Yeah, the filter itself broke. Seems sort of random. The bowl won't unscrew off the filter. I can turn it but it doesn't come unscrewed. Like the threads are stripped.

I don't use ethanol gas.

Back to my dock......

While I was on the boat I was able to get a look at that piling from another angle. It's really buggered up. More holes and cracks visible in the same area as the ones I saw earlier.

So, a light bulb came on. I think I'm just going to saw the piling down and set the support beams right on top, instead of bolting them to the piling. I'm going to ask a few folks before I go this route but I think it will work.

i go for scabbing on a 2 by to the piling rather than cutting it down. then your bolts will hold.

The guy (at a dock supply place) that I asked about this told me I shouldn't do it. I asked why and he said "because nobody does that".

The second guy I asked thought it would be fine but I probably needed some hardware to attach them. The hardware is pretty expensive and it there doesn't seem to be any made for round pilings.

Then I entertained the thought of putting a piling in myself. I "might" be able to do this with help but my neighbor has some pilings he just pulled up and I tried to lift one. Damn heavy. I don't know if this is doable.

Yeah, I'm leaning this way now.

you can just drill and bolt through the piling,, with half inch galvanized bolts and hold it on that way.

or some very long 3/8 outdoor screws with hex head and use an impact drill to send them in the wood.
and its been done many times that way.

no more than 10 bucks in hardware.

or set up the pole next to the one you want to add to and put a garden hose pointed downward on the bottom with a reducing nozzle to make the water flow faster and it will sink the pole on its own. unless you hit rock.

here is directions but must be varied to be more easily done
https://www.wikihow.com/Install-Post...a-Dock-or-Pier


use imagination to get the heavy pole vertical and in place.

I like the concrete idea in Ray's link. Probably hard to do really well though.

What I'm imagining with the bolt option is to make sort of a box around the existing pilings with treated 2x X . Run a foot-long (or whatever) bolt through the opposing 2x's and the piling, then a washer/nut to secure it. Essentially build a new, square piling around each existing one.

Is that the idea? Not sure how to drill the pilot hole in the piling under water though.

Good luck, you're good at this stuff. I'm interested to see the solution you come up with.

you put it in at low tide. the dock is always higher than the highest high tides plus some feet. generally you want the gunnels of the boat higher than the dock when tied to it,

and if its on a lift you need to get from the dock into the boat so that needs to be addressed. many ways to accomplish that.

This is the issue. Those things are ridiculously heavy.

I'm suffering from analysis paralysis. I think patching up the existing piling by scabbing 2 bys will definitely work. I just don't know how long it will last. A new piling is good for 20 years or more.

I did have another idea. I'm thinking about sistering another piling next to the "bad" one. The new piling won't have to be as long, and therefore less heavy. I think I might be able to get it vertical by tying them together at the water line, lifting one end and attaching the bottom of the new one to the old one and maybe use a come along to wench it into a vertical position. Then I can jet the water and hopefully the new one just slides down.

Don't forget, it only has to be effective for as long as you need it. It's ok to leave something for the next people, if it gets you past your timeframe.

The other year, I had the roof replaced. The guy said they'd put on 50 year shingles. "Yeah, I don't need that expense. I might have 30 years left in me."

(Turned out, the difference in price was only ~$100, so I went with 50. But the point applies.)

Had an idea about the 'box'. I wonder if you could build the box on shore, slip it over the piling. Pound on it to get it to go into the bottom a little, then put the bolts through.

I'm thinking some of those sheet metal L brackets (like on the corner of a deck) on the box, to hold it in a square shape, maybe something like that?

Are the 50-year shingles put on with 50-year nails?

no but the heavier shingles dont blow off in big winds. i learnt the hard way by buying the cheaper ones for some rentals. ten years later i was doing it all over again.

I removed the rest of the main part of the dock. Only the walkway is left.

I ordered all of the materials, and they should be here today.

After looking at the piling in question for the umpteenth time, I decided to get a new one. I will attempt to sister it to the existing piling. Nobody I've talked to thinks I can pull this off, so good luck me.

You can pull this off. If you get stymied, take a break or look for a solution on youtube. The human being is an ingenious animal. It can find a way to do anything.



Go biggerboat Go!

Thanks!

Materials have been delivered. The piling is HEAVY.

Soooo.... my plan is to drill 2 holes through the piling. One near the top and one near the bottom. I'll pull rope through both that will hopefully allow us to maneuver it a little easier.

I have a moving dolly that can hold the weight but it has casters for wheels so anything but a flat hard surface won't work to roll it. So I'll use some boards as "tracks ". It will take a while but I think i can get it to the seawall.

After i wrap it, I'll wench it into the bay.

Then I'll chain it to the existing piling at the water line. Then I'll use the rope tied at the bottom to wench the bottom half to the existing post. Hopefully the buoyancy of the piling (it floats if its horizontal) assists my effort.

you can roll it easily if you put it on some short pieces of pvc pipe. as it rolls off the ones in the back move them forward.

how are you going to drive the new piling into the ground? if just attaching it why not just attach a couple of two bys.?

I wonder if the rope and hole shouldn't be on the out-of-water end (or maybe both, with two people pulling)? Maybe a little easier to see what's going on and control?

I like Ray's idea for moving it. Something like they figure the Stonehenge rocks got there.

Im going to use a water pump to dislodge the soil. Standard way of sinking them here. It will go down about 6 feet.

Im actually going to have a hole/rope on both ends for just what you are suggesting.

Yeah, I thought about this. I don't have any pvc handy but if my first shot at it doesn't work. I'll go this route.

This is fun, and I don't even have to put down my beer.