Suggestions for driving through a ditch

[CraigAR]

Our house is built up on a mound, see pic, and we will be parking our boat next to it. There is swale that goes across the front of the property and under the driveway. This area holds water and gets muddy, about 5' wide. I was looking at putting something in there that still allows water to flow through and I can drive over without getting muddy. About a 5X12 area. I was thinking about gravel but I do not want to run over a piece with the lawnmower and have it hit the boat. Or am I babying the new boat to much and I should just drive it right through. Any thoughts?

Only picture I have will be coming through that small ditch by the road.

You can see how the house is built up.
These are the only pictures I have on my phone. Can take a picture if anyone needs to see a better shot of the ditch and where the boat will be.

 

[captras]

1. You CANNOT baby a brand new boat too much!

The pics dont really give much of an idea about the depth and width of the ditch, but I would not just back thru it. Just filling the crossing area with gravel wont work because you have now blocked the ability of the ditch to drain. You might consider installing a small culvert pipe, wide enough to back your trailer over, fill it in with gravel, then cover with dirt. Depending on the depth/width, 2 small culvert pipes may be needed. Hard to say without more info/pics. Good luck!

 

[CraigAR]

Appreciate the response. I will take a photo tomorrow of the entire area from the road.

 

[Bennie]

And when we say "you" we're actually referring to the kiddo.

I agree with @captras = you don't want to block the drainage and you sure don't want to hurt/dirty the new baby.
Not to mention driving the heavy boat through that could really mess up your yard.

 

[Speedling]

Are you looking for a grid system like this?

 

[Beachbummer]

Grid maybe for the top fill, but he needs the ditch to still drain. Don't block the ditch without understanding what it will do to your drainage. Culvert would be good. might need a cheap permit from city/county if it's road adjacent.

 

[CraigAR]

I would definitely need to pull a permit for a culvert pipe. Everything stays nice and dry after crossing the small swale. I'm not worried about the grass as the boat and trailer would not be on the nice floratam grass that surrounds the house. I have a field next to my house. The muddy area i would have to cross is only about 3-4 feet by about 8" deep. I was thinking about welding some metal square tube together about 4'x10' reinforced to throw down when it gets muddy. If my wife doesn't decide to move to a gulf access canal home in the next 5 years, ill pull a permit add culverts and pour the concrete myself with a simple broom finish.

 

[Speedling]

My house i am unincorporated and just had to have county highway come out and tell me minimum size of culvert.
The grid i posted was something my landscaper showed me for a wet area i want a small patio.

 

[CraigAR]

You can see the small area of water I was talking about. Once I get past that it is high and dry.

 

[Bennie]

View attachment 57320
You can see the small area of water I was talking about. Once I get past that it is high and dry.

I vote the beautiful new boat goes on the driveway....
and you let those trucks get a little mud on them

 

[brockhals]

Keep in mind that as you drive thru here, both in dry and muddy conditions, you will create a rut that will start to hold water and look bad. I'd maybe put pavers or something in there to fill the hole, but not sure water would move around them very well. It looks like a small area so bring in a load of dirt/sand and replant some grass.

 

[CraigAR]

Problem solved. I can come in from the back side where there's no mud. I was thinking concrete or pavers but we would have to be staying in this house for some time and not moving. I'm a project manager for a paver company so it's something I could look into in the future. Would love to park it in the driveway but city code prevents that.

 

[Bennie]

Would love to park it in the driveway but city code prevents that.

My HOA is the same way.
Took out the President of the home owners association on the boat, bought him a few drinks = Problem Solved

 

[cozilla]

Could you just back it up the driveway then cut it down into the field area? I agree that some pavers would be an easy solution to the future ruts that will be created.

 

[Evildwarf]

just close your eyes and gun it....

 

[CraigAR]

Well I've been debating if I want to go the cheap way (possibly selling the house within 5 years) and adding landscape timber 15x75 feet, and putting landscape fabric down and adding gravel from the road back to where the boat will be parked. I manage a paver and concrete company so i have a bobcat and compactor to use. Pressure treated timber would cost me $100, fabric $50 and I can get 15 tons of gravel delivered for $200. So this option may be the way to go.