Let's face it, the boathouse is kind of the focal point of the property. It needed updates big time! And there were several points of interest on this phase of the renovations, such as: pilings, dock, skirt, and boat slip. And we addressed each one.

First of all, the boathouse had so much sway in it, that we would get dizzy on the balcony. LOL! Just kidding! We did need to address the sway issues and decided to review the condition of the pilings. They were rotting and had holes in the bottom of them. The middle pilings already had extra ones installed at one point in time. So, we decided to repair the 4 pilings on each corner. We had them sistered, which is an extra piling installed and bolted to the current one, as opposed to totally replacing them. We learned that the sistering method was just as effective, if not more effective, and quite a bit cheaper. Definitely the way to go in our minds.

It was so interesting to watch the construction crew install the new pilings. The pictures really don't do it justice, but I hope it gives you some idea of what they do. It was amazing to me that it did not take them that long to do it. It definitely made a difference in the sway issue.

Then, the dock was replaced completely and pointed in a different direction for my husband. He wanted to pull his boat in the slip from the south. We also added a landing for fishing and sitting on the north side of the dock. We were very pleased with the finished product! And I have to say thank you to the contractor that built the dock, because he surprised us by opting to bevel the edges of each board. This made a major difference in the finished look. I highly recommend it! I couldn't believe how much the dock improved the sway in the boathouse as well.

Next, the skirt was so ugly and it needed to match the hardi plank on the house. So we had them replace it with new plywood and hardi. It was a great finishing touch! I cannot wait to see it painted!

Finally, my husband has been waiting many years to hang his boat in a slip at his own home on the water. Well, it has come to pass! Praise God! We completely replaced the boat slip. The company that did the work was so awesome! They were very professional, timely, and reasonably priced. It is always a blessing to have someone that conducts their business in this manner on your property. 

Focal point looking good!
Moving on to the outdoor bar and deck railing renovations! Click the link below: