Pontoons

Pontoons are floating structures over water. They can be used for a variety of functions but mostly for boat access.

Pontoons are floating structures which can be used for a variety of functions, mostly for boat access. If there is a large fluctuation in water level, such as in a tidal area, and stability isn’t that important, we often recommend installing a pontoon instead of a jetty or landing stage.

Our first step when we receive an enquiry from an individual or a club is to organise a complimentary site visit to discuss your needs. We consider the location, the conditions of the body of water, and any permit requirements that there may be, before working on the details of the design and materials.

The frames are made from metal, usually aluminium, because it’s lightweight, inert, and lasts indefinitely in fresh water. It doesn’t require any further treatment or release any toxic chemicals into the water course, it’s easily installed and easily removed. The frames are then put onto floats of polyurethane foam-filled, rotation-moulded plastic. This way, the pontoons are able to retain 95% of their buoyancy even if punctured. They are kept in place either from a ground platform, piles inserted into the river or lake bed, or an anchoring system, depending on what suits you best.

All deck surfaces can also be personalised to your needs. You may choose traditional timbers, hardwoods and softwoods, with or without anti-slip inserts, any of the range of composite deckings that are available, or even GRP or steel grating. The combinations are almost endless, and as we specialise in the bespoke, you need not limit yourself to the first image that comes to mind. The frames are square structures, but the design of the deck over the top has unlimited flexibility, and RA Marine specialises in bespoke designs for individual tastes.

We will provide you with a design and a quotation and can support you in your application for various permits as needed. The construction of the jetty itself is predominantly completed in the RA Marine workshop, keeping the installation time on your site to a minimum to reduce disruption.

These versatile structures are not only for accessing boats - they have also been installed as rest islands for wild swimming and nesting rafts for terns in a nature reserve. This demonstrates our flexibility of purpose; if you have an access requirement on the water, don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss all possible solutions.