Frequently Asked Questions

Floats and Frames is a UK marine design and fabrication company based in Poole, Dorset, specialising in modular floating structures. We combine in-house CAD design, marine-grade aluminium fabrication and HDPE rotational moulding to produce floating home bases, houseboat kits, modular pontoons, jetties and bespoke commissions. We work with self-builders, marinas, commercial boat builders, ecology and renewable-energy projects, and film and television productions.

We manufacture the core of every system ourselves: rotomoulded Cutlass Marine polyethylene floats and bolt-together marine-grade aluminium framing, along with decking trim, brackets and bespoke fittings. Producing the floats and the frames on one site in Poole keeps quality consistent, tolerances tight and lead times short.

Yes. We regularly supply self-builders, marina operators, commercial boat builders and trade fit-out specialists, and we are happy to work alongside a client's own architect or engineer. We provide the float-and-frame structure and the supporting drawings, while trade partners handle cabin fit-out, services and finishes. We can also recommend established trade contacts where that helps.

We provide the design and manufacture, supply the floats, framing and decking, and deliver a complete kit ready for assembly. The system is designed to be sold and supplied as a straightforward self-assembly kit, which we find works best, and our engineering team supports you with drawings, layout, sequencing and siting guidance. Most clients self-assemble on the water using hand tools and complete cladding and fit-out at their own pace, with their own trade specialists where needed.

Lead times are typically around four to six weeks for floating home bases and self-build kits, depending on size and current workload; bespoke commissions vary. We deliver throughout the UK, with the method matched to the kit size and site access, from vans and trailers to flatbed lorries, and we welcome international enquiries.

We provide a limited warranty on our manufactured floats and framing against manufacturing defects. In service the system needs little upkeep: there is no blacking or submerged ferrous steel to corrode, and care amounts to periodic checks of the framing and floats for damage or abrasion. We are happy to advise on inspection and maintenance for your specific build.

Our floats are moulded from recyclable polyethylene, are repairable rather than disposable, and are engineered for a service life of up to 60 years, a clean alternative to ageing concrete and expanded-polystyrene pontoons that shed microplastics. The aluminium framing is corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and the modular design means a structure can be extended, reconfigured or relocated rather than scrapped.

Cutlass Marine floats are rotationally moulded from UV-stable linear polyethylene (PE-HD). The standard Cutlass 400 has a 6 mm wall, while the Cutlass 800_F adds a solid closed-cell PE foam inner skin for extreme durability and impact resistance. The seamless, stress-free moulding gives consistent wall thickness and a hard-chine geometry that improves stability and resists vertical compression.

Yes. Every Cutlass Marine float has a sealed internal cavity with a removable access cap. You can add water ballast to fine-tune trim and level a pontoon, or controlled-flood units when retrofitting a base beneath an existing structure. Drained and capped, the cavity delivers the float's full rated buoyancy.

Both share the same 2444 × 904 mm footprint. The Cutlass 400 is 600 mm tall, weighs 60 kg and supports a 400 kg balanced load; the Cutlass 800_F is 800 mm tall, weighs about 100 kg, is foam-lined as standard and supports an 800 kg balanced load. Choose the 800_F for heavier or multi-storey houseboats and fewer modules; the 400 for lighter decks, docks, jetties and cost-sensitive builds.

A Cutlass 400 supports 400 kg of balanced load and a Cutlass 800_F supports 800 kg, each at roughly 300 mm freeboard. The total buoyancy available for a houseboat is the sum across all floats, less the pontoon's own weight. Our team can size the float count and formation to your structure's mass and intended freeboard.

The closed-cell PE foam core in the Cutlass 800_F stiffens the wall, reduces deflection under point loads, and keeps the unit buoyant even if the outer shell is ever punctured. It suits deeper-immersion, higher-load and flood-resilient applications where a hollow shell alone would flex.

Yes. Cutlass Marine floats are moulded from recyclable polyethylene, are repairable rather than disposable, and are engineered for a service life of up to 60 years. They are a clean replacement for ageing concrete and expanded-polystyrene pontoons, which are increasingly restricted due to microplastic and environmental concerns.

Yes. Cutlass Marine 400 and 800_F floats are available for sale individually, by the pallet, or paired with aluminium framing as a complete kit. Use the Buy Pontoon Floats Online option, or request a quote for larger, trade or bespoke orders.

