Whether you’ve got a home away from home on your favourite lake, river, or even on the ocean, you’re a lucky individual to have your own little slice of paradise. Bought new or renovated to match your dream home, your new getaway is only missing one thing: a fresh new boathouse with a stylish marine door to keep your prized boat safe from the elements.
Whether you’re just replacing the door or starting from scratch, a high-quality boathouse garage door will do wonders. Image via Pexels.
Your boat deserves a boathouse that has a suitable marine garage door
Of course, “suitable” depends entirely on what you’re going to be using the boathouse for. Fortunately, there are plenty of garage doors on the market today to choose from.
Are you looking for total protection from the elements? Perhaps you want protection, but a chance to still show off your boat. Or maybe you’re someone who appreciates a quality door that’s got an affordable price. We’ll cover all of these possibilities and more.
All-glass garage doors are great for those who enjoy modern design. Plus, they allow you to display your boat(s) and other watercraft while still keeping them safe. This boathouse design comes from PattyMac.
Choice #1 – A full-view garage door to put your boat on display
In love with this boathouse design that features all-glass doors from Houzz? You, too, can install a full-view California garage door on your own boathouse so the boat is visible from the outside and the natural light floods into the space.
Not only does this garage door offer impressively large windows for the boathouse, but it features a corrosion-resistant aluminum door frame!
Showing off your boat is easy when you choose a panoramic garage door! You’ll get all the protection you deserve with a clear view of your boat and more.
For those working on their boats, the California all-glass garage door lets all the light in so you’re not relying on electricity to see in your boathouse. No work lights or flashlights? No problem!
Here’s another project from PattyMac. Think about whether your boathouse is just for storage or if you’re going to make it the place to be at your lake or riverfront property. Panoramic garage doors let in all the light without letting in the elements, giving you a great place to relax and enjoy nature.
Perhaps you’re going for a new hangout space—your boathouse would look great with seating, a bar, or even a pool table and other games to enjoy. No matter the weather, you’ll enjoy watching the sunsets safe from the elements with the all-glass garage door models available today.
What about this modern design from Houzz? The dark colours and glass doors and panels create a beautiful space that you will love to show off. Plus, the charcoal of the siding blends well with the black aluminum frame and other details of the boathouse for a truly one-of-a-kind style.
All-glass garage doors sound great, but that’s a lot of glass—what happens if there’s an accident?
Let’s say you let your teenage kids take the boat out for the day. When they get back, they’re not paying attention and enjoying the adrenaline from their adventure, and run right into the all-glass garage door and glass goes everywhere—no one likes to think about it, but it could happen. Fortunately, the all-glass doors also come with tempered glass options if you want extra protection.
Tempered glass is not only 4-5 times stronger than traditional glass, but it also shatters into harmless fragments, making it much safer under any circumstances. How does it work? The glass is simply heated and cooled in a “tempering” process, increasing its durability.
Here are two full-view California garage doors measuring 6' x 8'6" and 16' x 8'6", Black aluminum frame, with Sandblasted glass.
You’ll have several glass options when you choose our California full-view garage door:
- If you want total transparency from the inside and out, clear glass is the best choice. It’s simple, but effective, and relatively affordable.
- Want the natural light without the constant exposure? Choose sandblasted glass for more privacy. Whether you’re storing valuables in your boathouse or you just don’t want people to see inside, this is a good choice.
- As we mentioned, tempered glass is a great upgrade if you want to make the door safer and more durable. It’s available on all types except our laminated glass, because of manufacturing requirements.
- If you are looking for a budget-friendly option that’s more impact-resistant, consider polycarbonate. Keep in mind that it is durable, but also prone to scratching. Read this FAQ before you choose these windows for your boathouse.
What about condensation? In a boathouse, that’s always going to be a concern. The California is great, but it’s not impervious to all elements. The best way to fight this is to clean your garage door on a regular basis. A dehumidifier in a boathouse would be pointless, after all. Regular maintenance should include checking the track and weather seals. You might also want to allow air circulation to help reduce this issue by opening the boathouse garage door.
Choice #2 – Choose the Townships Collection for durable steel construction with the stylish Craftsman design for your boathouse garage door
This image is from Pinterest. Look at how the popular farmhouse style makes this boathouse stand out. It features the appearance and beauty of wood without the hassle, thanks to durable steel construction in these overhead doors. The perfect marine door can be anything that you want.
Feeling like you want a little more farmhouse or a little less modern style? The Townships Collection has tons of great marine garage door options that are constructed with steel for style and substance.
This is Princeton P-12 design, measuring 8' x 7', Iron Ore Walnut with Black overlays, 8 lite Panoramic windows, one of the most popular styles in our Townships Collection. Notice how the overlays create that perfect farmhouse look.
When you choose a Township Collection garage door, you’ll enjoy corrosion resistance, protection from the elements, and a door that lasts for decades.
Most of the Townships garage doors come with R-16 value insulation, offering protection from all the elements. Perhaps your boathouse is connected to your vacation home and you want to make sure that you can use it year-round. Perhaps you’re just looking for a way to block the wind coming into your boathouse—these garage doors can definitely deliver.
How about the Eastman E-21, 9' x 7’, with Claystone doors and Ice White overlays, along with 8 lite Panoramic windows? If you want your boathouse to exude country charm, the Townships Collection offers something for everyone.
Check out how this door creates the Craftsman look without the disadvantages of wood. You can choose from all styles of overlays and designs to create marine doors that match your Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse styles with the Townships Collection. Your boathouse has never looked more charming!
Check out the v-shaped overlays on this traditional boathouse design from Makow Associates Architects Inc.
