This has been in the works for some time and now we are under contract. Its a 3.5 acre island in Northern Ontario, an ideal summer home for my Cessna 185 on straight floats. The current owner always planned on having a plane there, and built a dock that is almost good enough. I am trying to figure out if I can modify the existing or if its a do over. What do I need to know about dock design for a 185?

Here's a screenshot of the island from the air:


You can see the existing small dock in the bay south of the boathouse. It seems to be the best spot to keep the plane.

Here's a view of the island from the water.


Here's a view of the existing dock. I wish I had measured it, it seems too short for the airplane currently. Otherwise its in a great spot on the island, sheltered bay just south of the boat house. You can get in from the north or the south.



One more dock picture.



What is the ideal dock shape? What are comfortable dimensions for a 185?

Thanks for all your advice, we will start modifying/building next spring.

Cheers,

Brad

You have a great looking site, very nice. Shelter is the biggest consideration, which you seem to have already. The tree line needs to be far enough away that there's no risk in the event of a windfall. As for design I'm a big proponent of a lift or at least a ramp, something that gets the floats out of the water.

One caution; due diligence, current structures on the shoreline are "grandfathered" and can usually be renovated/remodeled. However a new build will be facing a slew of regulations from our provincial authorities, locally referred as the Department of Frogs & Logs. I would suggest working with what you have already "in place" to avoid the multiple levels of bureaucracy your likely to be facing otherwise.

Brad, I personally like the dock configuration that you already have, if it is wide enough for your plane and deep enough water, you have a great base to work from. Once you get the plane in between those two docks it is not going anywhere, plus it allows getting in and out of the plane from either side. Like you said, it is hard to tell from the picture how long the existing dock is, if it needs to be a little longer you could add a floating dock to each of the two existing docks, or put in a rock crib and just extend some more dock out. You will probably want to attach some sort of bumpers to the docks to protect your floats.

I have included a couple of pictures of my docking setup at home, it is similar to what you have, but uses floating docks instead of stationary ones. The one picture is of two friends with a 185 on Aerocet amphibs parked at my docks, the other is of my 185 on straight Aerocets. I will get back with you on the dimensions. Check your PM's, I will send a message.

What you have looks pretty good. That said, I can’t tell if there’s a hinged ramp mounted between the docks for the plane to slide up on. If not, I would absolutely add one. Weight the outboard end (attach weight under the outboard end) so it sinks a bit. Then, when you arrive, you can drive the plane in either with idle power or just some remaining inertia and “stick” the floats on the ramp.

With that kind of setup, when you’re ready to leave, slide the plane off the ramp aft, with line attached of course, spin it around and heel the floats up on the ramp. Now, load the plane, untie, climb aboard and fire up. Power off. So, no dancing with the plane coming or going.

My kinda dock. As to length of the two piers, adjust based on the above description…..can you load/unload with the plane on the ramp, toed up and heeled up?

If not, extend the piers to make that functional.

And now, I am officially jealous!

MTV

Good show!!! where in Northern Ontario? judging by the the trees it looks like georgian bay/lake huron.

Ian

mtv wrote:What you have looks pretty good. That said, I can’t tell if there’s a hinged ramp mounted between the docks for the plane to slide up on. If not, I would absolutely add one. Weight the outboard end (attach weight under the outboard end) so it sinks a bit. Then, when you arrive, you can drive the plane in either with idle power or just some remaining inertia and “stick” the floats on the ramp.

With that kind of setup, when you’re ready to leave, slide the plane off the ramp aft, with line attached of course, spin it around and heel the floats up on the ramp. Now, load the plane, untie, climb aboard and fire up. Power off. So, no dancing with the plane coming or going.

My kinda dock. As to length of the two piers, adjust based on the above description…..can you load/unload with the plane on the ramp, toed up and heeled up?

If not, extend the piers to make that functional.

And now, I am officially jealous!

MTV

I should have added that the front of the ramp that's in the water should be hinged to the dock, so the ramp can pivot up and down outboard, but fixed inboard.

MTV

Steelroamer wrote:Good show!!! where in Northern Ontario? judging by the the trees it looks like georgian bay/lake huron.

Ian

Looks a lot like northeastern Ontario to me as well; east of CYAM, some where above the CYSB/CYYB line and a new "friend" to drop in on in 2022.

Mapleflt wrote:

Steelroamer wrote:Good show!!! where in Northern Ontario? judging by the the trees it looks like georgian bay/lake huron.

