New pontoon vs jetty vs ?

[Fatenhappy]

Been around the water and played with boats off and on all my life, but never actually owned a pontoon or a fixed jetty set up. So, nearly fell over a few months back when I was quoted as an estimate between 35/40 grand for a two piled 9 metre long pontoon. (which again I stress was prior to the now planned downsize of boat)

Since we are looking at about a 5m ali run about I figure the options are either for drive on or using davits ... anyone have any personal experience with pontoon / jetty set ups for about this size boat range ... what do you recommend? If a fixed situation could be in either timber or I guess ali/PVC/gal or if just floating I guess made out of what ever. Any profound maintenance difference one vs the other?

PS ... I'm not docking the Queen Mary, so just looking for something thats easy to use or and we can pull up a deck chair and have a couple of coldies and a fish while the sun sets! ..... :D

PPS ... Very little tidal effect, flow or current other than just literaly going up and down .... ;)

[Chimo]

Pontoon in my opinion esp with tidal influences.

Whether you need piles or not is probably the question. If the pontoon can be anchored by the walkway and a pipe beam and cables in my experience this is fine. The issue you have to be able to address is tidal flow / flood flow if it may occur and wind impact. Sitting the boat on an air berth is the next step to minimize maintenance.

If you go piles they have to be really high / long to cope with tide / flood or you have wasted your time and money.

Jetty is solid but goes under water on high tide / flood and you have to cope with a lot more movement of boat against it. Thissue is lessened with an air berth but if the water level / tide / flood goes up without you there to loosen lines the boat will get tipped sideways into the drink. Have seen this happen here on the Gold Coast, made a fair mess of things.

If the end of your walk way that is on the edge of the property goes under water during flood etc you have to be able to get to the floating pontoon, this can be achieved by a small tinny kept on your property preferably on a ramp if you can do it.

Hope this helps

Cheers
Chimo

[Fatenhappy]

Pontoon in my opinion esp with tidal influences.

Whether you need piles or not is probably the question. If the pontoon can be anchored by the walkway and a pipe beam and cables in my experience this is fine. The issue you have to be able to address is tidal flow / flood flow if it may occur and wind impact. Sitting the boat on an air berth is the next step to minimize maintenance.

If you go piles they have to be really high / long to cope with tide / flood or you have wasted your time and money.

Jetty is solid but goes under water on high tide / flood and you have to cope with a lot more movement of boat against it. Thissue is lessened with an air berth but if the water level / tide / flood goes up without you there to loosen lines the boat will get tipped sideways into the drink. Have seen this happen here on the Gold Coast, made a fair mess of things.

If the end of your walk way that is on the edge of the property goes under water during flood etc you have to be able to get to the floating pontoon, this can be achieved by a small tinny kept on your property preferably on a ramp if you can do it.

Hope this helps

Cheers
Chimo


Thanks Chimo ... all sounds logical ... I have been looking at the pipebeam / cable set ups which have boats on their back from what I've seen at probably 1500 to 1600 kilos which don't look to bad at all ...... And no we are not subject to flooding as we are in the back end Pacific Harbour right up near the creek which suits me down to the ground !

[Chimo]

When you run 240 v out to the pontoon make sure you connect in to the house system high up to allow for high water / flood / big tide

There are some well priced second hand air berths around too so look at that aspect too. Make life lots better for you. Hauling a boat up onto a pontoon is not that much fun and cables in that environment don't give you a lot of escape routes. My neighbour's boat rarely moves as the cable set up is too hard. Then you need a decent tarp as the sun will give it a hiding too.

C
C

[finga]

Hey Pete. Has your neighbour got the electric winch on his pontoon or the manual winch?
My brother has his little boat (4.6m glass) sitting on his pontoon and it's easy as to put the boat in and out of the water.

Putting the neighbours binliner on is a different story though because the binliner is at the upper limit of the capabilities of the pontoon boat puller outerer doova thingo setup
He has one of these.
http://www.thejettyspecialist.com.au/wp-content/gallery/private-pontoons/5.jpg

[finga]

These thingo's might be an option too. There's a few different mobs that make that sort of thing now
http://www.thejettyspecialist.com.au/aus-floats/

[Chimo]

Hi Scott

He has a manual winch and it is hard work.

Mind you if you wanted to put in a set up like you referred to I say why not! However those piles do not look high enough for the G C given some of the high water that Ive seen here in the last dozen yrs.

It may never happen again but if it does its a pain in the proverbial when the pontoon departs the piles and the walk way drops the pontoon end into the drink.



C
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[finga]

Oops. I was just referring to the setup to pull the boat up Pete.
He has the wires/pipes setup acting as stays for stability

[dec0guy]

if you are around SEQ, apparently there are around 200 pontoons and jetties that have been recovery following the floods, and only 3 have been returned to their owners. Might be some auctions coming up with good bargains!

[Rodpal]

hey gday fatenhappy

i guess considering you're looking for pontoons you've finally got your dream boat, i dont really have anything to add pontoon wise but pleased to see thing are heading in the right direction

cheers rod

[Fatenhappy]

Thanks Finga ...

The set up looks sweet enough ... and I'm presuming this is an electric winch on jobby? ... Had to ask as traditionally I am used to driving my past set ups onto a trailer?

[Fatenhappy]

Hey Rod ... and no mate!...

Pretty much know what I want for the boat size, fitment etc ... but still not rock solid on make ....

At this stage its got to be plate ali, at about 5m in size and used mainly for just ducking up the passage, across to Moreton or down to the Pin and pretty much anywhere in between ...

So now its down to looking for the easiest way to maintain and store the little sucker for when the new place is completed ! ..... ;)

[finga]

Thanks Finga ...

The set up looks sweet enough ... and I'm presuming this is an electric winch on jobby? ... Had to ask as traditionally I am used to driving my past set ups onto a trailer?
Yes, electric winch (it's under the alloy box in front of the boat) but with a manual setup as well... just in case.