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The standard float for people who don't want to buy the real dock floats is the
poly drum. They even make hardware to fasten them to the structure.

What is a "poly drum" and where does one buy them and the fasteners?

Things that work "out on the lake" (like that galvanized fence idea) will not
hold up in the southern sun and salt water. By the end of the summer that 16ga
galvanized wire will be a rusty mess. You also may have to deal with some
"named" weather ;-)

I would have passed on the galvanized, but sure appreciate all the
input. I believe that sheets of PVC are used to wrap pilings to deter
barnacles ... is there a "paint on" coating of PVC? Believe I've read
of PVC in paint? Would be nice to find an inexpensive material that
also doesn't grow barnacles )