Doing a house design for a guy who will build along the Tennessee River. Picturesque setting. In one conversation he mentioned a ramp, dock, and boat house. He has a 23′ Checkmate and a coupla Jet-Skis. Though I’m really just focusing on the house, I’ll still pass on boat house ideas if I have any.
So, recognizing that I live in the mountains where the closest thing to a boat dock is the suction cup on my daughter’s bathtub row boat, what makes a great boat house?
Look closely at these common locations for hazardous materials in older homes.
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Replies
Hi Cloud,
Here on this island, we are precluded by codes from building any new ones but several old ones are still around of all kinds.
Some of it depends on budget and how it wil be used.
You can have the basic boat parking garage with ramps for pulling the beast out of the water, with a nice workbench along a side. Some have a lauching ramp running right through the thing. We have tides to contend with but I imagine you might have a situation where the boats run in under the building with a ladder/stair to arrive at the party deck above.
Some 'boathouse's grandfathered close to the water have been converted to a large party house where all the wild shenanigans go on to save the lamps in the house. With the wide open views it makes for a great location, plus, it's close to the cooler water on a hot day. So bathrooms are important.
I see it as boat garage below and party level above, with bathroom and wetbar. Maybe an optional cot or pullout for overnight guests.
Thanks for the ideas, pif. There's no budget-limit for speculation and conceptualization, so I can dream on his behalf. Never know, if I throw out some ideas he likes, might get to expand the scope of the project. Worth a shot...
Before he gets too worked up about this he really needs to get some basic information.
I believe that the Tenesse River is a navigatable water way and has commerical traffic. While probably need to have a Coast Guard hearning. I have absolutely no idea what they require. Also might be distrubing sediment that contains PBC's, dixon, DDT, etc and require EPA approval. Might be a state esasement that prohibits the whole thing.
Then he needs to find out what the water flow is and the highs and lows water levels. Don't want to put have the boat house lift up by the boat smashing into the ceiling.
Our tidal boat houses are buit entirely out of the water, just behind the high water line, for the most part, and then a ramp or set of rails for entering the water was extendd from the house to the water. That was then.
Now, most folks use a trailer to move the boat in and out of the water and a dock or mooring to park it and structures can't be built within 75' of the water. Good point about checking local regs before designing anything.
Excellence is its own reward!
I agree with checking regulations. Around here, N.E. Wisconsin, we are allowed to build boat houses with a special permit from the DNR. But they must be behind shoreline, then trenched in, to allow access. Tides are not an issue here( inland lakes). Best one I've seen recently was biult on a sheet piling foundation. Awesome, but not for everyones budget. Also seen them done on poured concrete walls and footings. This can be tough to excavate and keep dry while working at 4 to 6 feet below water level. Yeah, I've been there. Actually had to have one of the guys pull my feet out of bottom of the hole as the saturated soil had quite a hold, but that's another story. Now I " just say no" , unless they want to pop for the pilings!
Brudoggie
Cloud,
Been going to the Muskoka region of Ontario since I was a kid. They have arguably the best collection of boat houses in N. America. There are some coffee table books available with pictures of the best boat house in that area.
Some of my observations:
As piffin said, party and billiard room above with walk out deck.
Window boxes.
Slide or diving board.
Lots of cleats for visitors boats.
Lots of shelves inside.
Bottle openers attached to walls all over the place.
Ditch
A closet or two with secure locks for boat equipment.
These places can be a favorite place for teens to break in and party down in the off season. Toys from the boats can disappear.Excellence is its own reward!
Piff,
Automatic boat house door openers.
Ditch