Case Study: Gloucester Waterways Museum Phased Delivery & Bespoke Pontoon Integration

Mar 3
3 min read

The Canal & River Trust required an improved and inclusive water access solution at Gloucester Waterways Museum to support paddlers, community groups and wheelchair users. The solution needed to integrate with an existing Low Profile Walcon pontoon, which had recently been modified as part of wider upgrade works at the site.

The Pontoon & Dock Company was appointed to assess the site, advise on suitable solutions and deliver a modular pontoon system that could be integrated with the existing infrastructure without intrusive modification to the Walcon pontoon.

Phase 1 – Site Visit & Requirement Definition – February 2024

P&D carried out an initial site visit with the client to discuss operational requirements, accessibility needs and physical constraints within the dock environment. During this visit, P&D assessed the existing Walcon pontoon, reviewed spatial limitations caused by the dock walls, identified anticipated level differences between pontoon systems and discussed requirements for inclusive access and multi-user functionality.

Following this assessment, P&D proposed a Low Profile EZ Dock pontoon system incorporating a kayak launch, providing improved access while retaining maximum usable space for group activities and public use.

Phase 2 – Temporary Installation & Fabrication Development - November 2024

P&D returned to site to install the EZ Dock pontoon and kayak launch. At this stage, the new pontoon was temporarily moored to the existing Walcon pontoon. This temporary arrangement allowed the client to begin using the facility while enabling further design development for the permanent connection.

Installing the pontoon in this phased manner allowed P&D and its fabricator to take accurate, real-world measurements for the bespoke interface solution.

During this phase, P&D identified that the Walcon pontoon incorporated proprietary sliding channel sections within its construction. To support the bespoke design process, P&D removed an existing bracket featuring the channel detail and provided it to the fabricator, allowing the bespoke components to be designed precisely around the existing Walcon system.

Phase 3 – Bespoke Fabrication, Final Installation & Handover

At a later date, P&D returned to site to install the bespoke fabricated components. These included custom mooring brackets and a bespoke transition plate complete with handrails to accommodate the height difference between the Walcon pontoon and the Low Profile EZ Dock unit.

Both the transition plate and the EZ Dock connection were fixed using the bespoke bracketry designed around the Walcon sliding channel system. This approach avoided the need for drilling or permanent modification to the Walcon pontoon, preserving the integrity of the recently modified structure.

As part of the final visit, P&D also carried out a pressure wash clean of the installation, leaving the pontoon in a clean and ready-to-use condition.

Following completion, P&D remotely issued all relevant documentation to the client, including product manuals, specifications and warranty information, to support the client’s risk assessment and ongoing asset management.

The phased delivery approach allowed the project to progress efficiently while ensuring a fully bespoke, non-intrusive and accessible solution.

The completed installation provides a safe and inclusive access route between the Walcon pontoon and the EZ Dock system, accommodating level changes while maintaining operational flexibility.

Client feedback confirmed that the EZ Dock is a great addition to the launch point and that the P&D team were very pleasant to work with, reflecting both the quality of the technical solution and the on-site delivery.