Big Sky Innovations, renowned globally for their Inflatable Pontoons, has expanded their range of platforms for boaties to caravanning pet owners. The company was established in 2013 by Gavin and Lydia Skinner – a nature-loving couple from Gold Coast.
It all started when the couple got tired of the unavoidable annoyances familiar to all boaties when parking their vessel in shallow waters; often having to walk through muddy waters to get onboard. This led to damaged hulls, dirty interiors, and the tiring task of Gavin having to carry Lydia, followed by their friends’ wives and kids on and off their boat!
“We are the kind of people who, on seeing a problem, find solutions,” the couple explains. “So, when as boaties we looked for a lightweight, heavy-duty pontoon that could be used as a walkway from shore to water and couldn’t find one, we decided to create it ourselves.”
The couple spent years in research and development before launching their first docking station in 2013. Made from PVC horsehair material, it was sturdy, easy to install, and took just 3 minutes to inflate and assemble. They took their pontoon out to the lakes, and it was an instant hit. “We had massive interest from the boating community just from using it, and everything grew from there,” they say. With Lydia doing the marketing and Gavin designing, BSI took off.
Demand increased, and soon there were requests for different designs. “Boaties loved the convenience of our pontoon, so we started making shapes for different needs. We currently have six models configured for different vessels and usages – from docking stations, and deck extender to pools,” they say. Gavin and Lydia’s passion for problemsolving hasn’t stopped there. After the technology for inflatables had been perfected, they shifted their attention to a new issue – this time, on land.
“We started caravanning with our dogs and were alarmed to see how people struggle to contain their furbabies onsite with tangled leads and heavy metal fences. We instantly knew we could incorporate our expertise to build an enclosure with the same characteristics as our pontoons. This led to the InflataFENCE®,” they explained.
InflataFENCE® features the same high-grade materials as their pontoons to create a modular enclosure that inflates in seconds to be as hard as timber, and securely fits to vans; convertible as a standalone; weighs 1/3 of a metal fence and packs down into a gym-sized bag for storage.
“Like our pontoons, the response has been incredible. Caravanners love the durability, ease, and freedom of the InflataFENCE®,” they say.
Big Sky Innovations’ unwavering commitment to innovative design, and quality, coupled with exceptional customer care has led this Gold Coast company to be global market leaders in their craft. They are also the chosen suppliers in customised inflatables from sporting associations, aviation, and SES, to marine research.
They quote, “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 and in the outdoors.”
Published in print January-March 2024
