I’m new here and mainly trying to learn. I’ve been looking at ideas for updating an older lakefront dock/boathouse setup over time.
I’m not ready for a huge project right away, but I’m interested in better lighting, cleaner electrical, maybe solar, and eventually being ready for an electric boat or charging setup.
Curious how other people would approach it. Would you start with the structure, the electrical, or the overall energy plan?
I’m interested in this too, mostly from the solar/design side.
I’ve seen a few places where solar looked like it was added later instead of planned from the start. It seems like even if you don’t install panels right away, it would help to think about roof angle, panel placement, wiring paths, and where the equipment might go.
I also think how it looks from the water matters. A clean design would make solar a lot easier to accept.
I’m on a lake in Central Florida and have been reading through some of the solar and electric boat posts.
We have a pretty basic dock right now, but at some point I’d like to do more with it. Since we have open water and a little more room, I’m thinking about something that feels like part of the house, not just a place to tie up the boat.
Ideally, I’d like some covered space, good lighting, fans, comfortable seating, music, and eventually charging for an electric boat. Solar seems like it could make sense too, especially if it was worked into the roof from the start.
For those of you thinking about modern boathouses, what features would you want most for hanging out, entertaining, or just using the space day to day?
My situation is almost the opposite. I’m on a narrow canal, so I’m thinking more about how to keep things clean and not overbuild the space.
But I like the idea of the boathouse feeling like part of the home instead of just a dock. Even on a smaller setup, lighting, shade, and a clean place to sit would make a big difference.
A narrow canal would be a whole different deal. I’d probably be thinking about the neighbors and sight lines all the time too.
For us, the open lake is what has me thinking bigger. I can see the boathouse becoming one of the main places people end up when they come over. Shade, fans, music, lights, a few comfortable places to sit — that would probably get used every weekend.
The electric boat part is still down the road, but I’d rather plan the power side now than have to tear into a finished dock later.
Rick, your setup sounds like the kind of place where I’d want the power plan figured out early.
Lights, fans, and music are one thing, but the future electric boat is where I’d really want the dock built with room to grow.
I wouldn’t necessarily install every piece now, but I’d want conduit runs, panel capacity, and a clean spot for charger or battery gear planned before the dock is finished.
Seems like that stuff gets a lot harder once everything is built.
I’m in the middle of redoing an older dock, so this forum caught my attention.
Nothing too fancy yet. We’re mainly trying to clean up the basics first — decking, safer power, better lighting, and getting the boat lift setup a little more reliable.
We’ve already started pricing composite decking. WearDeck and Owens Corning came up a few times. I’m also looking at a GEM remote for the lift. For lighting, I’ve seen Lumitec and Coastal Source mentioned, but I haven’t made a decision there yet.
The bigger stuff, like solar and battery backup, is probably later. I’ve seen Victron mentioned a lot for marine power setups, but I’m still trying to figure out what actually makes sense for a dock.
Right now I’m mostly trying to avoid doing things twice. Since parts of the dock are already opened up, I’m wondering what I should plan for now before everything gets closed back in.
That “while everything is opened up” part is what I keep thinking about too.
I’m not far enough along to know what equipment I’d use yet, but I’d want extra conduit, a decent equipment location, and room for future power needs before the dock gets closed back in.
Curious what you’re doing first — decking and lift controls, or electrical cleanup?
Electrical cleanup is probably the first thing I want sorted out.
The decking is the obvious visual upgrade, but I don’t want to cover everything up and then realize we should have run another conduit or moved a control box.
The lift remote is more of a convenience thing, but the power layout feels like something I need to get right before anything else goes back together.