Dredge build questions

[onrecess]

  I see that the experts in dredging are gold miners. I actually want a dredge to clear my boat slip in freshwater sandy muck. This muck is soft enough to easily push a 1 x1 straight down 4 foot without effort. It is like thick soup. If you fall in you go right to the bottom, like nothing is there. I just bought this house. When I started the sprinklers, it shot black mud out of the heads (for only a few seconds as I saw it instantly and shut it off) which led me on this search. So at least the suction can pick it up in a 1 1/2"  and lift it to the upper yard.
  I have a sprinkler pump, 1 1/2" discharge, 4000 gph, head lift Could I make a dredge work with that? I was thinking 2" dredge and a 3/4" nozzle.
  How about a 158 GPM gasoline semi trash pump, head lift 91 ft? Harbor freight has those for $200. 3" dredge and 3/4 nozzle?
  I just want to suck up soft sandy muck and dump it on the ground. One neighbor DID dredge out with a trash pump (sucking right into the suction!) with no problems except the hose getting packed solid once.
  I would sure appreciate any help!

[RKC]

G'day onrecess,

The style of dredge we discuss here (for gold mining) is not the type of dredge that would suit what you intend to do. Gold dredges that utilize the eductor principle, for suction, are a notoriously inefficient means of moving sludge, or even sand for that matter, any distance. My suggestion would be that you do not even consider eductor dredges! A dredge like the Piranha Mini Dredge ( www.piranhapump.com/mini_dredges.html ) would certainly do the job. If you want to do it on the cheap you could use a trash pump floating on pontoons, made from second hand parts. If you are located in North America you would probably find the least expensive option would be to hire a pump, or employ someone with the equipment to do it for you.

Previous relevant discussions can be found at the following two links ...
golddredgingforum.proboards.com/thread/1570/sea-dredge
golddredgingforum.proboards.com/thread/1396/dredging-silt

Regards,
Rob (RKC)

[onrecess]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[addergran]

Hi onrecess, how did you get on with the removal of the sludge? If you are still having problems I may be able to help you out.