Pontoon Edge Protection Options for Lakeside Cottage Owners

If you run a cottage business by the lake, then adding a pontoon to the property has the potential of driving up sales by attracting more clients. Notably, there are two ways that you can add a pontoon. You can either employ the services of a pontoon builder to erect a permanent structure or hire a temporary pontoon. Whichever option you choose, protecting clients from slips, trips, falls and loss of belongings should be a top priority. While rental pontoons come with handrails, you need to consider providing extra levels of protection. This article points out various pontoon edge protection options that you can choose.

Ropes -- Ropes are a great option that will guarantee that your clients remain safe even when standing on the edge of a pontoon. If a pontoon is a rental, then using ropes is a great way to keep operational costs low. Additionally, most materials that are used to make rope are renewable, which will please environmentally aware clients. However, care must be taken when using ropes for pontoon edge protection. Most importantly, you should ask clients to avoid wetting the rope because water tends to weaken line, especially the organic type. Additionally, as you work a rope around a pontoon edge, make sure that it is not too tight. Let the rope sag slightly but not too much because sagging ropes increase the possibility of falls.

Debris Netting -- Although commonly used around scaffolding on construction sites, debris netting can be an excellent pontoon edge protection option. This is especially the case if your clients use the pontoon for site-seeing and are forced to carry belongings such as cameras and camcorders. Since you cannot rule out the possibility of gadgets falling into a lake, debris netting helps to keep fallen objects on the pontoon platform. One advantage with debris netting is that you can use different-coloured nets to create an attraction to your property. This way, you offer your clients the much-needed protection on the pontoon while at the same time making the pontoon the property's focal point.

Chains -- Although heavier compared to ropes and debris netting, chains offer the best form of pontoon edge protection to clients. First, since chains are made from stainless steel, they are strong and durable. Clients can, therefore, lean on the length of the chains without fear of the chain buckling under their weight. The same cannot be said for ropes and debris netting. Stainless steel chains are rust resistant, which makes them usable over and over again.

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