What's your building site like?

[Tom Irvine]

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning to begin construction on a 22' - 25' sailboat - possibly as early as June. While I have built kayaks and canoes in my basement, this isn't going to work for the sailboat. I've scoped out two barns that I can use they are about a five minute drive, but they wouldn't be as convenient as building at home. Has anyone had experience building big boats outside? I'd like to hear about your building sites.

[Alan Peck]

I have no experience in building larger boats outside. However, I am finally about finished with a 15 ft. boat that I am basically building outside. I started with just a canvas cover or the boat, but I found that it was a real pain to have to bring in all tools each time and wind blown rain caused all kinds of mildew and mold problems and there was no place to store materials. Also it was pretty difficult to work at night since any lights attracted hordes of bugs that drove me crazy.

I added sides to all four sides of the canopy and that has been a great improvement. The material I used is completely rainproof and is white in color. I find that the white is pretty important. A lot of material sold is blue polyethelene which I found unsuitable as it is very hot, is not totally rainproof and deteriorates fairly quickly in the sun.

My two cents worth is that, unless you are retired or have a lot of free time, that you need the ability to get some things done at night or it takes forever to finish. I find that it is great to be able to walk outside and get something done, even if its only for 30 minutes. I suspect that you would find it pretty inconvenient to work away from where you live.

Bottom line is that you need an enclosed place to work. Others on the forum have some good experience in building semi-temporary shelters.

Like many others I can't wait for the day I have a permanent building to work in.

[Dan Cavins]

Hi Tom. Ever the non-expert I have two cents here. Basicaly I'm with Alan. My space was and has remained a major issue. It's a dump. No heat, no plumbing, bad light, questionable security. Not to mention the crazy owner, people and homeless guy who has been arrested for living in there a couple of times. At least it is dang near free. But it is also inside. I can keep some tools there and I can work at night. Even with no heat I can work in some cold I couldn't if I didn't have the walls. We also get some whopper thunder storms here and I don't think many tarp jobs would make it. Soaking my half-done boat? No thanks. It is also five minutes away - thank god. Home. Boat. Home. Boat. I like a little seperation. I'd go with the best barn. Dan.

[Ed Harrow]

Click here: http://home.fiam.net/eeharrow/cover.htm

You may well not need the extra height of the knee walls and the "flying butresses".

[Stiletto]

While not actually building, I have been doing some major repairs to my boat outside and find that the variables of the weather the biggest nuisance. Intending to work mainly on weekends, I am often unable to work because of rain.
Five minutes drive to a covered site sounds like the type of inconvenience I could be happy with.

Good luck with your project.

[imported_Mac]

Hi Tom,

I am building a 27 ft boat. First I build a little 9 x 18 ft isolated workshop.
That is permanent and will stay after the boat is ready. I use it to keep on working on small things in the winter, to store my handtools (every night) and in wintertime to also store the bigger tools.
Then it is a crowded cozey workshop.

The tent is app. 15 x 32 ft.

Do have a look at : Boatshop - tent (http://www.woodenboat.dk/hope/boatshop-tent.htm)

Good luck

[JFH]

I have a 28X36 shop for working on boats 22' or shorter. My next "little" project is a 40' cutter with a 12'6" beam. My probem is the beam on the boat because it will not fit through the doors of the barn down the road. My solution is to put her on a cement pad with a cradle right behind the shop. The cement will provide stable blocking an work area and I'll build a temporary structure around her. Any lifting will be done by hoists attached to an outside set of trusses that will be cemented into the ground (like a travel-lift).This should be the easiest way because I can just cut the plastic around the shelter or simply unscrew the parts that hold that section together and run my lifting straps through the opening when the time comes to move her or if I have to pull the engine.

Driving the 5 min to the other location seems like an inconvenience but, over the 2 years of restoration time...not practical and not as secure as my final plan.

Just my two cents worth.

Jim

[Russell Sova]

There is no reason why you can't build a boat outside if it's built the tradional way. Look at old photos of boat builders from the 19th c. and you'll see many who built outdoors. They're going to get wet anyway. But if you are building with epoxy, etc., it ain't gonna work outside unless you're fast, blessed with a drought or have lots of help. Have fun. Sounds like a very ambitious project.

[Thomas Williamson]

Maybe some modification of thsi design would work?

http://www.i4at.org/surv/green.htm

[Ken Hutchins]

I'm building a 36'. I put an addition on the side of my barn 20 wide and the full length of the barn (37'), but before starting the boat I dug a 10'wide x 2-1/2' deep (down to ledge) trench, the sides lined with boards to hold the dirt. The trench gave my head room when working on the deck. Also the main barn floor, which is my primary workshop is 8" below deck level. The trench is a bit of a pain when working low, but the advantages of having the deck almost level with the barn floor will be a big advantage for all the deck and interior work, no steps or ladders to climb many thousands of times.

[redsail]

Ken's trench sounds like a good idea to reduce the countless ups and downs to access your boat once the hull is complete.
Some years back I visited a boatshed in Port Townsend where a fella had built a mezzanine all around his boat right at deck level. The boat was about 38 feet long and the shed 45 X 25 He had a wide staircase for access and had shelving and cupboards, a long workbench and lots of floor space to lay up and clamp and glue. All his power tools were there and with a few windows and some heat , there would be no finer place to build a boat. Good luck .

