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Dredge floats ideas...

Glennl		Posted : Tuesday, 6 September 2011 8:10:21 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 3/03/2011(UTC) Posts: 6 Location: nelson, NZ Thanks: 2 times Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 1 post(s)		Hi all, does anyone have any ideas for making decent dredge floats? Apart from inner tubes, or paying for new ones, if anyone has built their own and had success with them and doesn't mind sharing their ideas then I would love to hear from them. Have thought about using 100mm pvc pipe with end caps but maybe somebody else has already been down this road. Cheers.

kiwikeith		Posted : Tuesday, 6 September 2011 9:37:07 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		yea pvc has been used before and it can be expensive once you start getting end caps. being round it then presents attachment problems i would sugest getting 2 blowup dolls one for each side great when getting bored and they have a good use on those long winter nights when its cold if you use male ones you would have the advantage of haveing something to tie to

rgmcbrid		Posted : Tuesday, 6 September 2011 10:05:37 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		Quote: i would sugest getting 2 blowup dolls one for each side great when getting bored and they have a good use on those long winter nights when its cold if you use male ones you would have the advantage of haveing something to tie to That is why I read this forum, for the good sound practicle advice.
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overdog		Posted : Tuesday, 6 September 2011 10:13:37 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 2/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 418 Location: nelson Thanks: 69 times Was thanked: 82 time(s) in 68 post(s)		Quick tip-do NOT fill a blow up doll (male or female) with helium and go on a 500 k road trip with said object tied to a piece of string and hanging out the sunroof. Some police ossifers dont seem to have a sense of humour... (",)

gingerbreadman		Posted : Tuesday, 6 September 2011 10:25:36 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		I saw some great floats a wile back......you no at hydro dams they have a big line of floats strung out around the intake,s.....them! only trouble is there orange and bolted together......o and of course you could block an intake with logs and somehow fill the dam to much...possibly cause it to blow....mind you the floats would be free and could be some great dredging after all the water has gone.... how big is the dredge going to be...?

rgmcbrid		Posted : Tuesday, 6 September 2011 10:34:52 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		I bet some of the large boat fenders would make great floats although they are probably expensive.
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keen		Posted : Wednesday, 7 September 2011 8:59:57 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 11 Location: Dunedin Thanks: 3 times Was thanked: 6 time(s) in 2 post(s)		Empty 20L drench containers work really well. If you get the right ones they lock together end on end making a solid float. Have made a few rafts with these and old pellets and even a floating miamia. Most farmers will have plenty lying around and will be happy to get rid of them Edited by user Wednesday, 14 September 2011 10:02:34 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

Lammerlaw		Posted : Wednesday, 7 September 2011 9:25:05 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		My son has just converted his body board into a float!...I shall wait with baited breath to see if it does or doesnt work. I have a set of pontoons which maybe I should offer for sale on trademe...or here...I would hate t know how much they would cost now as each cylinder, one form each side is a four foot by eight foot sheet of Aluminium. The are joined with angle aluminium but bolted rather than welded so that they can be taken apart....any handsome offers?

kiwikeith		Posted : Thursday, 8 September 2011 9:28:13 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		hi lammerlaw give you an idea of price if you note my dredge photo the pontoons are 2.4m long 400mm x 200mm deepribbed on the inside with angle runner on the bottom and stiffened with angle edges all made from aliminium all fully welded price to make round$1000 for the two watching them work priceless

Lammerlaw		Posted : Thursday, 8 September 2011 9:36:31 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Originally Posted by: kiwikeith hi lammerlaw give you an idea of price if you note my dredge photo the pontoons are 2.4m long 400mm x 200mm deepribbed on the inside with angle runner on the bottom and stiffened with angle edges all made from aliminium all fully welded price to make round$1000 for the two watching them work priceless ] Struth maybe I ought to put them up for sale - I got the sheets of aluminium given to me a quarter century ago or more and it cost me $450 for the welding as far as it was carried but that did include box sections top, bottom and sides to reinforce and a cone on the leading edge and each pontoon is round...I think I would prefer square in retrospect. For scrap metal they are probably worth a dollar or two...now you really have me pondering.