Floats and Frames modular pontoon bases form the foundation for floating homes, jetties, work rafts, marina finger infrastructure, industrial platforms and event decks. Each base is fabricated to order around Cutlass Marine floats and bolt-together aluminium framing, so you choose the beam section, buoyancy and frame type that suit your load and site.

The rotomoulded polyethylene Cutlass Marine floats are engineered for a service life of up to 60 years and are repairable and recyclable. The 6063-T6 marine-grade aluminium framing is corrosion-resistant with no submerged ferrous parts, so there is no blacking or hull maintenance. With basic care a Floats and Frames pontoon base is a multi-decade structure.

Yes. Modules bolt together on hardstanding with spanners and can be craned or trailered to the water as a complete vessel. For builds that will be lifted or transported fully assembled we recommend adding joint bracing, either handrail-integrated or under-deck, to prevent angular flex (V-ing) at the module joints. Most pontoons are alternatively assembled directly in the water from a bank or finger mooring, with no crane required.

Yes. UV-stable polyethylene floats and marine-grade aluminium framing suit fresh, brackish and tidal water. For sites with significant tidal range or current we add articulated joints, pile-roller assemblies and flood-resilient bank attachments. Tell us the exposure, tidal range and fetch at your site and we specify the configuration accordingly.

In some cases. VAT zero-rating can apply to qualifying permanent dwellings such as houseboats that meet HMRC criteria, but it depends on the finished structure and its use rather than the base alone. We can advise on how a project is typically treated, but you should confirm your specific position with HMRC or a qualified tax adviser before relying on it.

As a guide: the B100 suits light-duty decks, rafts and moorings; the B150 adds stiffness and a service cavity for mid-load and semi-permanent builds; the CB100 is the cross-beamed base for floating homes and cabins; the DJ150 and PJ150 are deck-ready frames with integral joists for finished walking surfaces; and the UB100 is the ultra-buoyant, high-load option. Use the visual configurator, or send us your structure's mass, footprint and site and we will size the float count and frame for you.

Each framed module corresponds to a single float length of 2.464 m, with floats arranged from catamaran (two) up to nonamaran (nine) per module. In practice the module beam that ships on a standard road load governs the largest single transportable width; wider arrays are bolted together on site. We fabricate to transportable widths by default and advise on abnormal-load arrangements where a wider pre-built module is essential.

Yes. Traditional floating-home construction usually needs a welded steel or concrete hull, craning and shipyard facilities. A Floats and Frames DIY kit replaces all of that with modular polyethylene floats and bolt-together aluminium framing that you assemble on the water using only spanners and a battery driver. Components are pre-drilled on a shared bolt pattern, so a competent DIY builder can raise the skeleton without welding or heavy lifting.

It depends on how and where the home is used. A craft kept on a residential mooring, or a structure that becomes a permanent dwelling, can fall within planning and mooring consent, while a navigable vessel on a licensed waterway is treated differently. Rules vary by site and local authority, so confirm your specific position with the relevant local planning authority and navigation authority before you build.

Depending on the waterway and use, a self-build floating home may need a navigation-authority licence (for example the Canal and River Trust or Environment Agency on inland waters), a Boat Safety Scheme certificate, residential mooring consent, and in some cases building-control or habitation standards for a permanent dwelling. We build the structure to marine fabrication standards and can advise on how kits are typically configured, but you should confirm the requirements for your site with the relevant authorities.

The bolt-together skeleton, floats, base, side panels, bulkheads and roof trusses, typically goes up in days rather than weeks, because everything is pre-drilled and lines up on a common bolt pattern. The overall timeline then depends on your cladding, glazing and interior fit-out, which you carry out at your own pace.

In some cases. VAT zero-rating can apply to qualifying permanent dwellings such as houseboats that meet HMRC criteria, but it depends on the finished structure and its use rather than the kit alone. We can advise on how projects are typically treated, but you should confirm your specific position with HMRC or a qualified tax adviser before relying on it.

Spanners and a battery driver cover most of the build, plus basic DIY competence and a second pair of hands for the larger panels. There is no welding and no specialist plant. We supply pre-drilled components and all structural fixings, and our engineering team can advise on layout, sequencing and load where you want support.

