Custom carpentry on the four-lake chain and throughout Muskoka’s largest town.
Forty Miles of Water From One Dock
Huntsville sits at the centre of something unusual. Lake Vernon, Fairy Lake, Peninsula Lake and Mary Lake are all connected, linked by navigable channels, the canal between Fairy and Peninsula, and the lock on the North Muskoka River that has joined Mary Lake to the rest since 1877. From a single dock you can run more than forty miles of water without loading a trailer.
That changes what a dock has to be. On a small isolated lake a dock is a place to tie a boat and swim off. Here it is the front door to a whole system, and people use bigger boats because they can actually go somewhere. Bigger boats mean deeper water at the crib, more thought about approach and berth, and lifts sized properly rather than guessed at.
It also means traffic. A connected navigable chain sees real boat movement all summer, and a floating dock reminds you of it every time a cruiser goes past. Most of what we build here is timber crib or steel, sitting solidly on the bottom rather than riding on the surface. On water this busy that is exactly what you want.
Custom Decks in Huntsville
With over 21,000 residents, Huntsville is the largest town in Muskoka, and a good share of our work here is for people who live in it year round rather than visit for six weeks.
- Multi-level decks on sloped and rock lots
- Covered decks and roofed outdoor rooms that extend the season
- Cedar, hardwood and composite surfaces including Millboard and TimberTech
- Glass, cable and aluminum railings
- Pergolas, privacy screens and outdoor kitchens
- Deck resurfacing, structural repair and railing upgrades
Covered structures come up more often here than anywhere else we work. If you are in the house through the winter rather than closing it up in October, a roof over part of the deck buys you months rather than weeks.
Dock Building on Fairy, Vernon, Peninsula and Mary
Every one of these lakes behaves a little differently, and we build to the site rather than to a catalogue.
- Timber crib docks built and set for your bottom conditions
- Steel dock systems where the site suits them better
- Sizing and berths planned around the boats the chain actually attracts
- Fixed construction that stays put when a wake rolls through
- Dock resurfacing and structural repair
- Shoreline stairs and landings on steep lots
See our Huntsville custom crib dock project
We Handle the Permits, Including the Peninsula Lake Catch
Huntsville runs its own building department and zoning bylaw, so setbacks, dock sizing, height and boathouse floor area are all set locally and differ from Muskoka Lakes or Bracebridge.
There is one wrinkle here that catches people out badly.
Peninsula Lake sits in two municipalities. Part of it falls within the Town of Huntsville and part within the Township of Lake of Bays. Two neighbours looking across the same water can be under two different sets of rules, with different requirements and different timelines. Which side of the line your property sits on determines who you apply to and what you are allowed to build. Establishing that is part of the permit work we take on for you.
Beyond the municipality, provincial and federal approvals can apply depending on the site, from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Fisheries and Oceans Canada or the Navigation Protection Program.
We file the permits for you. Drawings, submission, and the back and forth with whichever authority actually has jurisdiction over your shoreline.
Requirements change. We confirm current standards with the relevant municipality on every project.
Also Serving the Surrounding Area
We work throughout Huntsville and the surrounding area, including Port Sydney, Utterson, Novar and Emsdale, and across Lake Vernon, Fairy Lake, Peninsula Lake and Mary Lake.
What Our Clients Say
Martin and his crew were on time each workday, professional, thorough and patient. Martin would listen if I had any developing questions. Excellent work, fine finishing on my new deck, better than I expected. 5/5 stars!
Jack L., Google Review
Fantastic experience! Martin is an exceptional craftsman. The skill that went into creating our all cedar pergola is incredible. Thank you for a great job!
Jill M., Google Review
Read all of our reviews on Google
Frequently Asked Questions
Which municipality issues my dock permit in Huntsville?
Usually the Town of Huntsville, which administers its own zoning bylaw and the Building Code. The exception worth knowing is Peninsula Lake, which straddles Huntsville and the Township of Lake of Bays, so the answer depends on which side your property sits on. Sorting out which applies is part of the permit work we handle for you.
Can I get from my dock to the other lakes by boat?
On the connected chain, yes. Lake Vernon, Fairy Lake and Peninsula Lake are linked by navigable channels and a canal, and Mary Lake connects through the lock on the North Muskoka River. It is over forty miles of water in total.
Does boat traffic affect what kind of dock I should build?
It is a strong argument for a fixed dock. Most of what we build is timber crib or steel, both of which sit on the bottom and stay where they are when a wake rolls through. A floating dock on a busy connected chain moves a good deal more than most people expect.
Do you build covered decks?
Yes, and they are popular in Huntsville because so many homes here are lived in year round. A roofed section adds usable months rather than weeks.
When should I book?
Winter or early spring for a summer build. Permit review and material lead times are the long poles, not the carpentry.
Start Your Huntsville Project
Tell us which lake you are on and how you use the water, and we will tell you what makes sense. Free quotes.
Get a free quote or call 705-706-5894.