Built a barge lately

[PILOON]

I want to see ya make it self propelled by hooking up a propeller to the PTO shaft. :confused2:

LOL!

Can just see that, couple of U-joints, pillow bearing and splash splash as the prop rotates.

Better yet, bush hog gear box, couple of pillow bearings bolted to the deck and paddle wheel!
Toot toot while sitting on a lawn chair sipping an orange julip!

Next option;
Extend rear axles and attach side paddles so that U can use differential brakeing to steer your tractor barge!

Don't forget the GPS and autopilot to compensate for currents and wind.

 

[Leejohn]

I'll tell you a good way. Trade the tractor in and have them to to deliver the new one. Your well make alot of points with the dealer!!!!!!!!!

 

[beppington]

What lake are we talking about? Just curious, would like to see what the situation looks like on Google Earth.

To me, the main thing is to make the barge as wide & long as possible, even if it isn't the most buoyant thing on the water, so the top-heavy-ness of the tractor on it is offset.

In fact, less buoyancy would probably be even better, in order to lower the center of gravity. i.e. Make it so the deck & tractor wheels are slightly under the water's surface.

I like the modular idea so you can separate it into its smaller pieces whenever you don't need it, if you want to.

Here's an idea:

 

[Oldmax]

I built one back in the 60's for a boat dock to use as a crane barge. Had "A" frame and winch on it . They are still using it. Was 10'X40' and 4' high. took me 3 months to build. All steel with 1/4" plate.

 

[mx5guy]

The lake I am on is Palmerston, closest town is Ompah Ontario, I now have my material so construction start probably tomorrow. Barge will be 12 feet by 24 feet, 2x8 construction plywood top.

 

[77bronco]

Where's there a will, there's a way....to get across a body of water.


Cubans found at sea on pickup truck converted to motor raft - Cuba Culture News - Havana Journal

 

[nwngunner]

what i would do, is once you get your barge built. On your shore line build a ramp or at least set posts in the ground with hydraulic cement. Put these posts so that they are just under the decking of your barge. So when you go to pull on or off, the weight is transferred to the ground and the pressure isnt all the floats. I would be worried about it turning over as you were coming off and on of the barge. I understand you might have some problems with water level. I know i wouldnt want to try it with out something soild to keep it from tipping over no matter how long it is.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Did you explore the military surplus way? Maybe you need something like the second picture - mounted to your tractor:thumbsup:

The other picture is a military float used for bridges. They park them across the river side by side and lay the temporary road on top of it. Used ones you can find as a ferry boat on many rivers.

 

[mx5guy]

Hey Prokop

No such luck the milatary surplus places we have, are small shops with used amo boxes, boots and loads of junk or treasure depending on who is shopping.

Any idea How large those floats are or what they would have cost?

Thanks Larry

 

[czechsonofagun]

That's the thing I know them only from overseas, but google is my friend

Pontoons and floating docks Check out #5357

 

[RoyBrooks]

Check out this website seems to have a lot of info and ideas for a heavy duty easy build.

RollingBarge.com - Party and Utility Barges

 

[MikeD74T]

Check out the King of the Obsolete's website.Welcome to the King of Obsolete's Website The King has built barges from salvaged oil/propane tanks. MikeD74T

 

[bullbreaker]

Can't tell you much about building a barge.Heres some pics of my buddys"cattle barge".In these pics,where loading a Hummer and Mazda PU. truck on there to hunt on the other side of lake.On occasion we would ask ourselves what we would do if barge flipped/sunk with equipment onboard.
Boone

Please excuse poor quality of pics.I took pics of pics with my Cannon A495.A little $120 camera which I highley recommend.

 

[tboomz]

I will be constructing a barge, so I can move my Kioti CK27 back and forth from Cottage lot when I want rather than wait for the lake to ice over.

Has anyone built one yet? Tractor weights 5000Lbs, how overbuilt should it be, 10,000 Lbs?

A bit late for this perhaps.......but I would suggest you look into building your barge hull from ferro-cement. Basically it's portland cement, sand and wire mesh/expanded metal. Chicken wire works as well.

You build your design with the wire /metal. Reinforce it however you wish. And then trowel the cement mortar into it. The nice thing about it, is no welding. It's fireproof - even with the styrofoam inside. And from what I've read - it doesn't need to be water sealed, but it probably wouldn't hurt it if you did.



And following up on the styrofoam idea...yacht and houseboat hulls have been made with blocks of styrofoam encased in ferro-cement.

The military built WARSHIPS out of ferro-cement in WW1. And my dad said he'd worked [army] aboard a barge made of it [ used by the motor pool],...jeeps, trucks, whatever. Plenty of weight on it. They kept it moored to the dock. Dad said it was fairly stable - didn't rock much.

I believe you'll still need a sacrificial anode.

somewhere on internet I came article about how 3rd world countries like using the stuff because cheaper than full metal hull. Plus it doesn't take any skill to build a really big floating concrete shoebox.

A lot of colleges have annual competitions for student built ferro-cement. canoes.

 

[RobertBrown]

I think for what you will have in building this, you could just buy another tractor.

Good point!

 

[RobertBrown]

The lake I am on is Palmerston, closest town is Ompah Ontario, I now have my material so construction start probably tomorrow. Barge will be 12 feet by 24 feet, 2x8 construction plywood top.

Have considered stanchions from below deck to rest on the bottom, on the loading end only, to stabilize while loading? You would have to turn the barge around to unload.

 

[ElDorado]

I just spoke with a contractor the other day who is building a barge. It is going to be 10x32. One of the things he does is spray foam insulation for homes he builds or others build. His plan is to build a wooden structure and then fill the cavity with spray foam. I will be interested to see how it works out and yes if/when I see it I will post some pictures.

 

[mx5guy]

Should have taken more pictures but batteries died, it barely sits in the water more like on top, about a inch into the water, top & floats weights 1800 to 2000 Lbs. leaving 10000 lbs. to carry loads, is as stable as a rock, will test in spring, 12' wide 24' long, drove it up on pontoon trailer, handled very well, lots of concentration to keep it on my side of the road, had to get a special permit. It will get a good workout in the spring.:thumbsup: