How to straighten my boathouse?

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Was it recently level with the water?

Yes it was perfectly level, Jay, back in the early spring when the water level was down, just before the Spring runoff. (The water in our lake rises a good 3 ft. to it's normal Summer level during the Spring runoff.) I have now figured out what the problem is. The top 3 or 4 or 5 layers of new 6 x 6's are sitting on top of the old Cedar crib, which is still sound, and will be long after I am gone. The problem is that I haven't attached them yet, because I am still making adjustments. So, that outer end just floated up! Big surprise, but no problem, because the other end is underneath the wall of the boathouse. Anyway, I can just make a bit of a platform and place some flat rocks on it for now, because it is just barely floating. (I can step on that high corner and push it down quite a bit.) Then in the fall I will finish attaching the new top structure to the old. In any case, it is certainly not going even want to float once I get all the PT 2 x 8 decking on.

 

[PILOON]

You missed a golden opportunity..... :laughing:


Golden, as in golden suds?

Not really as another major problem exists.
The old church is in a residential area so re zoning would have entered the picture and that is costly.
Also all residents in adjacent zones can vote down any rezoning bylaw.
Add to that the fact that the immediate residents are mainly old biddies types.

Under bylaws as they stand, the church could still operate under 'grandfather clause' but nothing else.
Well, perhaps Church of adoration of the brews might fly, LOL.

 

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The more pictures that I see of this, the more I think that you are wasting your time and money on this structure. Everything is twisted on it and you will never be able to get those beams and studs to become straight without replacing them. Basically, you will have to rebuild the entire structure while avoiding death to yourself and your help doing it one piece at a time. Tear it down, save what you can and build it new with better support and framing.

Oh, ye of little faith! Nothing is more motivating then having someone tell me I can't do something. One of my favourite quotes come from a casual phrase in the Superman movie: " I can do things other people can't do." And hey, how many of us can say that our wives are into our big projects? And besides, it's fun!

In fact, I am almost finished, and if I have to, I can leave the boathouse a little cockeyed. I adds Character, and it does look pretty straight from the water. See what it looked like 7 years ago?

 

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Maybe some of the original exterior board could be re attached on a straight frame?

Yup, Kyle, that's the plan. I just need that space at the bottom of the wall left open for a little while yet.

 

[EddieWalker]

I really do admire your attitude and determination. 7 years is a long time to stick with a project!!!!

 

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I really do admire your attitude and determination. 7 years is a long time to stick with a project!!!!

Thanks, Eddie. We rent the cottages on the property out every Summer and are pretty much fully booked up all the time, so it is a part-time job. (We can't work on the boathouse when renters are there.) Plus my wife and I are doing a lot of the work ourselves, because it is getting harder and harder to get good labour up there. (Not like when I was a teenager!)

 

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if you were here in the USA and not in Canada they would condem that building as unsafe.
A good wind storm might bring that entire structure down.
I'm surprised it's still standing at all!

Don't worry, Cat - it is solid as the Rock of Gilbraltar, and perfectly safe The structural wood inside is practically petrified, and in fact I have to use a palm nailer to get a nail into it.

More to come - Decking and new shingles are next big phases!

 

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As I understand,the building is 100 years old and no longer square and plumb. Not suprising since it's been sitting over water all that time but here's the solution(s). Pray it was built square and plumb to begin with then, #1. Level the support system. #2. Measure distance between walls at top at both ends. Ends must be same or building can never be square and plumb. #3. Pull both sets of diagonal corners equal distance apart and lock them in place. #4. Use string or straight edge to confirm all frame members are straight and equal length of their mates. Replace any that are out of spec. #5. If building isn't now plumb and square,it's time to begin pulling (no beating). In addition to cable pullers(come-a-longs) a few turnbuckle rods will be handy and can be move around as work progresses. #6. In the interest of saving time,cut triangular plywood templates. One 90* right triangle for stud-ceiling joist intersection,stud-bottom plate intersection and stud-top plate intersection. One with angle of rafter to rafter at peak. One with angle of rafter to ceiling joist. After a wall is square,re-nailing siding should hold it but 1x8 diagonals are good insurance. Chances are the roof will leak as result of all the re-positioning so striping it and re-nailing after squared might be a good thing. I think it look's interesting. If it were mine,I would reinforce to prevent collapse then just injoy it.

