Tips on building a swim raft?

[Huron Angler]

I've been plotting and scheming to build a swim raft to keep anchored up north on Lake Huron for swimming and diving for years...and I think I'm ready to take action.

I've located some required pieces cheap and I'm curious what methods folks have used to build the structure. It will probably need to be 8'x8' at least to support the weight properly.

I'm thinking about using plastic or steel drums for flotation but I'm open to all ideas

These are the pieces, a ladder and a small diving board. Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Tips on building a swim raft?

I see them around here all the time with the plastic drums. No rust worries there. Some folks build a frame and attach the drums to those. Then plank the top. If you used that board material they sale at Lowes that is composite, it would outlive you.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Tips on building a swim raft?

http://www.ehow.com/how_2156477_build-swim-raft.html

I did find this link that has some info. Not sure I want to use styrofoam though.

Thanks for the info cwhite

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Tips on building a swim raft?

One tip. our neighbors have a diving board on their floating dock. Its useless!
Trying to jump on something that moves doesn't work too well.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Tips on building a swim raft?

One tip. our neighbors have a diving board on their floating dock. Its useless!
Trying to jump on something that moves doesn't work too well.

LOL I hear ya...I was thinking that using two really heavy objects to anchor(concrete with bent rods insterted to tie to) so that there would be some resistance when diving.

Otherwise it would at least get the diver farther out from the raft itself, making it at least a bit more safe. Maybe it would work for my nephews at least.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Tips on building a swim raft?

Yeah, their floating dock has two 6 inch piles holding it in place on one side and its kind of like a kid bouncing on a waterbed, it will get you further from the dock though. Here is their setup

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Tips on building a swim raft?

Our old raft was basically built like a deck, with joists spaced far apart enough in the 4 corners for a poly drum to fit in under each corner.
Then some galvanized chains to strap the drum to the underside of the raft. We just ran lag bolts through the links in the chain into the bottom of the joists. Two of these chain straps per drum.
The decking was non- removable and the thing ended up weighing quite a bit. Man , it took a good sized come-along to drag it out in the fall. In spring we would use the boat as a tow vehicle to assist in dragging the raft off the shore and into the water, with 3 guys pushing as well!

I like the idea in the above post with the poles going down into the lakebed on the diving board side! That would help a lot I bet.