Ian

Looks a lot like northeastern Ontario to me as well; east of CYAM, some where above the CYSB/CYYB line and a new "friend" to drop in on in 2022.

Temagami!

I'd love some visitors.

I nailed it; geo-spotting 101, the Temagami Complex of lakes is directly above a line from CYSB to CYYB about halfway between the two airports.



The "fleet" out for a Lady Evelyn weekend, join in anytime. I personally do about 6 camping weekends per summer in the Temagami Complex.

Let me know when you want to start the building; we can put together a work party, bring plenty of adult refreshments and you had better start planning to make that dock a lot bigger.

Very nice.

I just made a simple 20 foot floating L shaped dock for mine. Worked well for me all summer

Ross4289 wrote:I just made a simple 20 foot floating L shaped dock for mine. Worked well for me all summer

IMG_3998.jpg

IMG_4006.jpg

Yeah, but in a big wind.....

It's good practice, in any case.

MTV

Theres a steep 35 foot hill on my shoreline, maybe it prevents a significant crosswind. Either that or I have just been lucky.

Looks good.

Only thing

I’d make the center a ramp, or even a lift

Use the outer sides for short term mooring

I’d also add mounted bumpers all the way around, ether tires or if you want something pretty they make lots of screw on fenders for docks

Also might want to make sure the top doesn’t let too slick, I’ve had to pull off some ninja moves hopping off a float only to eat shit on wet wooden docks lol

NineThreeKilo wrote:..... Also might want to make sure the top doesn’t let too slick, I’ve had to pull off some ninja moves hopping off a float only to eat shit on wet wooden docks lol

I think that's where the term "float plane lip" came from.

One alternative to running fenders or tires all the way around is to nail vinyl-d-rubber on 4 2x4s and sink them vertically into the bottom, nailed at the deck-level on your dock. The float chine will rest on the vinyl below the water level, preventing the float skin from hitting the tire or dock edge.https://backcountrypilot.org/me/my-phot ... toid=61293

Awesome spot & if you haven't figured out the dock size I bet you could count the boards & then multiply by 5.5 to get a pretty good idea of the length in inches as the boards look like 2x6's. You are living the dream

Thread resurection- with a pic of what we built. Still looking for advice-

Hi All-

So we had a great season up north. The dock configuration of course changed from the last plan. We decided we wanted the plane near the boathouse. Its were the gas is, tools, electric etc. We had an L shaped dock built to shelter the float plane. The system I eneded up using for securing the plane is a combo of static lines and bungees. You can see in the photo the plan is secure but able to rotate 10 degrees or so in big weather which I think keeps the strain on the dock slightly less?

We are planning to add 2 more dock sections to make the inside of the L bigger, the boathouse is a bit too close for comfort when rotating the plane inside the L.

My question is- any other configurations I should think about? The floating docks can be re-arranged however I want. I will have a gas line coming out of the boat house wall next year.

The plane is facing West, which has the biggest opening for weather. Prevailing wind is southwest, but big north blows are possible, there are natural breaks for wind and waves all directions except straight west.

Durango Skywagon wrote:Thread resurection- with a pic of what we built. Still looking for advice-

Hi All-

So we had a great season up north. The dock configuration of course changed from the last plan. We decided we wanted the plane near the boathouse. Its were the gas is, tools, electric etc. We had an L shaped dock built to shelter the float plane. The system I eneded up using for securing the plane is a combo of static lines and bungees. You can see in the photo the plan is secure but able to rotate 10 degrees or so in big weather which I think keeps the strain on the dock slightly less?

We are planning to add 2 more dock sections to make the inside of the L bigger, the boathouse is a bit too close for comfort when rotating the plane inside the L.

My question is- any other configurations I should think about? The floating docks can be re-arranged however I want. I will have a gas line coming out of the boat house wall next year.

The plane is facing West, which has the biggest opening for weather. Prevailing wind is southwest, but big north blows are possible, there are natural breaks for wind and waves all directions except straight west.

I wish people would stop posting photos of skywagons with the skylights, every time I see one I go back to should I do that or not lol


Dock looks nice, just curious why you went with a C shape vs the more standard U?

The L dock is pretty good for the float plane and really good for other stuff as well. Its nice to have the outside of the L for starting and finishing a trip, and the inside for parking, boats park on the outside of the L when visiting.

I am open to other configurations- this seemed to check alot of boxes.

The downside is getting the float plane into parking or out for a trip when I am solo on the island, it takes some rope work.