WHAT IS A BOATHOUSE

A “boathouse” in local usage is a small, floating, stationary, and utilitarian building which house space for a boat and usually has a small weekend living space. It is a local term for a very specific kind of structure and purpose, and is not to be confused with boathouses on shore, on pilings, or with houseboats that are mobile on the water.

BOATHOUSE LIFE

When you walk over the boathouse ramp you are entering a waterborne world, away from landlocked life. A boathouse feels solid, like a tiny land mass, rather than tippy like a boat. Its proximity to land becomes insignificant as you go through the front door into a living space that is completely surrounded by the mighty Mississippi. The “backyard” is not just river view; it is the river. As you stand on the porch overlooking a slough or the channel, the big river is moving under and around you, only a couple of vertical feet away.

A small living area (maybe ten or twelve feet by twenty-eight feet) focuses on the river psychologically and architecturally. A door to the porch and big windows face the river, while small and secure openings face the shore. An additional doorway leads from the living space to the boat well or boat slip. You walk just a few steps to your boat, which is protected and covered and ready to go. You pick up the things you need (decoys, fishing tackle, water skis, or a cooler) and pull the cord that opens the boat slip door. The door lifts open like an awning window on a simple rope and pulley system. Start the motor and you go off on your day’s adventure!