NEWS

New pontoon brings benefits to Argyll village

A specially designed pontoon recently completed for a small Argyll community will prove a major attraction for leisure users and help boost the local economy.

The 50m long pontoon was installed on the shore at Loch Fyne, Argyll, by Fusion Marine Ltd for the Otter Ferry Community Association.

The Association was keen to build a pontoon at Otter Ferry so as to attract more yachts to the village, which is situated on the western edge of the Cowal Peninsula. Funded by a combination of grant, donation and fundraising events, the pontoon is ideal for landing from small or medium sized vessels and provides mooring for inflatable dinghies and other tender craft.

Constructed using hardwood decking and based on plastic 400mm flotation pipes, the flexible nature of the pontoon enables it to follow the contours of the foreshore at low tide. Anchored to the shore by a concrete plinth, it allows easy and dry access for yachtsmen and other leisure users wanting to come ashore. This method of fixing, along with the pontoon’s inherent buoyancy and robust construction also means it can easily be taken ashore for storage and maintenance during the winter months if required.

Alan Macleod, Fusion Marine technical director said: “We see considerable potential throughout the Highlands and Islands for these individually designed pontoons. They provide small communities and hotels with the ideal means for attracting extra business without having to go to the expense of creating a fixed pier or jetty, the constant freeboard regardless of state of the tide is also a major selling point.”

“If a customer has access to a reasonably rock free shoreline, he can install one of our access pontoons and come ashore with dry feet!”