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How to Build a Stable Floating Platform

Bring excitement to any small lake, pond or slow river with the use of a stable floating platform. A stable floating platform is used for swimming activities, sunbathing and also for moving objects over water. Build your own stable platform using 55 gallon drums, treated pine boards and marine plywood. Fifty-five gallon drums are very buoyant and marine plywood is a common choice of wood for items that will be constantly exposed to moisture.

Things You'll Need

Tape measure
8 treated pine boards, 2 by 4 by 108 inches
16 treated pine boards, 2 by 4 by 25 inches
8 treated pine boards, 2 by 4 by 29 inches
6 sealed, 55 gallon drums
2 marine plywood sheets, 3/4 by 59 by 96 inches
Screw gun
128 wood screws, 3 ½ inch

Instructions

- 1
  Lay two 108-inch boards flat and parallel with their outside edges 25 inches apart. Lay four 25-inch boards flat on top of them at right angles and space them 31 inches apart so the two outside 25-inch boards are flush with the ends of the 108-inch boards. Screw the 25-inch boards to the 108-inch boards using four screws for each 25-inch board. Repeat this step three more times so you have four equal size frames.
- 2
  Position two frames on edge and space them 24 inches apart. Lay four 29-inch boards on top of them so their ends are flush with the sides of the 25-inch boards. Screw the boards to the 25-inch boards using four screws for each board. Repeat this process with the other two frames. These two pairs of frames will hold your barrels and function as pontoons.
- 3
  Set three drums in each frame so they are positioned length-wise. Position the pairs of frames so they are parallel and 96 inches apart. Lay the two sheets of marine plywood on top of the frames so the edges of the plywood are against each other and their edges are flush with the sides and the plywood. Screw the plywood to the frames using 16 screws for each sheet of plywood. Space the screws evenly.

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