Canals & Lock Pontoons

ScaffFloat is popular with those who service and maintain the thousands of miles of canals and navigable waterways in the UK.

 

We can provide access and transportation for works on:

  • Locks
  • Retaining walls
  • Piles
  • Flood protection
  • Gates
  • Sluices

We can also make a ScaffFloat to any width so it fits in the lock width for that section of the waterway. With the addition of propulsion, our ScaffFloat Workboats provide a very low-cost self-propelled barge that can is very useful on canal projects.

Gallery

Canals & Locks Case Studies

Drainage Access – Tottenham, London

GPS MACS required floating access on a narrow concrete-lined drainage channel in Tottenham, London. ScaffFloat mobilised 6no 8 x 4.2m pontoons, which were moored in the channel.

Demolition Support, Birmingham

AR Demolition was demolishing an industrial building next to a busy canal in Birmingham. They required a pontoon to provide catchment for any stray material that would otherwise fall into the busy waterway, as well as access to the water facing elevation of the building.

Bridge Inspection – Alfriston

A good example of “build-your-own” floating access. Scaffolding Ltd needed access for one of their clients to carry out an inspection and repairs on the remote and tidal Frog Firle Bridge, Alfriston.

Riverside Scaffold Installation – Bath

TR Scaffolding requested a pontoon to assist with the installation and then subsequent dismantling of scaffolding on the riverside facade of the Buro Happold Building, Bath.

Scaff Barge – Guildford

We mobilised 8m x 4m pontoon with over 3.5t payload capacity to carry materials and give access to a remote bridge on the River Tillingbourne.

Dredging Pontoon

Lutra Marine Limited requested a pontoon suitable for a 9t WM long reach excavator for dredging on the canal in Bude with their innovative new cutter head.

Bedford Lock

We mobilised a 6.0 x 2.9m pontoon which was designed specifically to fit just inside the lock for repair works on the Great Ouse river.

EA – Hilgay

We mobilised a 24m long ScaffFloat pontoon for a project in Hilgay involving the Environment Agency and SRT Scaffolding.

Brownhill lock

We designed a 16×3.7m ScaffFloat Barge to transport 15t of scaffolding to a remote lock site so a civil engineering firm could carry out maintenance works.

Floating Canal Welfare

Martin Childs LTD has been using ScaffFloats since late 2021. While working on canals there is a need for a welfare unit where normally access would be a problem.

Popular canal pontoons

8m x 3m

Ideal for canals – fits on lorry flatbed

6m x 3m

Popular for canal work

6m x 2.4m

Road transportable

View our latest news

End of 2026 ScaffFloat Shed Party

Yes, it's that time of year again when we are planning our annual end-of-year celebration, and what a year it's been! We are going to light a big bonfire, stock up on Cornish Ale and sausages and would love it if you could join us to enjoy the end of a great year. The invite… Continue reading End of 2026 ScaffFloat Shed Party

Lunch and Learn Sessions

Are you looking for group CPD opportunities? ScaffFloat can offer a 30-minute lunch and learn session with time for Q&A Delivered by our founder and MD, Toby Budd. He will cover; The ScaffFloat Story System Capability - Maximums and Minimums Case Studies by structure type: Piles (big and small), Jetties, Dolphins, Bridges, Walls Access: Floating… Continue reading Lunch and Learn Sessions

Double Win for ScaffFloat at this year’s Seaworks awards in Southampton

The only company to ever win two awards in one year, the team won the Innovation Award for Vessel Design and Construction, followed by the Best Marine Civils Project Award. Both awards were to recognise the pioneering work in designing, manufacturing, and deploying its groundbreaking hoisted ScaffFloat in Tanzania The client in Africa required access… Continue reading Double Win for ScaffFloat at this year’s Seaworks awards in Southampton

Visit us at Seaworks 2026

We are looking forward to returning to Seaworks in Southampton from the 9th to the 11th of June. We are looking forward to catching up with old and new friends throughout the event. Don't forget to come and join us for some Sea shanties and Cornish beer on Wednesday, 10th, 15:00-17:00.