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Blog > An Up-Close Look At Timber Projects, Posts By Sandy > Pretty Post & Beam Boathouse

Pretty Post & Beam Boathouse

By Sandy Connolly on October 03, 2013

We recently worked to build a boat house on Lake Sunapee. It was a fun project. The frame design needed to be strong enough for a boat lift, and of course handsome.

As an interesting side note, permits are not being given out for boathouses on the lake currently, but if you already have one, you can replace it with a timber frame (so I was told).

Anyways, here we go!

Dock, ready for new boathouse

New dock, ready for new boathouse.

The beginning of the timber frame process starts with a 3D design that is created to allow the homeowner to visualize their frame.

A design challenge for this project was utilizing a small space to fit 2 boats.

Timber design in 3D

Looking good!

Additionally, the trusses needed to be strong enough to hold a lift attachment and a boat. The trusses used for this boathouse have a Modified Hammer Beam design, which is super strong, and there is an additional row of posts for structural support.

Traditional Modified Hammer Beam

Traditional Modified Hammer Beam

Above is the more traditional modified hammer beam design, which may have been strong enough with a tie rod to hold one boat sans lift, but that’s not what the client asked for! & our crew likes a challenge.

Timber Frame Boathouse

Ready to be closed in.

Let’s take a closer look at Lake Sunapee, who gets tired of that? Not me!

Looking through the timbers

Beautiful Frame – Beautiful Day

These timbers are native hemlock, rough sawn and semi sanded and stained.  The style of joinery is traditional and the joinery pegs are cut flush.

Photo by Watermark Marine Construction

Photo by Watermark Marine Construction

The final result was a happy homeowner with happy boats 🙂

If you like this project or have any questions, we encourage you to get in contact, ask an expert, or share your thoughts in the comment section below!

About the Author

Sandy Connolly

Wife and Mother (twin girls ROCK), Horses are fun...beautiful kitchens make me smile :-) love timber framing!
3 comments
  1. Mike says:

    That job was a lot of fun–it turned out very nice.

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