Questions about boat storage

[RonStewart]

Hello GJ. I'm needing to build a shelter to keep my bass boat in because it will not fit through my garage door. I have an 8 ft door & the boat is wider than that. From the research I've done, it seems to have the door opened up to 9 ft is more expensive than building a garage or carport to house it in. Please correct me here if I'm wrong.

I live on a corner lot so I have backyard access. At this point I'm planning on building a 12x28 carport. I want to build it like the pic I attached, only half the width. Because I'm on a budget, I plan on building it on the grass, cementing the posts in the ground. I would like to pour concrete later, but it's really not feasible at this time. I also plan on putting swing doors on the front to close it off. I don't mind the gaps at the top & bottom of the sides as it will let air flow through it while keeping the boat out of the weather and help keep the wood off the ground. I'm not an engineer so my plans may not be suitable. I want to use 4x4 posts. Since I would like the roof to slant a little from the front to the back, my plan for the side to side beams sitting on top of the 4x4s is to double up 2x8s for the front beam, 2x6s for the middle beam, & 2x4s for the rear beam. Then run 2x6s or 2x8s on 12" centers front to back for the rafters. The plan for the side panels is to run 2x4s between the posts to attach siding to, one at the top, one in the middle, & one at the bottom. Hope this is making sense. Not real sure what to do for roofing materials yet. I'm open to any & all comments, criticism, & advice. Thanks,

Ron

 

[MushCreek]

I doubt having your garage door widened would cost as much as that carport, but I don't know how your garage is built. To make it wider requires a bigger header across the top of the door, and removing the old header and putting in a new one could be simple; could be a nightmare. It's usually easier to put the new header in first, then remove the old one. Then you can either put in a taller door, or fill in the space where the old header was. The worst case scenario would be if the walls are solid concrete.

As for the carport- a lot depends upon your climate. There are span tables widely available on-line that will tell you if the roof is strong enough for your local snow load (if any). If you are in a hurricane-prone area, carports are very vulnerable to high winds, so plan on putting some study into holding the structure down. If the carport is 12' wide, you would need double 2X12's minimum for a cross beam. The rule of thumb is a double 2X in inches equal to the feet of span, so a double 2X8 is good for an 8' span. You would need the same in the middle and back, although you could add more vertical support in the back. No matter where you are, I would remove the grass and put down a good bed of compacted gravel. A soon as you close in the carport, the grass will die from lack of sun and water. When water does get in there from run-off, you'll have a covered mud pit.

In FL, we used to build car ports with aluminum roof pans, which are U-shaped pans, 12" wide, and 3" tall. They fit over each other, and don't require much pitch at all. I don't think they could handle much snow, though, and they fly really well in a wind storm!

 

[dfiler2]

It might be just as cost effective to go with something like this.

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...vy-duty-building-12-x-31/p-1497802-c-9563.htm

 

[Onewolf]

How wide is your boat trailer? There is a good chance it's 8'6" wide. Getting that thru a 9' wide door would be challenging. I would want at least a 10' wide door. I opted for a 12' wide door for our 21 bay boat.

As someone else mentioned, it would be extremely useful for you to include your (general) location so posters can provide more suitable advice. If you're in Florida there will be major implications for engineering because of wind load building codes.

 

[RonStewart]

Thanks dfiler2. That might be an option if it comes with an option for a wider door.

MushCreek, I live in Oklahoma so snow isn't as much an issue as wind. Thanks for the info. Here's a couple pics on the garage door from the inside. The only concrete to cut through is the footing & the brick on the outside. I'm going to do a little checking today to see what a load of gravel will cost. I would much rather prefer that than the grass, but I mentioned not putting anything down for the feedback.

Oops. 2nd pic is sideways.

 

[dfiler2]

Here is one with a door that is almost 9' and I'm sure there are other options. I can see where the cost of a new door and having a wider header put in a building could easily be more than a second storage shed.

 

[RonStewart]

Thanks dfiler2. I will check out their options. The first one was the right size & the second one has the right door opening. My boat takes 25 ft length wise to store it & it's 8 ft - 3 in wide. I just bought it & never in a million years thought it wouldn't fit through my garage door. I would much rather have a second building do I don't lose my workshop in my garage, but keeping the boat out of the weather is priority one. I'm going to do some checking on cost of gravel & the cost of concrete & see what I cab do. I'm open to all options.

 

[RonStewart]

Here's one option I've been looking at, it's just pretty expensive. I'm sure I could build it much cheaper. http://www.alansfactoryoutlet.com/garages

 

[DC73]

I'm going to do a little checking today to see what a load of gravel will cost..

Look into crushed granite. They are using it lot around here for xeriscaping. Put some weed cloth below it. It compacts pretty hard and is easy to walk on and drive on. I'll be using it for a utility trailer parking area.

If you end up with a building that is fairly air tight, you might want to put down some heavy vinyl under the gravel or crushed granite to help with humidity build up coming from the ground.

You are doing the right thing by getting a protected storage area for your boat. It will save you many dollars and grief in the long run. Been there, wished I had done that.

DC

 

[Catadj78]

Just get one of those roadside $695 carports for now until the garage door can be fixed

 

[RonStewart]

Yeah DC, I've seen what the weather will do to a boat. This one has been garage kept its entire life & that's why it's in the shape it's in. I will check into the crushed granite. Thanks.

Catadj78, that was my original plan, & then extend the sides down a little over half way to the ground & the same on the back. With the rain we get, just the carport as it is, the boat would still get soaked. Plus, I would have to get a longer one as my boat won't fit all the way under the standard carport. I need 25 ft of room to fit the boat in. I have an oversize one car garage, 12x25, but unfortunately only an 8 ft wide door. Anyway, reading some stuff on here, that carport with or without sides & back may not survive our wind & storms. Thanks for the input.

