--- title: "Pontoon Pod FAQs: Load, Cost, Consents & Shipping | Pontoonz" description: "Answers on Pontoonz pod load ratings, pricing, motors, saltwater use, consents in NZ and Australia, shipping and lead times." url: https://www.pontoonz.co.nz/faqs/ --- ![SailGP fleet racing past a Pontoonz marker boat](https://www.pontoonz.co.nz/_astro/sailgp-fleet.BrOWLJWU_r5SQF.jpg) FAQs # Questions about building with Pontoonz pods Load ratings, pricing, consents, shipping and what you can build. Can't see your question? Call or text +64 (0)27 555 2000. Jump to[Getting started](#start)[Pods & specifications](#pods)[Building & using](#build)[Pricing, lead time & shipping](#buy)[Consents & registration](#consents) ## Still have a question? Send us your project and we'll answer it with a configuration and price. [Get a quote](https://www.pontoonz.co.nz/contact/) ## Getting started ### Do I need boat-building skills? No. The pods bolt together using the moulded tie-off points, and the deck is timber runners and joists, drilled and bolted straight onto the pods. If you can build a deck, you can build a Pontoonz. The construction guide covers the rest, and we're a phone call away. ### What can I build with the pods? Houseboats, pontoon boats, swim rafts, docks, jetties, walkways, work barges, pump platforms, aquaculture barges, floating saunas, stages and marker boats. Same pods, different top. ### Can I buy a finished boat or platform? Pontoonz supplies pods and platforms. We can connect you with builders who know the system. ### Why not buy a fibreglass or aluminium pontoon boat? A finished boat comes at a finished price and a fixed size. Pods give you a hull sized to the job that you can add to and reconfigure, with no antifoul, no fuel in the floats and a 15+ year life. ## Pods & specifications ### What pod types are there? Six: the Main Boat Pod, standard Bow Pod and Speed Bow Pod for hulls; the Raft Pod for rafts and light platforms; the Walk Pod for walkways and low docks; and the imported Dockpro Float Pod cube for jetties and docks. Full specs are on the Pods & Pricing page. ### How much weight will the pods carry? Main Boat Pods and Walk Pods carry 150kg each at half immersion. Main Boat Pods carry up to 350kg fully immersed. Raft Pods carry 60kg and Float Pods 40kg each. Use the calculator to size your build, then we check it before quoting. ### What colours are available? Rotomoulded pods come in black, grey, yellow, blue, green, magenta, orange, camo or a custom colour on request. ### How long will the pods last? More than 15 years. Rotomoulded, marine-grade, UV-stabilised polyethylene, no antifoul needed. The first Pontoonz houseboat from 2003 is still afloat. ### What maintenance do they need? An annual water blast to remove marine growth. Float Pods need no maintenance. ### Do you offer a warranty? There's no formal warranty. Pods have an expected life of 15+ years, pods from 23 years ago are still in service, and the spec sheets are published so you can check the ratings before you buy. ## Building & using ### Can I put a motor on it? Yes. Main Boat Pods with Bow or Speed Pods are designed for motorised use. The 8.1m cedar-clad houseboat runs a 9.9hp four-stroke high-thrust outboard. The Speed Pod gives a sharper entry for faster hulls. ### Can I expand or reconfigure it later? Yes. Add pods to lengthen a hull or add a third hull for more width and load. Float Pod docks can be reconfigured at any time. ### Can the pods be used in saltwater? Yes. The pods are marine-grade polyethylene with no antifoul and no metal in the float. SailGP and the America’s Cup use them in harbours around the world. ### Are they suitable for aquaculture? Yes. Oyster and mussel service barges and monitoring platforms are built on Pontoonz pods. Polyethylene needs no antifoul, cleans easily and is recyclable. ### What about tides, chop and open water? Floating platforms rise and fall with the tide. Pods are most at home on lakes, rivers, harbours and estuaries. For exposed or open coastal water, tell us the conditions and we'll advise on hull layout and mooring. ### Are they environmentally friendly? No antifoul and no fuel in the floats. Polyethylene pods are recyclable, and Float Pods are made from fully recyclable HMW HDPE. ## Pricing, lead time & shipping ### How much does it cost? Main Boat Pods are NZ$560 each ex GST, Bow Pods from NZ$450, Walk Pods NZ$550, Float Pods NZ$135 including all fittings. A 6m twin-hull pontoon boat platform starts from NZ$5,380 in pods; an 8.1m houseboat platform from NZ$7,620. Volume breaks apply on larger orders. Freight is quoted to your address. ### What's the lead time? Rotomoulded pods are made to order in Auckland, typically a few weeks. Float Pods ship from stock. ### Do you ship to Australia and the Pacific? Yes, direct from Auckland to every Australian state and across the Pacific Islands. Every quote includes freight to your address or nearest port. ## Consents & registration ### Do I need a consent in New Zealand? Moorings, jetties and structures on the coast, lakes and rivers usually need a consent from your regional council, and a cabin used as a dwelling may need a building consent. Check with your councils before you order. ### What about registration in Australia? Boats, houseboats and waterway structures are registered and approved by each state's maritime or waterways authority. Requirements differ by state. No-Obligation Quote ## Tell us what you need to float Every quote comes with a recommended configuration, volume pricing and freight to your address or nearest port. [+64 (0)27 555 2000](tel:+64275552000)[info@pontoonz.co.nz](mailto:info@pontoonz.co.nz) SailGP & America's Cup marker boats · Trading since 2003 - Configuration recommended with every quote - Volume pricing and freight to your address - Trading since 2003 --- Pontoonz (Pontoon Marine Systems) · +64 (0)27 555 2000 · info@pontoonz.co.nz · PO Box 695, Warkworth 0941, Auckland, New Zealand