Im back!!!
Well…. Its been an interesting year. Ive been MIA due to hunting season, which has gone well so far. I didnt get a big buck, or an elk, but I passed on some young deer, caught some nice fish (from shore lol), and helped some young men get their first deer. The forest fires and drought screwed me out of boating most the year anyway, so not a total loss.
Recently, we got a massive rainstorm that tested my boat cover - it got a B+ lol. The bow are wasnt pitched enough and my cheap cover tore. Oh well, has a regular tarp over the bow for now. I was planning on addressing my storage problems anyway since we get a ton of snow out here and my boats cover was only rain rated. Assuming I can get the motor(s) running well, Id also like to be able to boat/fish through the winter months when the fair weather folk dont come out.
I looked into different storage options, including metal carports, but I wasnt about to pay $3-4000 for something that could withstand the snow at my elevation. The $1400 option at the orange store was junk.
Settled on a DIY lean-to coming off the garage instead! That is what I am literally working on right now. My truck wont fit under it, even with a 1/12 slope, so I will have to winch the boat/trailer back under it when Im done building. No worries haha. But, without doing too much math, Ive engineered it to be pretty stout.
5x 4x4” posts on cement blocks on the far end.
11x 2x6”x12’ rafters, spaced 2’ apart, that will be connected together with 2x4” reinforcements. They tie into the 4x4” post’s beam with hurricane hangers.
Header board is a 20’ total length 2x6” board with hangers, lag bolted and screwed into the garage structure.
Top all that off with 12’x2’ metal corrugated roof pieces that should shed snow quickly, especially if I help it.
Total size is 12’x20’, with 10’x20’ useable for boat storage, and its 6’6” tall on the lowest point (front).
Total cost was about $800, not including paint. Will paint to match the garage/house. Neighbors are cool but not approved by HOA (they wont check unless a neighbor complains). Building unpermitted too lol. What the gov dont know…. Well, is how to do anything right so $&@: em. My neighbor is the sheriff in town and we are on good terms - I like being and having good neighbors.
So there ya have it. Cleaning out my garage and organizing it once this lean-to is built. Then I can work in peace, dry and warm, during the winter on the boat. If I cant get those motors fixed up right, god willing, then I have a contingency plan for a brand new one….
Until next time, cheers!! I will try not to be a stranger again now that hunting season is basically done. Waiting for snow to go after my bear…
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