Lake Havasu boat garage homes: what boat owners should check

Start with three numbers from your boat

You need these before you look at a single garage.

1. Overall length on the trailer. From the front of the coupler to the farthest point back. That may be the swim platform, the outdrive or the prop.
2. Height on the trailer. From the ground to the highest point. Measure with the tower up, then folded. Include racks, speakers and lights.
3. Width. Usually the trailer fenders or guide posts, not the hull.

The step-by-step method is in Will my boat fit in the garage?

Rough sizes by boat type

Use these to get oriented. Then measure your own.

What to measure on the garage

Depth

A standard garage is about 20 to 24 feet deep. That holds a truck. It does not hold most boats on a trailer.

"Boat-deep" garages in Lake Havasu commonly run from the high 20s to 40 feet or more. Measure from the back wall to the inside of the closed door, and note anything that sticks out from the back wall.

Door height

Standard doors are 7 or 8 feet tall. Many boat garages here have 9 or 10-foot doors, and RV garages have 12 or 14.

If your folded tower sits at 8 feet 2 inches, an 8-foot door does not work. This is the most common surprise.

Door width

A trailer that is 8.5 feet wide at the fenders needs more than a 9-foot door to back in without stress. Ten feet or wider is better.

The lowest point inside

The opener rail and light fixtures often hang below the door opening. If the tower clears the door by an inch, check that it clears those too.

Getting it in and out

Fit on paper is half the answer. The other half is the driveway.

• Slope. Lake Havasu lots tilt. At the point where a sloped driveway meets a flat garage floor, a trailer tongue jack or an outdrive skeg can touch down.
• Backing angle. Can you line up straight from the street, or do you have to jackknife around a wall or a neighbor's driveway?
• Street width and parked cars. A narrow street makes a long truck-and-trailer turn much harder.
• Driveway length. Can the truck and trailer sit fully off the street while you open the garage?

Paige checks these from the curb, and can film the approach from the driver's seat so you can judge it yourself.

How to evaluate side parking

Many Lake Havasu homes have a side yard meant for a boat or trailer. Some are excellent. Some are too narrow to use.

• Clear width. Measure between the house and the block wall at the tightest point. Watch for the air conditioner, the gas meter, hose bibs and roof eaves.
• Gate opening. The gate is often narrower than the yard behind it.
• Length. From the gate to whatever stops you at the back.
• Surface. Concrete, pavers or gravel. Is it level side to side?
• The turn. Can you back in from the driveway or the street without crossing landscaping?
• Sun. Is there a cover, or room and permission to add one?
• Water and power. A hose bib to flush and wash. An outlet for a battery charger.
• Rules. Does an HOA limit boats that can be seen from the street?

Storage realities in the desert

• Sun is the enemy. Upholstery, gelcoat, covers and trailer tires all age faster outside here. That is why an enclosed bay is worth so much to boat owners.
• You will wash and flush at home. Look at where the water would run, and whether the driveway slope sends it toward the street or the garage.
• Charging. An outlet near the bow or the battery switch saves running cords.
• Gear takes space too. Boards, vests, tubes, coolers and a fridge. Look for wall space and ceiling height you can use.
• A slip is the other option. If the home you love has no boat storage, a marina slip or dry storage can fill the gap. Check cost and wait lists before you rely on it.

Match the home to your ramp

You will tow from the house to the water every trip. Drive that route before you buy.

• North side: Lake Havasu State Park at Windsor Beach.
• Central and the Island: Site Six, the free city ramp.
• South side: the Havasu Riviera Marina, with a six-lane ramp.
• Farther south: Cattail Cove State Park, about 15 miles down State Route 95.

Ramp lines are longest on holiday weekends. Some owners choose where to live so they have an easy second choice. The neighborhoods guide shows how the areas sit relative to the lake.

Mistakes boat owners make

• Using the model number as the length. A "24" is not 24 feet on the trailer.
• Measuring the tower up, or folded, but not both.
• Checking depth and forgetting door height.
• Assuming side parking is allowed without reading the HOA rules.
• Planning for today's boat when the next one is already in mind.
• Never driving the route to the ramp with the trailer attached.

Also bringing a motorhome or trailer? See Lake Havasu RV garage homes.

Questions buyers ask

How deep does a garage need to be for a boat?

Deeper than the boat's overall length on the trailer, measured from the coupler to the farthest point back, plus room to walk past. A boat sold as 24 feet is often 28 to 30 feet on its trailer. A swing-away trailer tongue can save two to three feet.

Will a wakeboard tower fit under a garage door?

With the tower up, most will not clear a standard 7 or 8-foot door. Folded, many sit between 7 and 8.5 feet on the trailer, which can still be too tall for an 8-foot door. Measure your boat both ways and compare it with the actual door opening.

Are there homes with private docks in Lake Havasu City?

They are rare. Most of the shoreline is public land, marinas and resorts, so nearly all boat owners trailer to a launch ramp or lease a slip. Plan your search around storage at home and the drive to the ramp.

Is side parking as good as a boat garage?

It keeps the boat at home and costs less, but the boat sits in full sun unless you add a cover or shade structure. It also has to be allowed. Much of the city has no HOA, while gated communities often limit boats parked in view.

How wide should the garage door be?

Boat trailers are commonly up to 8.5 feet wide at the fenders. An 8-foot-wide door will not work for those. Nine feet is tight. Ten feet or more makes backing in far less stressful.

Which launch ramp will I use?

It depends on where you live in the city. North-side owners often use Lake Havasu State Park. Central owners use Site Six on the Island. South-side owners use the Havasu Riviera Marina ramp. The Lake Havasu buyer guide has a table of ramps.