How much weight can a pontoon pod carry?
Load ratings for every Pontoonz pod, what half immersion means, and how to size a hull for the weight you need to float.
- Made in New Zealand
- 5,000+ pods sold
- Marine-grade polyethylene
- 15+ year product life
- Est. 2003
Load rating per pod
| Pod | Size | Weight | Rated load |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Boat Pod | 1200 x 600mm | 23kg | 150kg / 350kg |
| Walk Pod | 1200 x 1200 x 250mm | 22kg | 150kg |
| Raft Pod | 900 x 400mm | 14kg | 60kg |
| Dockpro Float Pod | 500 x 500 x 400mm | 7kg | 40kg (about 160kg per m², 4 per m²) |
Main Boat Pod figures are at half immersion and fully immersed. Bow Pods and Speed Bow Pods shape the front of a hull and are not counted in its load.
Why we size at half immersion
A pontoon sitting at half immersion still has half its height above the water. That reserve carries people stepping on at one corner, a wake from a passing boat, rain on a cabin roof and the gear you add next summer. Size a build so its everyday load sits at half immersion and the full-immersion figure stays in reserve.
Capacity of common builds
| Build | Main Boat Pods | Rated load |
|---|---|---|
| 6m twin-hull pontoon boat | 8 | 1,200kg |
| 3.6m x 3m swim raft | 6 | 900kg |
| 4.8m x 3m sauna platform | 8 | 1,200kg |
| 8.1m twin-hull houseboat platform | 12 | 1,800kg |
| 8.1m tri-hull houseboat platform | 18 | 2,700kg |
See the full price for each of these on pontoon floats and pricing, or the layouts on pontoon boats, houseboat pontoons and swim rafts.
How many pods do I need?
Enter your deck size and the load it has to carry. We'll tell you how many pods, which type, and an indicative price.
Estimates assume half immersion and an even load. Every configuration is checked by Pontoonz before a quote is sent.
How much weight can one pontoon pod carry?
A Main Boat Pod is rated 150kg at half immersion and 350kg fully immersed. A Walk Pod carries 150kg, a Raft Pod 60kg and a Dockpro Float Pod 40kg.
Should I size a pontoon at half immersion or full immersion?
Half immersion. The full-immersion figure is the most the pod can hold up before it goes under; designing to half immersion leaves freeboard for waves, people moving about and gear added later.
Do Bow Pods add load capacity?
Bow Pods shape the front of the hull and are not counted in the load rating. Size the hull on its Main Boat Pods.
How many pods does my build need?
Add up the deck, frame, cabin, motor, people and gear, then divide by the half-immersion rating of the pod type. The calculator on this page does it for you, assuming an even load. We check every estimate before we 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.
“It's a lot of boat for the money, zero maintenance, quick to build. A true kitset.”
- Configuration recommended with every quote
- Volume pricing and freight to your address
- Trading since 2003