Abstract: A pontoon provides buoyancy for a protection barrier to be provided in a body of water. The pontoon includes a metal structural member; a urethane inner shell that encases a portion of the metal structural member; a polyethylene region that encases the urethane inner shell; and a polyurethane elastomer or polyurea outer shell that encases the polyethylene region. A portion of the metal structural member extends out from the outer shell to thereby couple to a portion of the protection barrier.

Abstract: A winch gate for a waterborne protection barrier system includes a winch containing a length of wire wrapped around a spool. The winch gate also includes a metal fair lead that is disposed adjacent to the winch and that is positioned so as to accept the wire when the winch is controlled to unspool the wire from the spool. A hook is coupled to an end of the wire and configured to be coupled to a chain that is itself coupled to a protection barrier module of the protection barrier system. When the winch is controlled to spool the wire back onto the spool after the winch was controlled to unspool the wire from the spool and after the wire has been coupled to the chain, the chain is pulled through the metal fair lead and thereby onto the winch gate, to thereby allow the chain to be affixed to the winch gate.