building deck over water

[Tom]

Hi all - I want to build an area of decking which extends over our lake but not sure how I should be installing the posts for this. I thought I'd don waders and simply knock them in with my fence post whacker - but I'm not sure if there might be something simpler and which would not involve me likely going arse over tit. Internet seems to throw up lots of vids from the states where they use pre-formed concrete pads which simply support the weight of the post and deck, but I think I need something a bit more structural as the lake bed is very soft mud. Any ideas?

Thanks all

[ProDave]

I would say get those waders on.  Be careful you don't end up with those bogged down in the mud, sticky "seabed" mud is lethal stuff (literally in some cases)

 

Or work from a boat?

[joe90]

Make sure you have someone else with you to haul you out if it gets sticky, harness and rope might be good.

[Big Jimbo]

have you thought about making it a floating deck ?

[Russell griffiths]

How far out from dry land, can you cantilever it. 

[SteamyTea]

Some concretes can set in water.

https://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-nuggets.asp?cmd=display&id=1031

 

 

[Tom]

Thanks all, guess I'll try knocking them in. Good idea re the rope - or at the least leave a pile of clothes on the bank so they know where I've gone in.

Hadn't thought of cantilever TBH, planned probably only 1 or 2m over the water itself, so could work, will see how easily the posts go in first and could be an option. Floating too, but need something a bit more solid I think. Depending on how the post driving goes it might end up floating anyway...

[joe90]

Let us know how you get on, if we don’t hear from you we know the worst has happened 🤣

[markocosic]

I think I'd float it.

 

You'll want the framing to be fairly rigid so that it doesn't twist along it's length if you do this though; with good anchoring at the land end.