 

[Catadj78]

Yeah DC, I've seen what the weather will do to a boat. This one has been garage kept its entire life & that's why it's in the shape it's in. I will check into the crushed granite. Thanks.

Catadj78, that was my original plan, & then extend the sides down a little over half way to the ground & the same on the back. With the rain we get, just the carport as it is, the boat would still get soaked. Plus, I would have to get a longer one as my boat won't fit all the way under the standard carport. I need 25 ft of room to fit the boat in. I have an oversize one car garage, 12x25, but unfortunately only an 8 ft wide door. Anyway, reading some stuff on here, that carport with or without sides & back may not survive our wind & storms. Thanks for the input.

I know how it is. I have a bass boat too. Dont get to use it as often as I like. Mine is 19ft boat, havent measured overall length. I am puttong a lean to on the shop I am building for the boats to live in until then the big bass boat is at my fils and my lil river boat is in the yard

 

[brycez28]

I have a smaller version of this going on 2 years old now http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...grey-peak-frame-shelter/p-1697065-c-10153.htm

It has held up to our Wisconsin snow and winds. However, it is protected on two side by my garage and a fence. Only time anything in it has gotten wet inside is our past snow storm with 30+ mph winds and that was only a little bit of snow that blew in under the door.

 

[RonStewart]

Onewolf, thanks for your input. I missed your post somehow. I've included my location now. Basically I'm wanting to cement 4x4s in the ground for posts & then attach a roof to them for the carport. Then put sides & a back on it. Very similar to the pic I attached in the first post, only mine will be just a single, not a double bay. My trailer is 8'3" wide. It may be tight for a 9 ft door, but I have extensive backing experience with trailers. That's not saying I won't screw up, lol, just that I have a straight shot to get it through the door. Plus, I will probably be pushing it in anyway. I would much prefer the 2nd building for it, but I'm looking for best solution for the least money right now.

 

[ishiboo]

Keep in mind commenters that Norman is the home of the NWC and has been struck by several tornados itself.

 

[RonStewart]

yes ishiboo, we have the NWC here & we have been hit 3 times, 2 of which were in the last 5 years. LOL. There are a lot of carports here still standing.

I'm looking at another angle. Thinking about pouring a concrete footer & filling the inside with gravel for a pad. Then just raise actual garage walls on the footer. Basically build a 12x28 garage on a concrete footer & have gravel for the floor. Thoughts? Comments?

If I do this, can I just use treated siding instead of sheathing for the sides & just paint it? Or should I put on sheathing with tyvek & the some type of siding? I appreciate all the great help here.

 

[RonStewart]

Catadj78, right now the boat is still in my uncle's garage. I'm glad I didn't bring it home yet. We got snow & ice last night. Anyway, I will probably have to move it to FIL's house also & put it in his shop until I can get something worked out at my house.

I looked at those Bryce, I just didn't know how well they would hold up with the wind we have. I haven't seen one around here. Thanks for your testimony. Might give me another option.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would just go with a carport. Either a kit, or have some one install it. You can run metal sides down to the ground. Add a back and they even make garage door.

Not as nice looking as a stained wood structure, but just a functional as what you are talking about.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm looking at another angle. Thinking about pouring a concrete footer & filling the inside with gravel for a pad. Then just raise actual garage walls on the footer. Basically build a 12x28 garage on a concrete footer & have gravel for the floor. Thoughts? Comments?

Sure, why not ! I would have the footer come out of the ground 6-12". If you ever do put a floor in, it will already be "formed" !

Would you do traditional stick built construction ? PT footer, 2x4 studs 16" O.C., etc. Depending on codes, you might be able to go 2x6 on 24" centers. Also, depending on codes, if you install "wind bracing" on/in the walls, you might be able to get away with just T1-11 and no other sheathing.

 

[RonStewart]

theoldwizard1, i would do traditional stick built construction with 2x4s 16" O.C. I will check out the wind bracing on the net. Not sure what to do for that. Thanks for the input.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Boats should either be hung from davits or in the water.

 

[logical]

IMHO, Boats should either be hung from davits or in the water.

Those two options work in southern, CA. In places where water becomes ice and snow falls...not so much

Sent from my garage.

 

[Jazz1]

I lay boards across my boat and lay a tarp on it for the winter. Keeps it all dry. Completely resistant to wind.
The canvas bow cover and lid are stored in rodent resistant containers. Learned that after leaving them in boat one season and mice chewed bow cover for nesting materials

 

[Stuart in MN]

Are there any places that shrink wrap boats in your area? I see a lot of them stored outside that way in Minnesota, and they seem to be well protected during the winter.

 

[kwb]

Shrink Wrap is Mold City.
Build the Wood Carport to park the boat under and give a bit of room for your yard stuff while you are at it. Also be realistic about what your next boat might be. Bit Taller or longer it would **** to do all of this and not fit the next one.
The metal things are ugly and it sounds like you are in a neighborhood so no reason to piss off the neighbors with an eyesore that will be there year round.

6- 6x6 posts, 4 beams, couple dozen 2x10's and some sheets of plywood.
One half day rental of a post hole digger, and about 20bags of concrete.
Two large pizzas and two days with a couple of buddies that are workers.

 

[jimindm]

You can decide on sizes. If this is an area that needs inspections, you may look at regulations for doing that.

Carports are allowed in our town, but if they are close enough to any other building or lot line, there needs to be rated fire walls. Hard to do with an open sides. One may not be able to build an open building.

Before you get to far into your ideas, I would make sure you can even build something like that where you want to put it.