[redsail]

Ken's trench sounds like a good idea to reduce the countless ups and downs to access your boat once the hull is complete.
Some years back I visited a boatshed in Port Townsend where a fella had built a mezzanine all around his boat right at deck level. The boat was about 38 feet long and the shed 45 X 25 He had a wide staircase for access and had shelving and cupboards, a long workbench and lots of floor space to lay up and clamp and glue. All his power tools were there and with a few windows and some heat , there would be no finer place to build a boat. Good luck .

[bret]

Hey All,
I've been operating a cabinet shop now for two years out of a storage unit. The space is 20' x 40' with 10' wide x 14' tall roll up doors at each end. Power is all 110v with has limited my tool selection, but I've just learned to make due. The owner and I have reached an agreement on power payment. A shop like this out in town here would be in the neighborhood $1600-$2000 a month after all the other expenses are added in so I feel very fortunate to be paying $690. The facility has bathrooms, water, and a security system. It's served me quite well.

[TimH]

Here is my wood shop...the outside is almost done..still have to wire and drywall the inside.. Its only 18 X 18 , but i figure I can build a temporary building in front or next to it over whatever boat I end up building or repairing. first I just want to build a small boat inside though, like a Gloucester gull or a redfish kayak.

http://www.whidbeyranch.com/shopdoors.jpg

[CaseyJones]

http://www.boatbuilder.freeservers.com/images/finishedbarn.jpg

About to start a new project in here.

[MikeV]

How about a a Bow Roof Shed, Plans from Stimson Marine? web page (http://www.by-the-sea.com/stimsonmarine/bowroof.html)

[warthog5]

A shop is the best investment that I've made. Keeping things close is an asset.
A buddy of mine built his 28X10ft boat in his shop. When it was time to get the boat out he just cut a hole in the wall.
This is mine. :D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/p721c17a4b4030303c051a6651717b4b0/fb039afe.jpg.orig.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/pc51cd6d636f55c3f1e58a83a89b9617f/fb039afb.jpg.orig.jpg

[Ken Leap]

Tom,

I am building Oughtred's Caledonia Yawl outside and find it quite agreeable. I built a steel roof, more of a patio cover I guess, over a concrete slab which is adjacent to my garage. It is really a sculpture studio, but just happens to be big enough for my CY. (The strongback for my CY was built with left over 2"x4" tubular steel.)

The cover keeps out the hot sun and the occassional rain. I live in New Mexico and have about 9 months a year of very good outdoor working conditions. The other three months are hit and miss.

As others have mentioned there are some drawbacks when working outside. Artificial lighting attracts bugs and wind can be a nuisance. Some days are a little warm even for the slow epoxy hardener, and some are too cold for the fast hardener. I'm sure the Vikings had it much worse, though.

On the bright side, working outdoors just feels right. Ventilation is handled naturally. If I'm working with some really big stock, I have the whole backyard. The strongback is on wheels, so I can roll the boat out a bit to gain some working space.

You can see my CY in its outdoor building site at:

www.3lefties.com/leap/boat.html (http://www.3lefties.com/leap/boat.html)

(Click on the photos under the title "Boat Construction.")

Ken

[Barrett Faneuf]

I wanted to build a bow-roof shed; I ended up getting denied by my county building permit department since it's "non-conventional construction" and therefore needs an engineering stamp, which it doesn't have. The fact that they withstand brutal conditions doesn't seem to sink in with bureaucrats. So I'm going to put up a conventional carport-style tarp shed. I don't anticipate much need for heat (though it would be nice), as winters are IMO very mild here.

Here's my building site as of today. I got posts for the strongback set over the weekend. Overall shed size will be 14'x30' (laid out in strings), and the strongback 4x22 feet with surface at 2'6" from grade.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid81/p55cddbe3c50f22a5c18c031809508a5b/fb037aba.jpg

There are a couple more pics here: Nighean Album (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290141855)

[ 09-23-2003, 12:25 AM: Message edited by: Barrett Faneuf ]

[George Roberts]

Tom Irvine ---

I usually just build kayaks, 17' long by 2' wide by 1' deep. I used to build outside, and when necessary in my single car unheated detached garage.

Now I build on the second floor of my 26'x28' shop. I could tell you all about my shop, but ...

The most important issues are that it be comfortable and be convenient.

Have enough light, ventilation, heat/air conditioning, and electric power. Make it nice enough that you enjoy being in it.

Try to make it so you can stop by the shop in the middle of the night when you cannot sleep.

[Carl Simmons]

I just finished my 19' Lightning and build it outside during the summer. Last winter I bought this enclosurer for about $300. It is specified as being able to handle snow and worked well. I attached a shop light to the top pole and added a bullet propane heater to knock the edge off during the winter. The one I bought was 20' x 10' x 8'. I believe they make 25' ones as well. Here is a picture of it.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid35/p5eb28fa12407151a61321f87c038578c/fd2c27d6.jpg

Carl