What bridge suits you

Before we proceed with an explanation of the various bridge types, we would like to outline what sections or components a boat bridge consists of in the first place. A boat bridge has four main components: abutment, gangway, floating platform (SHALLOW, MASTER, VILLA or NAUTIC) and mooring solution. In addition, the bridge may be complemented with a variety of accessories (FloatMe PLUS). At the same time, a solution made by us may be constructed also only on the shore or the waterline, in which case we provide solutions on screw piles (FloatMe GROUND). In addition to one’s own requests, bridge selection may be affected also by the soil on the shore, water depth, weather conditions and legislation.

FloatMe SHALLOW BOAT BRIDGES

These are bridges with a low freeboard height used mainly for swimming or mooring dinghy boats. The Shallow bridges are designed for lakes, rivers, artificial bodies of water and ponds. The Shallow boat moorings are used mainly for creating a swimming location (as stand-alone or as a solution consisting of modules) or, alternatively, for small harbours (e.g. an inner harbour for rowing boats). The bridge is constructed on 250 l plastic floats, and generally the freeboard height of the bridge from the water is 0.3 m. According to the total number of floats, load-bearing capacity may be increased or decreased. The Shallow range may be complemented with a variety of Plus accessories, e.g. rescue posts, ladders, fenders, jumping platforms, mooring rings etc.

FloatMe MASTER BOAT BRIDGES

These are bridges with a high freeboard height used mainly for mooring boats and launches.
These berthing floats are designed for the sea, lakes, rivers or bigger artificial bodies of water, for landing or mooring vessels. Master is suitable as a small private harbour or a big harbour on an internal water body. The bridge is constructed on a 450 l plastic float, and generally the freeboard height of the bridge from the water is 0.5 m. This is a preferred solution at, for example, harbours where bridge modules need to be removed during the off season (e.g. rivers or exposed shores). The Master range may be complemented with a variety of PLUS accessories, e.g. rescue posts, bollards, ladders, benches, light buildings etc.

FloatMe VILLA BOAT BRIDGES

Villa boat bridges are based on concrete floats and are concrete/timber berths for the purposes of the Scandinavian market. These bridges are designed for both the sea and lakes. Mostly, the solutions are used in harbours where water levels of sufficient depth are guaranteed year-round and where there is no need to lift bridges out of the water for winter. Definitely, during the construction of Villa bridges is important to completely construct the shore infrastructure, that is, the harbour needs to be accessible for a crane and semitrailers. Constructed on concrete floats measuring either 2.4 x 1.5 m (Villa S) or 2.4 x 3.12 m (Villa L), with the freeboard height of the bridge from the water generally 0.5 m. Bridges are constructed by joining the above modules; however, bridges cannot be separated into modules subsequently (these are stationary structures).

FloatMe NAUTIC BOAT BRIDGES

The Nautic range includes block bridges consisting fully of a concrete outline and not needing any timber frames/structure. These are products with longer life times whose installation and management are the costliest at the same time. By nature, the solution is best suited for the sea (withstanding big waves); however, it may be also used successfully in other bodies of water. Suitable for the construction of main utility lines, service roads and also breakwaters at harbours. The range includes 12 x 2.4 m, 9 x 2.4 m and 6 x 2.4 m block bridge types. As a rule, the height of the freeboard from the surface of the water is 0.5 m.

FloatMe STRONG SOLUTIONS

The STRONG solutions are made on the basis of tube floats. On the one hand, it is a so-called custom-made solution where every time the necessary floats are made specifically in the length appropriate for your project; on the other hand, it is nevertheless one of the simplest and cheapest solutions to construct a boat bridge. A tube float need not be as pretty or handsome as a dedicated boat mooring float but it will nevertheless do an excellent job. We provide pontoons with various diameters and help you to choose a tube float with the right diameter. In addition to ready solutions, we provide tube floats also as stand-alone with the necessary mounting eyelets.

One of the advantages of the FloatMe STRONG product group is the possibility of travelling on them on water, that is, e.g. rafts propelled by an engine or the wind may be made. On request, e.g. the tube float may be divided into sections, filled with a special foam or turn the ends of the tube down at an angle because of flowing water.

FloatMe GROUND SOLUTIONS

The Ground range is for use on shores, in marshy areas, on slopes, precipices and also on flat surfaces. These are solutions based on screw piles, relatively similar to historical boat moorings. Whereas in the old days spruce poles would be rammed through the ice into the bottom of the body of water or into the mud, screw piles are twisted into either. Lifting ice and weather conditions disturb the stability of the posts; however, the blade of the screw pile works with both pull and push. As a result, the solutions are durable and stable. It is possible to construct steps, terraces, observation platforms etc. One of the biggest drawbacks is the soil situation, insofar as it is impossible to use the screw pile method on a cliff coast or on Scandinavian rocks. In this case, the GROUND range includes already ready solutions specifically for rock surfaces.

FloatMe INFRA FLOATING SERVICE SOLUTIONS

These are solutions that are intended primarily for servicing Scandinavian islands, harbours or bigger groups of launches and that include service stations, waste facilities (floating stations), stationary floating service buildings etc. In addition, we have constructed, for example, floating ramps for triathlon competitions and road sections open to traffic over water. Detailed information on FloatMe INFRA product solutions is available from project managers.