Building a Better Boat Shelter
- Thread starter Mike...
- Start date
wannaboat":2fgruryd said:Tomorrow, we are apparently going to have wind gusts up to 50mph.
So it occurs to me that perhaps I need to abandon the PVC plan and go with some good, sturdy American steel.
I am now looking at this carport, though with 14 ft clearance and 30 ft long. I figure I'll lace on some canvas on each side, to give some horizontal cover from the elements..
Any thoughts?
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mike
I like the look of that and the posts look strong enough to support whatever sides you chose to attach. I'll be interested in hearing what the rough pricing is when you get a quote.
Levitation
New member
Three or four pairs of 4x4 posts set in the ground with 2x4 posts in between, 2x4 rafters, 2x2 girts and diagonal braces, all covered with greenhouse plastic held on with plastic cap nails (Home Depot)... The plastic is good for a minimum of 5 years in the sunlight... Will do a better job than a car port... Costs about the same as one shrink wrap job...
denny-o
denny-o
I bought a 15' x 30' fabric tarp (65/35 blend) from Mytarp. Hopefully this will last a few yrs in the FL sun then we will make one. We will use the old tarp and cutup to make a template for the new cover. I was looking at the Sailrite catalog and the Admiral and I are interested in visiting their Indiana store and looking at the fabrics and sewing machines. The Admiral is retiring this yr and lining up some new projects! After working 60 -70 hrs per week for years, the projects will go fast and I will learn how to sew, too
yahoo!
yahoo!
Instead of lacing up canvas for the sides, I suppose I could bolt up something else, but I would like it to look decent when done. Maybe some plywood covered by siding?
That carport I mentioned above is roughly $5,000 delivered (not installed), and is 40 feet long, not 30. Expensive, but would easily withstand the crazy winds we had last night... and a whole bunch more
Since I can't seem to make a decision, I am going to order a Sunbrella cover for the TomCat while I figure this all out.
I posted another thread about the cover. I am looking for a place that has a patter to make one (and can do the job right).
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mike
That carport I mentioned above is roughly $5,000 delivered (not installed), and is 40 feet long, not 30. Expensive, but would easily withstand the crazy winds we had last night... and a whole bunch more
Since I can't seem to make a decision, I am going to order a Sunbrella cover for the TomCat while I figure this all out.
I posted another thread about the cover. I am looking for a place that has a patter to make one (and can do the job right).
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mike
1TUBERIDER
New member
I have a building from U S Steel. 20x30 x16. I left one end open so I use it like a car port. I have no height issues even with my radar mounted on the roof rack. I also get the trailer completely in the building. Next to it sits my sports car and a jet ski trailer with skis and behind all that my storage.
Cost was around 2500 for the metal which bolts together like an erector set. The pita is making the foundation and standing the arches for bolting together. I spent around 6 weeks in the dirt making the foundation which cost around 1000 between forms and cement. Then spent around a week bolting the arches together for resurrection. Then the party(you need 4 to six helpers) to stand the arches which took only a day. Then the nut tightening and end wall took another week.
It has been durable and survived many high wind storms and is a permanent structure that is easy to maintain. With the end wall off, it is easy to park the boat right up against the bulkhead (wall) so that I have plenty of room on the other side for the car and other stuff. The 16 foot height allows this as the 12 footer would have been tight to get the boat up against the wall.
When I bought the kit it was on sale and included delivery. It was originally used to house a motorhome and now my boat. Its been very useful.
My neighbor has the pvc polytarp for his boat. Not as durable but functional with less cost but over time it will have to be replaced. So far he has 3 years on it. I have at least 10 years on mine and it still looks like it did the day I completed it.
Cost was around 2500 for the metal which bolts together like an erector set. The pita is making the foundation and standing the arches for bolting together. I spent around 6 weeks in the dirt making the foundation which cost around 1000 between forms and cement. Then spent around a week bolting the arches together for resurrection. Then the party(you need 4 to six helpers) to stand the arches which took only a day. Then the nut tightening and end wall took another week.
It has been durable and survived many high wind storms and is a permanent structure that is easy to maintain. With the end wall off, it is easy to park the boat right up against the bulkhead (wall) so that I have plenty of room on the other side for the car and other stuff. The 16 foot height allows this as the 12 footer would have been tight to get the boat up against the wall.
When I bought the kit it was on sale and included delivery. It was originally used to house a motorhome and now my boat. Its been very useful.
My neighbor has the pvc polytarp for his boat. Not as durable but functional with less cost but over time it will have to be replaced. So far he has 3 years on it. I have at least 10 years on mine and it still looks like it did the day I completed it.