Thanks, jaxs, and s219, and MossRoad. I may have to do that, and in fact I already have the necessary steel cable. Just have to do a few other things first. And it is also complicated, because the bottom of the walls move so easily. So when I attach to to double top plate and then to the opposite lower side, I have to find something substantial to attach to down below. It would be nice if it was as easy as that old garage in MossRoad's video, but I think it will be a lot tougher given the huge superstructure up at the roof. I am building scaffolding inside the boathouse right now so I can climb up and check it out.

Also, I only have until June 27 when the first renters arrive, but we may have an unsold week in the Summer that we could use.

 

[fried1765]

Don't worry, Cat - it is solid as the Rock of Gilbraltar, and perfectly safe The structural wood inside is practically petrified, and in fact I have to use a palm nailer to get a nail into it.

More to come - Decking and new shingles are next big phases!

The modern American way is: Tear it down, and build new.
The naysayers on here need to spend a month or two in the Netherlands, or elsewhere in Europe.

My family home is on Cape Cod.
It was built with used salt works lumber in 1730, My mother bought it with land, for $875 in 1932.
Boarding runs vertically, and many boards are over 20" wide.

I am writing this from the bedroom where I slept as a child.
Building has a bowed roof (builders were shipwrights), with one side hand hewn logs for floor joists.

Rafter peaks and collar ties are pegged together. Purlins are notched in.
Everything is crooked, but it is 289 years old, and still solid as a rock.

I often wonder how many hurricanes it has been through.

Next month it will get yet another a new red cedar single roof....$$$...ouch!

 

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Oh, ye of little faith! Nothing is more motivating then having someone tell me I can't do something. One of my favourite quotes come from a casual phrase in the Superman movie: " I can do things other people can't do." And hey, how many of us can say that our wives are into our big projects? And besides, it's fun!

In fact, I am almost finished, and if I have to, I can leave the boathouse a little cockeyed. I adds Character, and it does look pretty straight from the water. See what it looked like 7 years ago?

And here is the boathouse earlier this Spring:

 

[MossRoad]

It just occurred to me that maybe the lake isn't level....


:laughing:

 

[radios1]

It just occurred to me that maybe the lake isn't level....


:laughing:

yeah, water is ALWAYS level.. it's probably different flotation rates of the wood, some could be rotted, or water soaked. plastic barrels or closed cell foam would last longer.. or just move the whole thing to dry land, and not have to worry about this!.:thumbsup:

 

[Cat_Driver]

Cat_Driver: Likely it would be condemned in California, but likely not condemned in heartland USA.

Engineering is engineering.
Engineering numbers are no different in Ca. or anywhere else in the USA. Inspectors in the heartland don't look at a midwest barn leaning unsafely and give it an OK, they just don't inspect so the leaning barn gets a pass.

Now having said that across the heartland they do not have enough inspectors nor do they routinelt inspect leaning barns, out buildins etc, we've all seen them as we drive across the USA.
But I can can guarantee if anyone actually called for an inspection on those leaning barns they would be condemned because if the state, County, city does not condemn a delapidated usafe busining that they are aware of then the they have the liability if that building comes down with peopl ein it in a wind or snow storm.

So I agree they don't because they don't inspect them, but I also guaratee they would once they were made aware of them.

Officially purposelly don't ramdom inspect leaning barns because out of sight out of mind. They can ALWAYS claim " we were unaware the building was leaning at a 45 degree angle"

 

[fried1765]

Engineering is engineering.
Engineering numbers are no different in Ca. or anywhere else in the USA. Inspectors in the heartland don't look at a midwest barn leaning unsafely and give it an OK, they just don't inspect so the leaning barn gets a pass.

Now having said that across the heartland they do not have enough inspectors nor do they routinelt inspect leaning barns, out buildins etc, we've all seen them as we drive across the USA.
But I can can guarantee if anyone actually called for an inspection on those leaning barns they would be condemned because if the state, County, city does not condemn a delapidated usafe busining that they are aware of then the they have the liability if that building comes down with peopl ein it in a wind or snow storm.

