Blue Horizon Docks and Decks logo — Chattanooga, TN dock builder Blue Horizon Docks and Decks
(423) 702-0393 Get A Quote
Aerial view of a finished open boathouse on a Tennessee lake by Blue Horizon Docks and Decks
Layouts & Designs

Custom dock layouts & designs.

Bring a sketch, a Pinterest board, a builder’s drawing, or just a story about how you want to live on the water — we’ll turn it into a TVA 26a permit-ready design and a real build plan for Watts Bar, Chickamauga, Tellico, Norris and every East Tennessee lake.

Get A Quote → See Dock Builds
Design Services

From napkin to nail.

Every dock we build starts from a blueprint. Some customers come to us with one in hand — an architect’s drawing, a builder’s plan, or a layout they’ve been refining for years. Others come in with a sketch and a Pinterest board. Both paths land in the same place: a permit-ready set of drawings and a real construction estimate.

Our designers know what builds well on TVA-managed lakes and what doesn’t. We’ll catch the things that fail permit review before they get there — setback violations, post-spacing issues, slip widths that don’t actually fit a 24-foot pontoon — and design around them.

Permit-Ready · TVA-Aware · Build-Realistic
Covered fixed dock with a metal hip roof and open timber framing
Three Starting Points

Bring drawings, start from scratch,
or pick a customer favorite.

All three end at the same place: a permit-ready set of drawings, a material spec, and a build estimate.

Path A

Build to your drawings

Already have plans? Send them over. We’ll review the engineering, flag anything that needs to change for TVA 26a compliance, and quote the build straight off the drawings. The fastest path from idea to install.

Path B

Design from scratch

Start with a phone call and a site visit. We’ll sketch options, refine layout, walk through materials and lifts, and deliver a finished design that goes straight to TVA for the 26a permit.

Path C

Customer favorite layouts

Start with one of our customer favorite layouts — then make it your own. Pick a proven design, customize the materials, slip count, roof style, and add-ons, and we’ll spec the build around your shoreline.

Standard Designs

Twelve proven layouts — or design your own.

Every Blue Horizon build can start from one of these twelve signature designs — each one fully customizable to your shoreline, lake, and the way you actually use the water. Bring us yours, or we’ll start from a blank shoreline.

Chattanoogan dock design — covered single-slip boathouse with a large side deck
Signature

Chattanoogan

Signature covered single-slip boathouse with a large side deck and generous shaded space for relaxing and entertaining.

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Chattanoogan + PWC dock design — covered boathouse with an integrated PWC slip
Signature

Chattanoogan + PWC

Our signature Chattanoogan layout with an integrated PWC space for added versatility on the water.

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Cleveland dock design — hip-roof open pavilion with a single boat slip and side deck
Open Pavilion

Cleveland

Covered open-pavilion design with a single boat slip and spacious side deck — a balanced layout for boating and entertaining.

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Double Decker dock design — covered boat slip below and a railed rooftop deck above
Two-Story

Double Decker

Two-story entertaining design with a protected boat slip below and a spacious rooftop deck above for the ultimate lake view.

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Tennessee Sunset dock design — covered single slip with a large open side deck
Boathouse

Tennessee Sunset

Covered single-slip design with a large side deck and plenty of open space for grilling, lounging, and enjoying the sunset.

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Tennessee Valley dock design — covered single slip with full-length side walkways
Boathouse

Tennessee Valley

Clean, efficient covered single-slip design with full-length side walkways — everything you need without unnecessary footprint.

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Harbor dock design — long open walkway with multiple side fingers for boat tie-up
Multi-Slip

Harbor

Long open-water layout with multiple side fingers and generous tie-up space — built for multiple boats and easy water access.

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T-Dock design — open walkway ending in a wide T-shaped platform
Open Deck

T-Dock

Classic open T-shaped design with a generous end platform — simple, versatile, and perfect for fishing, swimming, and boat tie-up.

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Hybrid dock design — fixed T-dock connected to a floating platform by an arched gangway
Mixed Use

Hybrid

Fixed-dock stability meets floating-dock flexibility, connected by an arched gangway for adaptable access as water levels change.

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Limo dock design — narrow covered slip at the end of a long walkway
Compact

Limo

Long, narrow covered single-slip design built to reach deeper water while keeping the overall dock width to a minimum.

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Fisherman dock design — gable-roof covered slips with walkway access around the perimeter
Fishing

Fisherman

Covered double-slip gable-roof design with generous perimeter access — plenty of room for boats, gear, and days spent fishing.

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Tightline dock design — compact hip-roof covered dock with slips on both sides of a center walkway
Permit-Smart

Tightline

Designed for properties with limited allowable projection, maximizing usable dock space within a compact, permit-aware footprint.

View Layout (PDF) →
Deliverables

The drawings TVA wants — and the ones your builder wants.

  • Plan view drawings — Top-down layout with dimensions, slip widths, walkway widths, setbacks to property lines.
  • Side & elevation views — Roof pitch, deck height above water, post heights, pile depths.
  • Material spec sheet — Framing lumber, decking, hardware, fasteners, and roof material by manufacturer and part.
  • Lift integration — Make/model and capacity called out on the drawings so the build accommodates the lift footprint from day one.
  • Stamped engineer drawing — Available when the project or property requires it, included in the permit package.
  • TVA 26a submission package — Site map, shoreline photos, drawings, and project description in one file.
  • Build estimate — Real numbers tied to the drawings. No surprises after the permit comes back.
Boathouse under construction — roof framing on pilings over a Tennessee lake

Bring the idea. We’ll bring the drawings.

One phone call, one site visit, one blueprint set. Then permits, then build.

Get A Quote → How Permits Work
Also See Docks Boat Lifts Permits Contact
FAQ

Blueprint & design questions.

Can I bring my own architect’s drawings?

Yes — we love building from a finished plan. We’ll review for TVA 26a compliance and constructability, flag anything that needs to change, then quote the build off the drawings as-is.

Do I have to build with you if you do the design?

Design is included at no charge for projects we build. Standalone design work for someone else’s builder is quoted separately — call us if that’s what you need.

How long does the design phase take?

From site visit to permit-ready blueprint, usually 2–4 weeks. Simpler builds finish faster; multi-story or commercial designs take longer.

Will the design include lift sizing?

Yes. Lift capacity, mounting layout, and slip width all get spec’d at design time so the dock is built around the lift, not the other way around.

Start a Design

Send us what you’ve got.

Sketch, photo, Pinterest board, or another builder’s drawing — whatever you’ve got. We’ll come walk the shoreline and turn it into a real blueprint.

Phone(423) 702-0393
Emailsales@bluehorizondocksanddecks.com
HoursMon – Fri: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Blue Horizon Docks and Decks team

Blueprint Inquiry

We’ll reach out within one business day.

We reply within 1 business day.