Barn Door Size?

[Two Screwed]

Hi folks. Its been a while since I've posted since I've been traveling the Southeast looking for a job after being laid off. But I'm settling in to just working for myself now so hopefully I'll be back around more often. So here is the problem. I'm expanding the pole barn I use to store lots of other toys, tools and stuff to accommodate working from home etc. and I want this addition to have a sliding door size that not only fits my current boat but could also handle a possible boat upgrade in the future. I have figured a width of 12'. However height is the problem since a newer boat would probably have a radar arch. My next boat will probably be comparable to a 290 I suppose (definitely nothing with a fly-bridge). So what would be a decent height for the door to be built to in order to accept a about a Dancer 290 with a radar arch on a trailer with a bit of wiggle room? Thanks in advance.

 

[fwebster]

Having been down this road with a shop and a storage building for equipment, my advice to you is to forget the boat entirely. Instead, size your door by the height you have to the bottom of the trusses, less the clearance the door needs to operate under the trusses. Also, if you are going to be working from the building, I would not use a sliding door but would get a roll up door that is easy to operate with either a chain or electric operator. No matter what size you figure for a boat, backhoe, or whatever, you never cannot anticipate all the details in advance......like the antenna base, the bow on the canvas, or the lights on the backhoe cab that replaced the backhoe you had when you built the door for the building.

 

[JimG]

For reference, my 310 sits just under 15 feet high on the trailer.

 

[Two Screwed]

Thanks for the input. I can understand your viewpoint Frank it is hard to anticipate the future (my crystal ball seems to remain cloudy at all times...lol) and if the budget allows for the roll-up door I will definitely go that route otherwise I had figured that building a slider would be cheaper initially and could be upgraded later. My thinking is if a 310 needs 15' then going 16' would be an easy dimension to work with "lumber wise" for framing.

 

[Two Screwed]

Hmmm. Although further investigation does pose a truss conflict problem with my initial design as you were alluding to. I will report back once a solution or compromise is found. Thanks again.

Danny

 

[fwebster]

My buildings were designed so the large access doors were in the ends of both buildings. That simplifies the design since no header is needed for truss support. My largest roll up door is a commercial door that is 12 ft wide and 12 ft tall. The only space I needed at the top was for the rolled up door curtain. By the time is was said and done, I can clear 11'-9" below the opened door because we were able to position the door up between the trusses instead of below them.

 

[Someday Lady II]

My new building is post-frame construction with 30' trusses set at a height of 16' and a 2 piece sliding door 14' wide. The sliding door allows me 16' clearance.

 

[islandhopper00]

Here's my take. Build a lean to on the side of your barn for the boat, with a door that will accomodate it.
Put a door on the barn that doesn't have to be so big, but will fit everything you will use it for.
Reason, the big door is a pain to open and close all the time. (unless it's a roll up like Frank recommends). You don't realize how many times a week you open and close your barn door!!
If you don't have the room for a lean to.......nevermind.

 

[Grizzly123]

If you can pull it down the road without loacting a special rout(standard bridge clearance height is 13'8") you can fit it under a 14' door.

 

[sbw1]

I wonder about the 12 foot width. Figure a trailer and you are close to not fitting. My boat is 13 wide and on a trailer?????? Not sure my 30 WE'r on a trailer would go through 12 feet.

 

[JimG]

Most trailers for the bigger boats (30'-40') that I've seen don't stick out beyond the boat. If they did, we would need a permit just to tow the trailer.

 

[wyrman]

I just did some work on my barn to fit my 260 in it and sitting on an Ez-loader trailer with an arch I'm at 12'6".

 

[Woody]

I measured mine recently and it was 12'7" to the top of the Glomax antenna mount(antenna was removed).