Retaining Walls and Permanent Boat Lifts

[AirNautique211]

We recently purchased a lake property and need to update the shore line. We are looking for ideas for sea walls and permanent boat lifts.

It would also be nice to know the best processes for building the water front bank. Many people on the lake have these steel seawalls, but I do not care for the way the waves bounce back and forth across the lake - there must be a better answer.

Any posts with pictures or information regarding the correct process for building up the bank will be greatly appreciated.

[Luke]

At our private lake they have a mandatory rock wall requirement. Looks pretty nice and seems to work pretty well at reducing bounce back, as long as there aren't a ton of boats sessioning the same area.

[efox]

Our lake seems to prefer a natural look to the shoreline. Stack stone and rip-rap like in Lukes post are common too. For a while, people were stacking bags of concrete and watering them down to harden and then peeling the bag off later. The HOA has recently decided that this is a bad practice. There are a few of those interlocking walls, but I think those would be bad if you are in a high traffic area.

[AirNautique211]

So we picked up this piece of lake property and are planning to update the shore line and lift. The lift we are going to build is similar to the one in the picture. Does anyone know who I need to contact to get design ideas for the craddle? I essentially the craddle should look similar to my trailer without wheels and a tongue.

[Luke]

Might try going to a local boat show? Typically they have all kinds of dock/boat lift vendors.

[Rick]

You should just use the lift rings with hooks. Correct Craft are rated to be stored on their rings and it makes for a much less expensive lift . You don't have to worry aboput a cradle and lining it up when you enter or exit the boathouse.

[patoloco]

AirNautique211 - If you don't mind me asking....what lake is your new property on? I don't recognize the backdrop..looks too woodsy to be morse or geist.

[AirNautique211]

Lake Freeman up near Monticello - Northeast of Purde about 25 minutes. We live in Kokomo, so it's about 50 minutes from our house. The lake is 15 miles long with 45 miles of shoreline. My wife and I both grew on the north end of the lake, so it will work well for us as a vacation home.

I will try to post a quick picture of the project - and believe me it is a project! Over the years I think we will be fine with it, but it will take some hard work. It is comprised of 2 lots, each with 60' water frontage. A very small, 750 sqaure foot, cabin sits on one lot up the hill and the other lot is vacant. The property overlooks the Purdue Sailing Club and Pearson's Marina - directly across the lake on the south end.

[AirNautique211]

Still looking for ideas on the project.

I think we are going to start with a steel seawall. Right now I understand that they fill behind the wall with dirt that is drudged from the lake with a crane. Does anyone know anything about this process? Will this create a stable and longlasting wall? Will the back fill allow for adequate filtration of water to the drainage system?