looking to build a cargo barge approx 8 x 30

[F350layinglow]

I am not 100 percent sure of hull depth but I have posted a pic of the bardge (i will message) .
The travel trailer height is 11'8" with the weight of 8000lbs.

 

[fallguy]

It isn’t a question about whether it can, but what happens at the opposite shore. Let’s say you have a good and deep boat landing and you ramp the trailer onto the barge. And let’s assume you travel to the property on flat calm lake.

The issue is with the barge dropping 2.2 feet as calculated by Martin, when you hit the opposite shore; where does the barge hit the beach? I’ve been in places where the barge won’t find bottom and other places where 2’ of water is 100 yards offshore.

And so, if you have a barge 30x15; it will sink much less.

I don’t recall whether you ever answered shore conditions at the desired landing.

It would suck to need to fell 40 trees to make enough corduroy ramp to get off. So, you may need to dredge a landing before you even attempt it, unless you are in a unique situation with deep bank shoreline. In that case you need to come along the barge to the shore. 20x8 is pretty small though…

 

[F350layinglow]

Sorry if I missed a response to shore conditions. The other side for offloading is more than Deep enough water .. 5ft off shore is over 4ft deep .

 

[fallguy]

So, you are at the edge of limits to travel 3.5 miles. You don’t want to encounter chop or boat wakes or a storm or the wardens.

The cog of the trailer is probably over the axles which is not good.

Using some raw assumptions, the trailer at 18’ long has the axle center at 12-14’ back, so the tongue would need to probably be past the front to get it in the middle. You can probably build a support for the frame that would accomodate and be easy to remove at the shore. The advantage is the tongue might be more accesible on the opposing shore, or the support system can be made to help move the trailer up to wheeled even. Disadvantage is what does the tongue do or do you remove it?

The bigger issue is the vcg. You are getting pretty high. And so, this is a no wind day, early morning crack of dawn run. And you need the route down well as no room for grounding error. And the trailer needs to be secured well to the deck. Another possibility would be to side tie a couple boats to the barge that are not running. It is redneck as hell, but might keep you from going sideways and help with tracking. You might tie the boats under and around themselves and to the cleats on the barge. So, each boat wpuld have 4 lines to the barge, two going under and two going direct. This would keep the boat from riding up and over… You could also side tie some big saw logs instead. A couple 24” logs one per side would add a lot of support as well. They’d be well tied off 20 footers, softwood; dry is even better.

The main problem is wind. At 11’8” up, even a slight breeze is gonna send that thing sideways.

Most of the trailer weight is the frame and a heavy steel barge also keeps vcg down. I don’t expect it to get too tender, but the wind is your brutal enemy.

This ain’t a houseboat. Houseboats generally never travel in Canada at over 15kt wind. But you are doing something totally different; especially towing a barge or pushing one. You don’t have a direct drive or vee hull tracking as many houseboats. Your windage is probably worse for the waterplane area.

So, seems doable. But no wind or you’ll get a lesson.

 

[DogCavalry]

Hi @F350layinglow , I think the 8' width limit is too much of a limit for a realistic barge, and almost as important, not an actual limit. 8'6" is the provincial limit, not 8'. And under 12', or 3.7m, you can easily get a single use permit. A 12' barge is vastly more useful than an 8' barge. I should know: I built an 8' barge 2 years ago, and a 12' barge a few months back. The 12' barge is 1.5³ or 3.4 times as stable as the 8' barge. An enormous difference. Build the right barge, and pay Doug Ford a few loonies to get it to your site.

 

[F350layinglow]

Hi @F350layinglow , I think the 8' width limit is too much of a limit for a realistic barge, and almost as important, not an actual limit. 8'6" is the provincial limit, not 8'. And under 12', or 3.7m, you can easily get a single use permit. A 12' barge is vastly more useful than an 8' barge. I should know: I built an 8' barge 2 years ago, and a 12' barge a few months back. The 12' barge is 1.5³ or 3.4 times as stable as the 8' barge. An enormous difference. Build the right barge, and pay Doug Ford a few loonies to get it to your site.

Lol... fair enough I guess its the old saying build it right the first time..

 

[DogCavalry]

My second barge is 12'x40'. Material cost was about CDN 14000. Marina fees to build it in a month was about CDN 1200. 3 guys, 3 weeks. About 320 in labour hours. Scale on the travel lift said about 4.5 tons. About 8 tons useful deck load. @BlueBell and I pushed her to site at about 2 knots.

 

[F350layinglow]

My second barge is 12'x40'. Material cost was about CDN 14000. Marina fees to build it in a month was about CDN 1200. 3 guys, 3 weeks. About 320 in labour hours. Scale on the travel lift said about 4.5 tons. About 8 tons useful deck load. @BlueBell and I pushed her to site at about 2 knots.

Thats very reasonable. Would you be willing to share materials used? And some sort of drawing ?

 

[DogCavalry]

Thats very reasonable. Would you be willing to share materials used? And some sort of drawing ?

Absolutely. I can also give pictures at every step.

 

[F350layinglow]

Absolutely. I can also give pictures at every step.

I would very much appreciate that. Thank you so much.. did you build it recently? Just wondering on the costing. When I called for pricing on metal it was .90 lbs.

 

[F350layinglow]

Absolutely. I can also give pictures at every step.

Is there a way of direct messaging you to discuss further?

 

[DogCavalry]

Sure. Go to "Inbox" select "start conversation.

 

[fallguy]

If you build a plywood barge; you’ll need to make a ramp to keep it on shore. A metal hull can roll out on logs, but the first thing to haul to shore might be the ramp to get the barge out…my 2 cents

 

[DogCavalry]

If you build a plywood barge; you’ll need to make a ramp to keep it on shore. A metal hull can roll out on logs, but the first thing to haul to shore might be the ramp to get the barge out…my 2 cents

Good thinking. We can incorporate wearing surfaces, for some versatility, but a prepared landing is a beautiful thing.

 

[bajansailor]

@DogCavalry can you post some photos on here of the barges that you built please?
They would be useful for other folk who come across this thread, and who might want to build a barge.