So I agree they don't because they don't inspect them, but I also guaratee they would once they were made aware of them.

Officially purposelly don't ramdom inspect leaning barns because out of sight out of mind. They can ALWAYS claim " we were unaware the building was leaning at a 45 degree angle"

I live (6 months each yr.) in a 289 year old house that I do not believe has ever been inspected.
Not in the "heartland", but the Democratic Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts.
I have lived in this house for many of my 78 years.
It sags, plus creaks and groans in high winds (hurricanes- many)
Should I be worried?
Would it be more safe if I had it "inspected" 289 years after being built?

 

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I love that building and even being 'retired' I tackle it just for the challenge, as long as others did the grunt work, LOL!
I'm sure I could do it.Done many worst projects.
The trick is to think outside of the box, AKA impossible is just a word.
Only solutions exist.
Triangulation, hydraulics, leverage all work for U as long as U know how and where to apply the principles.

Once a client (OK, was a buddy) wanted to lift, dynamite rock and build an add on to his cottage.
Asked me to take on the job so I said OK, and will do it for less than your lowest bidder.
Well I made a bundle on that job (well under) and he was super happy.
That's what does it for me!

Now there’s a man after my own heart! Thanks for the post, Piloon!

And thanks to everyone for all the great ideas so far. I have to chew on a few of them, particularly those that refer to “moments“.

Like I said earlier, I am getting close to the end, but that bit of lean still bugs me a bit.

 

[PILOON]

I kind of understand where he comes from.
These days no municipality will allow a boat house but under 'acquired rights' U can rebuild/repair what exists, generally as long as at least 50% remains original.
In my area nothing within 10 ft of the shoreline can be disturbed except for a pathway, and at that said pathway must not inhibit wildlife.
I have a very rocky shoreline so my dock is at the end of 60 ft of raised walkway.
They advised me that under acquired rights I could repair or renovate as long as it were 'one board at a time'.
So my SIL and I completely rebuilt the floating portion (all in a 1/2 day) C/W all new floats and naturally we could only attach one board at a time.
LOL, I don't know of anybody that can replace and re build a 16 X 16 dock other than 'one at a time'.
Took us a 1/2 day to do it 'one at a time'.
Hey, I can play on words as good as the rest. (never knew anybody that could fasten 100 boards at the same time)

 

[Streetcar]

Engineering is engineering.
Engineering numbers are no different in Ca. or anywhere else in the USA. Inspectors in the heartland don't look at a midwest barn leaning unsafely and give it an OK, they just don't inspect so the leaning barn gets a pass.

Now having said that across the heartland they do not have enough inspectors nor do they routinelt inspect leaning barns, out buildins etc, we've all seen them as we drive across the USA.
But I can can guarantee if anyone actually called for an inspection on those leaning barns they would be condemned because if the state, County, city does not condemn a delapidated usafe busining that they are aware of then the they have the liability if that building comes down with peopl ein it in a wind or snow storm.

So I agree they don't because they don't inspect them, but I also guaratee they would once they were made aware of them.

Officially purposelly don't ramdom inspect leaning barns because out of sight out of mind. They can ALWAYS claim " we were unaware the building was leaning at a 45 degree angle"

Engineering is not tha same everywhere. Different areas have different loads that must be considered for the structure

 

[EddieWalker]

I live (6 months each yr.) in a 289 year old house that I do not believe has ever been inspected...

I really love old houses and buildings. That's amazing that you have one in your family that is almost 300 years old!!!!

Unfortunately, using your example to support old buildings, kind of ignores the fact that there are so very few of them left, because most of them have been tore down because they where unsafe.

 

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OK, platform for scaffolding is built. Just need to put on one more row of plywood. Then I can climb up and check out all the roofing boards and roof rafters and what not to make sure none of them are soft.

 

[Jaylegger]

OK, platform for scaffolding is built. Just need to put on one more row of plywood. Then I can climb up and check out all the roofing boards and roof rafters and what not to make sure none of them are soft.

I lightened it up for you so the scaffolding can be seen.