Don’t forget to upgrade to Dura+ hardware!
Dura+ hardware is designed for the marine environment, which makes it ideal for your boathouse. Mind you, most doors don’t come with this option so you’ll have to ask for the upgrade. When you do, you’ll get nylon-coated rollers, galvanized steel tracks and construction, and other features that are ideal for a boathouse. The hardware is much more resistant to salt, moisture, and other elements and won’t require constant maintenance.
Choice #3 – Marine door performance and value from our Regal and Acadia 138 garage doors
We’ve covered the beautiful styles for those with fewer budget constraints. However, for those thinking within the budget and in need of a marine door that isn’t as costly, these overhead door models could provide the perfect fit. You can even check out this FAQ to learn how garage doors are priced.
Our top two picks:
1. The Acadia 138 garage door
This garage door is an Acadia 138 North Hatley LP, 9' x 7', in Desert Sand, featuring windows with our Richmond Inserts. With the added decorative hardware, the finished look on your boathouse will be quite impressive!
Made from galvanized steel, the Acadia 138 offers R-12 insulation and usually comes with traditional hardware. However, the affordable cost of the door makes it easy to upgrade to the Dura+ hardware option, even with the extra cost.
2. The Regal garage door
Check out the Regal Classic Long garage door, measuring 9' x 7', with Clear windows. It’s got a timeless design with the traditional embossing and is sure to create the perfect finish for your boathouse.
Our Regal garage doors come in two insulation options: polystyrene (Styrofoam) and non-insulated. This is part of the reason that the doors are cheaper. For those in more temperate environments or who are less worried about the temperature in the boathouse, this could be a good compromise.
What if my boat or boathouse is smaller?
Let’s say you’ve got a smaller boat, or even a boathouse that’s not quite as impressive as those pictured here. That means that you need the marine door to be pretty small — you’re in luck because we custom make every door and they come in sizes as narrow as 4’wide and as short as 4-6' tall.
Learn how to measure your marine door opening here.
Does your boathouse need an automatic garage door opener?
Ok, so you’ve taken the time to explore marine door options and chosen what you like best for your boathouse. Now, you might be wondering if it’s also a good idea to add an electric garage door opener.
Some people are more interested in an electric opener for their boathouse than others. It offers a great way to ensure that you can always access the boathouse without hassles or the risks that come with manual operation. Imagine coming back from a day on the water only to fall overboard trying to get the boathouse door open—it’ll be good for a laugh, but it won’t get the job done.
The selection of LiftMaster garage door openers can help you save face—literally—and get more from your boathouse. However, in a boathouse, you’ll need more than just a basic residential opener. Plus, when you choose these commercial models below, you’ll even be able to add the special car wash modification.
If you want your doors to be water resistant and easy to operate in the boathouse environment, the car wash door system is the way to go. It’s only available on select door openers from LiftMaster, though, so let us help you choose.
The H and J commercial door openers from LiftMaster are ideal for a boathouse.
The LiftMaster H and LiftMaster J are the perfect fit. Their wall installation saves space and leaves overhead room in case you’re going to raise your boat in the off-season. It reduces vibrations, noise, and more, too, in case there’s living space above your boathouse. If you want the best garage door openers for a boathouse, check these out.
Check out this image from Houzz. See how the boat is raised out of the water and a traditional overhead door track system would get in the way? With the H and J models, that’s not an issue.
Get the ultimate protection with a LiftMaster garage door opener
Whether you’re worried about the potential for break-ins or you just want to make sure that your space is protected at all times, these garage door openers include all the features that you need. You’ll be able to protect your boat and your family with elements like:
- Code rolling that produces a unique code every time the door cycles (opens and closes). That way, universal remote break-ins will be less successful and you can thwart would-be thieves in their tracks.
- Photoelectric safety beams that provide protection from being crushed under the garage door. If something crosses these beams during the closing of the door, it will stop immediately so that your boat (or your loved ones) don’t get crushed!
- A camera, as an optional addition, to see what’s going on in the boathouse at all times, and in real-time.
- The myQ app so that you always know when your door is opened, can check to make sure that it’s closed from anywhere, and even get notifications when the marine door is left open too long—it takes all the hassle and worry out of your marine door investment.
Of course, LiftMaster doors come with tons of other amazing features, too!
Considering an upgrade for the vacation home or residential garage, too? Discover all the residential models!
Ready to buy and get started installing your marine door? We’ve got you covered.
Check out the Eastman E-22 design, 9' x 7', with Ice White door with Ice White overlays and Orion windows. Matching garage doors on your boathouse and vacation home will definitely make a statement with this design.
Car-Wal Garage Doors has a team of specialists that can help you find the perfect garage door, answer questions, and so much more. All of our doors are Canadian-made and custom designed, and we have been in the business of sectional overhead doors for residential and commercial use for many years. Whatever you need a door for, we’ve got one to fit your boathouse, your lake cottage, or any other space.
Call us now at 519-685-9797.
Still haven’t found what you like? Try the Design Centre, which lets you create the marine door that you’ve always wanted. Plus, you can try it on your own boathouse or cottage and compare more than 100 different options and design combinations. You’ll have the choice of windows, colours, decorative hardware, accents, and other features. And when you’ve created the perfect result, just ask us about our free email quote.
Who doesn’t love a brand new custom marine door for their boathouse?
All of our Canadian-made garage doors are customized to each installation and customer, no matter what you have in mind. You’ll find 10 colours, over 35 designs, and plenty of customization options to create the perfect marine door for your boathouse. Colours include black, deep browns and a variety of beige shades, and even classic all-white garage doors.
Contact us now for more details.
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