Improving grip on a pontoon

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crewman

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I volunteer with a sailability group. Our pontoon is unfortunately also used by the local geese flock, hence gets filthy. Cleaning off with water and a brush leaves the pontoon surface extremely slippery - not ideal indeed actually unsafe for members with physical limitations. The grip improves once the pontoon dries. The pontoon is wooden similar to decking. We need to park the trimarans with one float on the pontoon. Any suggestions as to how to improve the grip on the pontoon without risking damaging the floats of the trimarans? Someone suggested laying chicken wire mesh on the pontoon. Whilst this would improve grip I suspect it would damage the floats of the trimarans, and if damaged may create a tripping risk.
 
Would a pressure washer instead of the bucket and brush leave a less slippery surface? Wooden pontoons aren't normally slippery, which suggests perhaps you're not fully removing the goose shit.

The yard we used to be at uses a petrol-powered pressure washer sucking from the sea - this doesn't sound ideal for the pump but it seems to have lasted for many years so far. Would be an option if you don't have power and water on the pontoons (it's not clear if you meant freshwater with your current technique or just dipping the brush in the sea).

Pete
 
The pontoons at our sailability group are regularly pressure washed, as we experience a similar problem. We have a petrol powered version, (around £180 - £200 ), since we have no mains available.
It certainly does the job, and even when still wet the surface offers good grip even if we don't use it at every session.

PRV posted as I was typing !
 
I should have thought that the state of the pontoons was the responsibility of the owners, whether marina or club. I don't have a problem because our pontoons are steel mesh, which has the additional advantage that dogs don't like it. Our owners are also careful to salt the walkways when required, though they are modern non-slip. I remember being impressed by seeing an operative pressure-washing the pontoons at Hamble Point and would hope that other marinas took the same view.
 
wallacebob said:
This stuff or similar is the best answer for non slip: GRP Grating | Open Mesh Gratings | Anti Slip Floor Grating | Industrial Grating.
Is a bit rough on things tho’, so a temp ply board or pvc cover may save boat damage. Not a good surface to fall on either.
Click to expand...
The bits that slope at low tide on our club pontoon are made of this and it works well as non-slip, while being friendly to wheelchair users and others with limited mobility, but I suspect it would abrade things dragged across it fairly quickly. However, the able-bodied helpers of the disabled tend to be more aware than most, so could they be trained to put some sort of blanket down before bringing the cats onto it?
 
Thanks for the replies. We share the pontoon with the water sports centre. On our operational days we have exclusive use. The problem has got much worse this year possibly due to lower use. No electrical power nearby so probably would need a petrol power washer, which we do not have. Was hoping someone would have an easy permanent fix. We have a meeting with the centre anyway and will add to the agenda. Hopefully they will agree to clean on a regular basis to reduce build up.
 
Takes a while to get working, but Patio Magic sprayed on a dry day is really effective in getting rid of anything that's growing on the nutrients so thoughtfully provided by the birds. Cleanliness of our club pontoons is down to the bertholders, and I spray mine every few years. I may not see so much shite as you do, but mine's definitely safe when wet.
 
I have Read coke cola removes slimy and leaves a sticky finish but if not to your tast e would a visit from a goshawk or suchlike drive off the geese ? I don’t know what geese are afraid of but creating a noise from a geese predator much like birds are scared off fields?
 
I reckon the people who know how to keep pontoons non-slippery are the marinas, who oversee hundreds of yards of them and don't want to risk being sued by a punter slipping over.

They all use plain wood, without clever treatments or overlays, and a pressure-washer.

Pete
 
A simple rope fence around the pontoon edges no more than 12” high stops the geese landing / walking onto the pontoon.

Erect it when you finish for the day ( poke bamboo poles into drilled holes ) and then remove it at the start of the next day.
 
prv said:
They all use plain wood, without clever treatments or overlays, and a pressure-washer.

Pete
Click to expand...
The wood is a grooved hardwood called balau . It can still be slippery when wet with the wrong footwear.
Pressure washing is carried out as little as possible as it damages the grain and removes wood. Scrubbing the decking is not viable in a marina so pressure washing is the only option, plus clean decking looks nice.
These planks can last up to 25 yrs but usually rot finishes them.
Walcon marine who manufacture pontoons do a plank with epoxy and granite strips for extra grip.
Any extra grip will lead to abrasion of anything moving over it.

You need a fox ! ?
 
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