Watch Hill Yacht Club Lift Completed

One of A/Z’s more unique, high-profile, and logistically complex projects has now been completed.

The 4,000-square-foot Watch Hill Yacht Club has been raised 14 feet out of FEMA’s flood requirements, renovated, and updated with new electrical and mechanical systems.

Work took place over the winter and spring months, which was carefully coordinated as workers replaced gables, dormers, insulation and roofing.

In order to bring the building to a safer elevation and protect it from flooding and hurricanes, new steel pilings were driven into the bottom of Watch Hill Cove.  The structure was then slowly lifted with hydraulic jacks.  Once raised, a set of massive steel beams were installed underneath.

The need for the upgrades came about after the yacht club was flooded and battered by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.  On all four sides of the ground floor now are roll-up garage doors that can be opened during storms, allowing for waves to safely pass through instead of impacting the structure.  The yacht club now also has an elevator, making it more accessible.

Construction was completed in June and a formal commissioning of the building was held on June 17, 2017.  The event was attended by more than 160 yacht club members.