The new U.S. Coast Guard boathouse is beginning to take shape in Menemsha harbor.

After some winter weather delays, construction is proceeding with a completion date targeted for the end of summer, project manager Lou Vinciguerra said Tuesday.

The weather set the project back a few weeks but Mr. Vinciguerra said “we’re doing everything we can to make up for it.”

Construction on the new 5,000-square-foot, single-bay boathouse began just after Labor Day, when the summer crowds and boats left and a 55-by-185 foot barge and crane moved into the harbor. The large crane has hovered above the harbor since then, and Mr. Vinciguerra said once the roof tresses are put in place, the barge and crane will no longer be needed.

Concrete pilings. — Mark Lovewell

The new building replaces the historic red and white boathouse that was destroyed in a July 2010 fire. The cause of the fire was never determined. The $10 million building includes a boat ramp, storage and locker rooms. The new boathouse will also have the traditional white siding and red roof.

The foundation piles have been installed and the concrete caps are ready to be placed, Mr. Vinciguerra said. Next comes the decking for the boathouse base, followed by the vertical walls.

The marine contractor, RDA Construction, has between five and nine people working on the boathouse currently. Mortenson Construction of Minneapolis, Minn., is the contractor on the remainder of the project.

Chilmark executive secretary Tim Carroll said construction has proceeded slower than anticipated.

“It’s progressing,” he said. “We’re very eager to have the barge out of the harbor for the summer so it doesn’t continue to take up our slips.”

The town holds a license from the Coast Guard to use the federal waters for about 14 boat slips, which are currently occupied by the barge and crane.

“We hope they manage to move out for summer,” Mr. Carroll said.