Houseboat platforms and floating cabins on Pontoonz pods
The first Pontoonz was a cedar-clad garden shed on an 8.1m twin hull in 2003. It's still afloat. Build the houseboat, floating cabin, office or weekender you've been thinking about, yourself or through your builder.
SailGP & America's Cup marker boats · Trading since 2003
Made in New Zealand
5,000+ pods sold
Marine-grade polyethylene
15+ year product life
Est. 2003
The Original Build
A garden shed, two hulls and a 9.9hp outboard
Two hulls of six Main Boat Pods, a Bow Pod on the front of each, timber runners and a deck, and a cedar-clad kitset shed on top. 8.1 metres long, pushed along by a 9.9hp four-stroke high-thrust outboard. Built in 2003 to potter around the estuary with family and friends. It's still afloat.
12 Main Boat Pods + 2 Bow Pods
Timber runners and joists, drilled and bolted to the pods
No fibreglass, no welding, no marine trade
Platform Options
Twin hull or tri hull
Both start from the same Main Boat Pods. Pick the hull count for your width, cabin weight and how much water you want to carry.
Most popular
8.1m twin-hull platform
12 Main Boat Pods + 2 Bow Pods. The original Pontoonz layout. Suits cabins, weekenders and floating offices up to about 3.5m wide.
From NZ$7,620ex GST · about AU$7,010 · pods only
Wider, heavier, self-contained
8.1m tri-hull platform
18 Main Boat Pods + 3 Bow Pods. The middle hull doubles as fresh, grey and black water storage, at 350 litres per pod.
From NZ$11,430ex GST · about AU$10,516 · pods only
AU$ prices are indicative. Freight is quoted to your address or nearest port. Volume breaks apply from 10 pods.
Working With A Builder
Pontoonz supplies the platform. Your builder does the cabin.
Many houseboats are built this way: we size and supply the pods, your builder fixes the deck and builds the cabin on top. For Australian projects, we quote the platform landed at your port so your builder can start as soon as it arrives.
A tiny house or floating home on pods is the same build as a houseboat without the outboard. The platform carries the cabin, the deck and the people; the tri-hull layout adds water and waste storage below deck. Size the platform to the cabin's weight with the calculator, then send us the plans.
Floating cabins, studios, offices and weekenders
Add pods later if the cabin grows
No antifoul, 15+ year pod life
Consents & Registration
What to check before you build
New Zealand
Mooring a houseboat usually needs a mooring or coastal permit from your regional council, and a cabin used as a dwelling may need a building consent from the district council. Rules vary by region and waterway, so talk to your councils early and before you order.
Australia
Houseboats are registered and regulated by each state's maritime authority, and some waterways have their own rules for size, sewage holding and mooring. Check with the authority in your state before you build. We're happy to supply pod specifications for your application. See our consents guide.
Size Your Build
How many pods does your houseboat need?
Enter your deck size and the load it has to carry, including the cabin.
People at 90kg each, plus structure, motor and gear
Ratings per pod at half immersion: Main Boat Pod 150kg · Walk Pod 150kg · Raft Pod 60kg · Float Pod 40kg.
Your estimate
12Main Boat Pods
2Bow Pods
NZ$7,620
ex GST · about AU$7,010 (indicative) · freight extra
Estimates assume half immersion and an even load. Every configuration is checked by Pontoonz before a quote is sent.
Do I need boat-building skills to build a houseboat on pods?
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.
Can I put an outboard motor on a houseboat?
Yes. The 8.1m cedar-clad houseboat runs a 9.9hp four-stroke high-thrust outboard on Main Boat Pods with Bow Pods.
Where does the water and waste go?
On a tri-hull platform the middle hull doubles as fresh, grey and black water storage, at 350 litres per pod.
Do I need a consent for a houseboat in NZ or Australia?
Usually for the mooring, and sometimes for the cabin. In New Zealand talk to your regional and district councils; in Australia, your state maritime authority.
How much does a houseboat platform cost?
An 8.1m twin-hull platform starts from NZ$7,620 ex GST in pods; a tri hull from NZ$11,430. Freight is quoted to your address.
Can you supply my builder directly?
Yes. We supply the platform to you or your builder, and for Australian projects we quote it landed at your port.
No-Obligation Quote
Tell us about your houseboat
Every quote comes with a recommended configuration, volume pricing and freight to your address or nearest port.