A kit includes the CB100 base modules, Cutlass Marine floats, side panels, bulkheads, roof trusses, deck rails, and all the M10 fixings required to assemble a complete, floating, skeletal home. Cladding, glazing, roofing, insulation, lining and interior fit-out are not supplied as standard, so you can source and style your own finishes to suit your budget and taste.

For most docks and jetties the B100 suits light-duty walkways and moorings, the B150 adds stiffness and a service cavity for semi-permanent structures, and the DJ150 or PJ150 give a deck-ready frame with integral joists for a finished walking surface. Heavier commercial or vehicle-bearing decks use the high-buoyancy UB100. Send us the span, loading and site exposure and we will specify the frame and float count.

Yes. The system is modular and built on a common bolt pattern, so new modules add to the bow, stern or side of an existing pontoon to lengthen a jetty or grow a finger-mooring network. Where the existing structure is one of ours this is straightforward; for third-party structures we will advise on a compatible interface.

Yes. UV-stable polyethylene floats and marine-grade aluminium framing suit fresh, brackish and tidal saltwater. For tidal and coastal sites we specify articulated joints, pile-roller assemblies and flood-resilient bank attachments to handle the rise and fall and any current. Tell us the tidal range, exposure and fetch and we configure accordingly.

We supply timber, GRP and composite decking, clamped to the pontoon surface and trimmed with bespoke peripheral aluminium angle. Composite boards give the lowest-maintenance, best-grip finish; timber suits a more traditional look and tighter budgets. We match the decking to the use, loading and exposure of the structure.

Depending on the site, pontoons are held on station with pile-and-riser assemblies, anchor mounts or shore-fixed articulated arms, and connected to the bank with hinged gangways or bridging sections that accommodate water-level change. We supply the cleats, pile-guide attachments, gangways and anchor points, and advise on the right mooring strategy for your bank, depth and water-level variation.

Yes. We can specify slip-resistant decking, handrails and balustrades, wider walkways, gentle gangway gradients and edge protection to support accessibility and safety requirements. Tell us the standard you need to meet and the expected users, and we will design the deck width, rails and access to suit.

The pontoon itself goes together quickly: a typical jetty or finger bolts up in a day or two because the modules are pre-drilled and lightweight, and many can be assembled on the water straight from the bank without a crane. With our drawings and siting guidance a straightforward jetty can be assembled and sited quickly; the overall timeline then depends on pile-setting, decking and any shore works.

Beyond our standard ranges we produce bespoke aluminium and ferrous metal structures, rotationally-moulded HDPE components, and custom modular assemblies for marine, architectural, renewable-energy and media projects. That spans one-off floating platforms, mobile and modular cabin frames, film and television props, renewable-energy and research prototypes, and custom watercraft and hovercraft components.

Yes. Because design, fabrication and moulding are all in-house, we handle one-off prototypes, experimental builds and short production runs as readily as ongoing supply. Bring us a finished drawing or just a brief, and we can take it from concept through prototyping to a finished, delivered assembly.

Primarily marine-grade aluminium (6063-T6 and similar) and rotationally-moulded UV-stable HDPE, plus ferrous steel where a build calls for it. Finishes include mill or anodised aluminium, two-pack epoxy marine paint and powder coating on steel, and a choice of timber, GRP or composite decking. We match the material and finish to the load, environment and lifespan the piece needs.

It starts with your brief or sketch and our consultation. We then move to CAD design and 3D modelling, structural visualisation, and load, buoyancy and stability analysis, with architectural and compliance guidance where the project needs it. Once the design is agreed we fabricate and deliver, keeping you involved at each stage from mould tool to finished assembly.

We work to marine fabrication standards, with CAD-driven cutting and drilling on a controlled bolt pattern so components line up and assemble predictably. Each build is checked against its drawings before it leaves the workshop. For projects with specific tolerance or certification requirements, tell us the standard and we will confirm what we can hold and evidence.

There is no fixed minimum order: no commission is too small or too specialised, from a single bespoke part to a repeat production run. Lead times depend on the complexity, tooling and materials involved, so we quote them per project; simple fabrications can be quick, while tooled HDPE mouldings or large assemblies take longer. We will give you a realistic timeline with your quotation.

Yes. We regularly deliver NDA-sealed projects, including renewable-energy and research prototypes, and are happy to sign a confidentiality agreement before discussing your project in detail. Your designs, tooling and commercial information stay confidential to your project.