We have a "big grey tent" like the one Joe linked:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=92640
It's in its second year and holding up very well. (We had to have the house gutted and rebuilt and needed somewhere to store all the household goods last year.) After that little project was done, he C-Farer fit right in, along with way too much other stuff, for this winter.
It comes with very stout ground anchors. The poly tent material is extra heavy duty. There are a few issues that the buyer needs to be aware of.
First: when it's closed up, the interior air retains the moisture from the soil. If you don't want ice forming on the inside supports, buy the vent that's an option.
Second: Make sure the "skin" is tightened well. If you don't ratchet the ends all the way, the skin will flap a bit and can tear the seams on the front corners.
Other than that, aside from the pita to put it together, it's a pretty good structure. Snow doesn't accumulate to any great degree on the top.
Pat
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=92640
It's in its second year and holding up very well. (We had to have the house gutted and rebuilt and needed somewhere to store all the household goods last year.) After that little project was done, he C-Farer fit right in, along with way too much other stuff, for this winter.
It comes with very stout ground anchors. The poly tent material is extra heavy duty. There are a few issues that the buyer needs to be aware of.
First: when it's closed up, the interior air retains the moisture from the soil. If you don't want ice forming on the inside supports, buy the vent that's an option.
Second: Make sure the "skin" is tightened well. If you don't ratchet the ends all the way, the skin will flap a bit and can tear the seams on the front corners.
Other than that, aside from the pita to put it together, it's a pretty good structure. Snow doesn't accumulate to any great degree on the top.
Pat
Patrout":3pb1tuzy said:
Hello Pat.
I looked at that one but was concerned it would not withstand the winds we apparently get here. In the two years we have been in the area, I never clocked anything above 25mph. Turns out, according to a few of the locals, wind gusts over 50mph are not all that uncommon, but that the "last couple of years has been kinda peaceful." Go Figger.
Still, up there in North Pole, you should get some rather windy (not to mention mighty cold) days, yes?
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mike
Hi Mike,
It does get a little chilly up here. It's about 10 below right now. That's normal for mid-November. But since we don't often have strong winds, we can weather the cold most of the time.
I've noticed a number of pole and tarp structures all around this part of the state. Some of them have been up for over 5 years and still look pretty good. (I'm not referring to the 10X20 white tents that Sam's Club sells. Ours lasted only 5 years before it began to disintegrate.)
High winds would surely be the enemy of these "tents." But I think if you can get the covering nice and taut, it won't flap in the breezes like a sail luffing. That reminds me, I have to go out tomorrow and tighten ours up a little more.
Pat
It does get a little chilly up here. It's about 10 below right now. That's normal for mid-November. But since we don't often have strong winds, we can weather the cold most of the time.
I've noticed a number of pole and tarp structures all around this part of the state. Some of them have been up for over 5 years and still look pretty good. (I'm not referring to the 10X20 white tents that Sam's Club sells. Ours lasted only 5 years before it began to disintegrate.)
High winds would surely be the enemy of these "tents." But I think if you can get the covering nice and taut, it won't flap in the breezes like a sail luffing. That reminds me, I have to go out tomorrow and tighten ours up a little more.
Pat
Well, it's certainly not a cheap solution, But I put up a pole barn. It's open on both ends, and I kept it open at the bottom on both sides.
You can see a picture of my Cat House in my album.
I tried one of the metal framed carport thingie's, and it lasted until Dennis blasted thru one afternoon. My wife never liked it, so she wasn't a bit disappointed.
The pole barn is great, and we fixed it up to look like the house somewhat.
I even added a deck on the side the boat doesn't sit on, so that working on the boat was easier. It still allows me room to park my trailer with the tractor on it next to the boat.
Tomcats are not cheap....to me anyway......and I'm lots happier having it inside a decent shelter. With a good shelter, the boat will last virtually forever.
You idea of locating the enclosure where you can drive thru, is a good one. I set the pole barn up, so I could pull past it when we come home in the evening, and back in after the boats cleaned up. When we want to leave, I pull the boat out and back it down the drive to the street.
Gordon
You can see a picture of my Cat House in my album.
I tried one of the metal framed carport thingie's, and it lasted until Dennis blasted thru one afternoon. My wife never liked it, so she wasn't a bit disappointed.
The pole barn is great, and we fixed it up to look like the house somewhat.
I even added a deck on the side the boat doesn't sit on, so that working on the boat was easier. It still allows me room to park my trailer with the tractor on it next to the boat.
Tomcats are not cheap....to me anyway......and I'm lots happier having it inside a decent shelter. With a good shelter, the boat will last virtually forever.
You idea of locating the enclosure where you can drive thru, is a good one. I set the pole barn up, so I could pull past it when we come home in the evening, and back in after the boats cleaned up. When we want to leave, I pull the boat out and back it down the drive to the street.
Gordon