The structural choice
Pontoon vs jetty for your canal frontage.
Floating pontoon goes up and down with the tide. Fixed jetty doesn’t. Which works for your boat, your usage pattern, and your canal? Here’s the framework.
Side-by-side.
| Factor | Fixed jetty | Floating pontoon |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (8m typical) | $18K–$28K | $14K–$32K |
| Tidal compatibility | Boarding height varies with tide | Boarding height constant (rises with tide) |
| Boat type suitability | Larger boats, regular boarding | Smaller boats, infrequent boarding |
| Jet ski / kayak storage | Difficult (lift onto deck) | Easy (slide alongside) |
| Storm/cyclone resilience | Excellent | Vulnerable in extreme tides |
| Maintenance | Annual checks, repair localised | Annual checks, anodes need replacement |
| Service life | 30–50 yrs (timber), 50+ yrs (concrete) | 25–40 yrs (concrete-floating) |
| MSQ approval complexity | Standard for like-for-like | Stricter (BIA-approved pontoon required) |
| Heritage / aesthetic read | Traditional, premium | Modern, utilitarian |
When fixed jetty wins.
- You’re mooring a larger boat (5m+ length, 6t+ displacement)
- You board the boat frequently — aesthetic matters
- You want a deep-water mooring (jetty extends out to deeper draft)
- Your canal has high storm exposure (canal mouth area)
- You want a fishing/lounging deck use as well as boat access
- Property is heritage / period style and pontoon would look wrong
When floating pontoon wins.
- Boat is smaller (under 5m) and used frequently — tidal-constant boarding is brilliant
- Jet ski, kayak, paddleboard storage is the primary use
- Tidal range is significant (Gold Coast canals see 1.8m range — pontoon is constant, jetty is up-and-down)
- You want to swim from a stable platform near water level
- Budget for boat access only (not entertaining)
- You may extend or change later — pontoons are easier to modify
The hybrid (most premium installs).
A fixed jetty (typically 6–8m long) connected via an articulated gangway to a floating pontoon at the canal end. Combines:
- Stable, premium-looking fixed deck for entertaining and lounging
- Tide-following pontoon for boat boarding and jet ski storage
- Articulated gangway accommodates 1.8m tide range smoothly
Cost: $28K–$52K turnkey. Common at Sanctuary Cove, Sovereign Islands, Hope Island. Worth every dollar if you use the water.
Free canal survey + recommendation.
We’ll tell you straight which configuration suits your boat usage, your canal, your budget.