Thinking of (maybe) building a 6 inch pontoon boat dredge

Well I gotta do something to keep busy. I can build every part of it except the engine/pump/hose and it isn't that expensive if that's all you have to buy! Use maybe 10 55 gallon plastic barrels . Weld up my own frame. put a screened cove over it. and oh yea , I'd need to buy a boat motor to push me up the ole River............

Russ,

Wow! Now THAT is a project to consider!!!

A "dredge boat" could keep you busy for years...…

Here's a few to give you some ideas on where to go with your project:

https://www.google.com/search?q=bucket+line+dredge&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwid6-iJkpfcAhVk1oMKHUDoARMQ_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=962

I think the point would be to have a machine that basically did ALL the work for you...….scoop up the gold, allow you to sip on an ice cold beer......get filthy rich.

Oh, not break your back, break a sweat...

I read a story recently about the Fairplay Yuba class bucket line dredge here that ran around by Fairplay for about 7 years in the late 1930s and early 1940s and reports say they mined up over 80,000 ounces of gold!

Plz keep me updated!

Randy C-17A

Right now everything is taking a back seat to our getting the house ready to list for sale. Day dreams and drawing up plans can be done some other slow times!!

You might look on various websites and find a well-used pontoon boat for sale that you can use as a platform. That would save you a lot of time and give you a lot better platform than some drums in a frame.

Tony

I've since scrapped the entire idea and sold off all my mining / dredging equipment ! I hated the thought of doing this BUT !!!

Russ,

Well...……...sorry to hear no big ass 6 inch pontoon dredge boat for us all to look at, admire...

YOU could maybe get on the next season of Gold Rush and show them all how it's REALLY done. Ha.

Nothing but snow here lately.

How's Misery these days?

Randy C-17A

HMMM ?? Gold Rush...........Naw I don't think so!

I guess the cabin fever is making me re-think about the big dredge idea...........I'd need several guys to help me with it for travel , putting it into the water , and running that thing . BUT it would be a real trip !!