How to Design the Best Boat Shed
Have you been bitten by the Australian water bug? The one with the side effects that include long weekends spent on the water, whether it's sea, river or lake? If you're anything like us and love your boating, owning your own boat is a crucial step to fulfilling the Australian dream!
When you're not out there tossing a line in or exploring the coast, you're going to need a means of keeping your boat high and dry and safe and secure. You're going to need a boat shed to house your pride and joy in! Designed to keep your vessel safe and secure and to do so much more, a boat shed from Stockman Sheds is a functional and good-looking addition to your property. Here's how to go about planning one. (Or, if you’re a land lubber, check out our caravan sheds!)
Your Boat Shed Location and Access
If you're on a smaller block in the suburbs you probably won't have too much choice when it comes to the location of your shed. You want to position it in a way that it's easy to get your boat into and out of the shelter. It can be a difficult task reversing the trailer in, so you want your shed to be designed in a way that makes it as easy as possible for you. You don’t want to navigate through a maze every time you want to hit the waters!
If you're on a larger rural plot, you have a bit more choice on shed location and fewer obstacles to deal with! One thing we'd suggest is a wide roller door, so you have a bit of wiggle room when reversing. You don't want to back into a wall or door and cause damage to both your trailer and shed.
Before building your shed, mark out where you want it to go. Then give a practice run with your boat and trailer, reversing into the outline and checking that it's easy to do and there's enough turning circle.
Size and Layout of Your Boat Shelter
You don't want to be one of the many people who underestimate how much space they need for their boat shed! The common mistake is to make the shed too snug around the boat and trailer. This doesn't leave you with enough room too move around the trailer.
Width and Length
You don't want to cramp your style, or your boats. Allow for a metre either side of the boat for you to walk around. This will prove really useful for loading or unloading. With the length of the shed, remember that there's a big old engine on the back of most boats, so you want it to be long enough to accommodate that.
Height
You're also going to have equipment on top of your boat like an antenna, or a mid console or other navigation gear. Make sure your roof is high enough, and remember you can't raise the height of a shed once it's built. Building to the highest possible height your council allows in your area is advisable.
A Handy Tip
Maybe your at the beginning of your boat-owning journey, and your pride and joy is a three metre tinny. Are you planning on upgrading at any point? If you are, plan your shed around the future boats you have in mind. If you want to upscale to something a bit bigger, make sure your shed is big enough to accommodate that!
Doors
The boat shed door is the gateway to your aquatic adventures! Most people tend to go with a roller door as they allow you to maximise the available space and offer easy access. As we said above, remember to have a shed door thats wide enough to get your boat and trailer in and out without any trouble. Door height is important too - make sure it can accommodate the highest point on your boat.
As well as the main doorway, you can also consider a smaller personal access door. Having a second roller door on the opposite side of the shed to the main entry is also a popular choice. This turns it into a 'drive through shed', which can be a useful option if you have a large back yard.
Choosing the Right Boat Shed Materials
If you want decades of use out of your boat shed, it needs to be built right. Being built right starts with using the right materials, and at Stockman Sheds we only use Australian Bluescope steel and Colorbond® materials in crafting our sheds. They're tried and tested in the harsh Aussie climate, able to withstand the Queensland sun and the coastal corrosion. We definitely wouldn't recommend opting for a cheaper alternative.
Having a well-laid concrete slab is also important for your boat shed or garage. It provides a solid foundation for the structure that protects your vessel, so you want it to be reliable. Plus, it’s a solid base for installing shelves or workbenches.
Additional Extras for Your Boat Shed
Plan your Lighting
Good lighting is essential for maintenance and cleaning, andalso for those late returns from a day out on the water. Opt for bright, energy-efficient LED lights that illuminate every corner of your shed. You'll be grateful for them when you're trying to pack away the fishing gear and the wakeboard!
Shelving and Storage
Boating comes with a lot of additional extras. Depending on what you use your boat for, there are life jackets, skis and ski ropes, all sorts of fishing gear, spare tyres and all your marine tools. A well thought out shelving and storage system is going to be the unsung hero of your boat shed, allowing you to set sail without the hassle of searching for all your gear.
Check your Council Requirements
Depending on where you live, there are going to be different rules and regulations that your local council has put in place regarding shed building. Stockman Sheds are up to speed with all of them, and will ensure your shed is completely compliant with council. If you're building your own shed, the below resources will prove useful:
Connect with the Expert Builders of Boat Sheds
There's a perfect boat shed for your boat, and Stockman Sheds can build it for you! We're based in Toowoomba, all our sheds are manufactured in Brisbane, and we have teams of shed builders covering the whole of southeast Queensland. We also have a shed design team who will sit down with you, have a chat about exactly what you're after and start you on your journey to your dream shed.
Why not have a chat with one of them now and they can provide you with a quote?
