Big Sky Innovations is Australia’s premier builder and original creator of the ‘Inflatable Pontoon’.

Big Sky Innovations is Australia’s premier builder and original creator of the ‘Inflatable Pontoon’. Celebrating our 10th year anniversary in 2022 since the launch of the first inflatable docking system in the world, we are recognised for our continuous innovations. A fully-owned and operated Australian company since 2013, our pontoons are designed on the Gold Coast and recognised as the world’s most portable, sturdy, heavy-duty floating platform.

Our methods and materials used in creating our pontoon structures have been used, not just by boating enthusiasts, but our customised designs have also been adopted for use by sporting associations worldwide and most recently by international marine biologists working in conjunction with Australian universities for coral restoration in the Great Barrier Reef.

Quoted by Channel 9 News as “game changing technology”, our passion is to keep creating innovative solutions that will keep things simple for you, so that you can simply enjoy life on the water.

Pioneers of the Inflatable Pontoon

One of the advantages of living in Queensland is the abundance of gorgeous waterways, dams, and lakes. Like many avid boating enthusiasts, Gavin and Lydia looked forward to their regular visits and boat excursions to the idyllic waters of places like Lake Moogerah and Somerset.

There are two unavoidable annoyances familiar to all boaties – getting onboard covered in mud or scratching the boat’s hull. They are minor inconveniences, but finding solutions to these issues would change the couple’s lives. As Gavin & Lydia explains, it began simply enough. “We love boating, and places like Lake Moogerah are incredibly beautiful. But getting through the mud each time was unpleasant and slightly detracted from the experience.”

Soon, her husband Gavin was carrying her, then other family members and friends. “It was partly to be nice and partly to make cleaning the boat easier,” he jokes. “But eventually, it became a little annoying.” The solution was obvious – buy a portable platform.

“We looked everywhere for a simple pontoon we could bring with us, but there was nothing. So, we decided to make one ourselves,” Gavin & Lydia explains. This was easier said than done, and the couple spent years in research and development before finding the perfect formula. Finally, in 2013, they launched Big Sky Innovations (BSI) and their first pontoon. Made from PVC horsehair material, it was sturdy, easy to install, and took just 3-4 minutes to inflate and assemble.

They started taking their product out to the lakes. It was an instant hit, with fellow boating enthusiasts wanting to know where they bought the pontoon. With Lydia doing the marketing and Gavin designing, BSI took off.


Demand increased, and soon there were requests for different designs. “People liked the convenience of the pontoon, so we started to design various shapes for different needs,” Gavin explains. “We currently have five types of inflatable pontoons from straight walkways to extendable decks, with more on the way.”

Soon, the company was gaining considerable media attention, featuring on QLD Weekender, Morning Sunrise, and outdoor adventure TV programs like Creek to Coast.