Planning new garage

[BP in ME]

Sounds like you have done your homework. Is there any variances available that would allow you to "remodel" the existing building bigger ? Sometimes it's allowed if you reuse a wall of an existing structure instead of completely replacing the entire structure. Which side of your new building would you have closer to the shoreline in order to go bigger ? Not knowing your layout, would it be possible to gain size by going more to a side or possibly giving up some driveway ? Don't know if making a variance request thru an attorney would possibly help or not. Just a couple more ideas that I have had friends go thru when they wanted a bigger garage. Good luck & hope you can get this resolved.

A variance might be possible. I don't want to say anything bad about the code officer (yet). He hasn't even reviewed the situation and won't do a site eval until a permit is filed. When I say "boxed in" I'm not exaggerating. Water on 3 sides (mostly behind it). And in front, there's the discontinued town road that serves as my driveway. I have to stay 10' back from that line

[IndianaBassMan]

That isn’t wide enough for those three side by side

I agree....no way that will work

[IBHUFFY]

I'd park all three side by side in a chalked box that you have drawn on a parking lot. see how it all fits in the box and then make your decision.

[paulrodbender]

And don't forget, you'll need to open the door to get in and out of the daily driver..........

[rivertrail]

I did 12X12 doors on mine. glad I didn't go 10'

[berudd]

That isn’t wide enough for those three side by side

That what I was going to say. I have my boat in one bay and my 68 Camaro in the other (two 8' doors). My 500cc 4wheeler fits between them but it is tight. If 16' if the biggest door, I'd go with that.

I guess since you need a tractor to clear snow, you don't use the boat in the winter. It might be OK if it is almost touching the wall and you don't need to get it out. I guess during fishing season, something will sit outside?

[berudd]

Don’t forget the drain in the floor where you’ll park your boat!!

That can be challenging to get in some locations and given he appears to be near a body of water, I get it is a no go. I do not have a drain and never get any water on the floor under my boat.

[jbassman87]

That can be challenging to get in some locations and given he appears to be near a body of water, I get it is a no go. I do not have a drain and never get any water on the floor under my boat.

Do you let it dry completely before backing it in the garage, if you fished in the rain?

[west_tn]

I do not have a drain and never get any water on the floor under my boat.

Do you dry launch it? Just the carpet from my trailer will drip enough for water to pool. My lake is 10 minutes down the road though, so no time to dry out on the way home.

[Fishshooter]

A variance might be possible. I don't want to say anything bad about the code officer (yet). He hasn't even reviewed the situation and won't do a site eval until a permit is filed. When I say "boxed in" I'm not exaggerating. Water on 3 sides (mostly behind it). And in front, there's the discontinued town road that serves as my driveway. I have to stay 10' back from that line

I don't know who your "code officer" reports to, but I'd try to go over his head somehow, if possible, to try to get answers. If a building permit only costs say $25 , it might be worth it just to get things moving foreward with real answers after a site evaluation. Good luck.

[BP in ME]

I don't know who your "code officer" reports to, but I'd try to go over his head somehow, if possible, to try to get answers. If a building permit only costs say $25 , it might be worth it just to get things moving foreward with real answers after a site evaluation. Good luck.

Exactly my strategy. I've talked to state DEP to get a feel for the current reasons and goals of the regulations. (I have a degree in Environmental Biology so I studied and used to know the regs very well but things change in 35 years). They aren't wanting to prevent people from having nice homes. They want to minimize and prevent damage to the water resource and, to some extent, keep the natural beauty intact.

[av]

I did 12X12 doors on mine. glad I didn't go 10'

Please share a picture of garage 24 wide with 2 12ft doors

[berudd]

Do you let it dry completely before backing it in the garage, if you fished in the rain?

Nope

[berudd]

Do you dry launch it? Just the carpet from my trailer will drip enough for water to pool. My lake is 10 minutes down the road though, so no time to dry out on the way home.

Don't know what to tell you. I don't get water in my shop when I back my boat in.

[BP in ME]

Don't know what to tell you. I don't get water in my shop when I back my boat in.

I'm with you. Even with the lake 5 minutes down the road I've never worried about excessive water dripping off the boat/trailer. I've got Gatorbak on the bunks and pull the drainplug at the ramp. No puddles. Now pulling the car in when it's all caked with snow, salt, and slush.....that's when you want the drain

[ksubasser24]

As many have said bigger is better. The cost difference to even get another 2-4 deeper is minimal. I would want as much depth as possible. When Wife and I built our house a couple things I did as we were limited to 36' wide for garages. The Third stall was 14' wide and we put a 11' wide garage door in it. I can get the boat nice and tight to the wall during the winter and keep it away from the wall when in season to keep room for getting around it easy for cleaning and any other things I want to work on. If you can swing it go 18' or even 20'. You won't regret it. Also the depth is nice for being able to work on the motor when I want to. A 24x 24' garage likely ends up 23 ' to 23'4" depending if it is 2x4 or 2x6 construction. That doesn't leave a lot of room for a boat straight in. My old 181 champ (didn't have a swing trailer tounge) would barely fit in 23' garage straight in.

[Fishshooter]

Exactly my strategy. I've talked to state DEP to get a feel for the current reasons and goals of the regulations. (I have a degree in Environmental Biology so I studied and used to know the regs very well but things change in 35 years). They aren't wanting to prevent people from having nice homes. They want to minimize and prevent damage to the water resource and, to some extent, keep the natural beauty intact.

Hopefully then you will know the laws & regulations better than this "code officer" before its said & done. Might be worth documenting your findings as you go so can avoid being misinformed/misled by him once he is involved. He might not like you for doing that, or he might be impressed you did the research . At least you will know what's allowed & what's not.

[JR19]

Don't know what to tell you. I don't get water in my shop when I back my boat in.

Like west_tn my floor will have a little water in it that drains from the bunks. He mentioned he lives 10 minutes from the lake. When I use the ramp that is 4 miles from my house I have a wet garage floor after a trip to the lake. However I sometimes fish a lake that is 65 miles away and another that is 30 miles away. In both those scenarios my floor is dry after parking the boat. I suspect yours being dry is because your towing more than 5-6 miles to get home thus drying the bunks and having no water on the floor once you get home.

[Dave A]

Like the title says, I'm putting together plans to build a garage this spring and 24x24 is probably the biggest the town is going to approve for this site. During the winter months I want to have the boat pushed all the way to the left side, the daily driver on the right side, and the Kubota in the middle. The tractor will be used for clearing the driveway. Would you go with a 16' door? It seems like that would be a lot easier than trying to get the tractor in and out otherwise

Yes, go with a 16' door, that's the only way to not have a column in the middle of opening.

[JTN]

If they won’t let you build bigger, sell your home and move out in the country;)