Bartlett 4m X 2m V Deck Inflatable Pontoon

The cut-out at one end is shaped to take the bow of your boat. You nose in, the hull settles into the V, and the pontoon holds it steady instead of letting it swing on the water. That means you can step off, load your gear, and get people on and off without someone holding a rope the whole time. It suits your tinnie, your tender or your ski boat, and it takes two watercraft at once.

Yes, and that's down to the construction rather than the size. Drop-stitch fabric uses thousands of threads between the top and bottom skins, so when you inflate it to 4 or 5 PSI it holds its shape instead of bulging under your weight. Walking on it feels much closer to a floating jetty than an air bed. Eight adults is the rated capacity, and the 9 grab handles give your crew something to hold while they climb aboard.

The hand pump is in the box, and inflating it is a job you'd do once at the start of your day. Getting it to the water is easier than the weight suggests because there are handles down both sides, so two of you can carry it or one can drag it on grass. Packed it goes into a 55 x 45 x 30cm bag, which fits in most boots and stores in the corner of your shed.

There are 18 D-rings around the edge, which is what makes it flexible. You can anchor it, tie it to your jetty, rope it to a mooring, or join it to another Bartlett deck. If you want a bigger platform later, the 4m x 2m deck extender connects onto it and doubles your floor space.