. This is way slow and on a dam real tedious and dangerous, not a good combination.
I could mow closer to obstacles and under places with clearance problems. Given the prices discussed for a new unit like a New Holland 451, I know I am definitely looking for a used unit and smaller would be OK also.
I thought of the lawnmower on a boom idea as well and it might work pretty well, given that I have hydraulic TnT to help position it. I would rather buy a small sicklebar than have to devote too much time to tinkering and prototyping just now. Time is at too great a premium for a while.
Any leads or suggestions would be appreciated. Maybe I have been looking for sicklebars in all the wrong places but the used equip sites I have searched produced nothing...nada, zip, zilch, not a darned single used one.
Patrick