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[MARK@NOVASCOTIA]

Planning on starting Oughtreds Caledonia Yawl next fall but need a place to do it,anyone have firsthand experience with Stimson Marine's Bowroof Shed.

[lestat]

I'm about to begin my second winter working in a Bowshed.An amazingly simple structure to build.That is,if you can build a boat,the bowshed is a breeze.
If you want to keep relatively warm during normal daylight winter hours,I would recommend lining the inside with the same weight poly as you use on the outside.I used clear 6mil stuff bought at Home Depot.Just to give you an idea of how nice it is in winter;on a sunny day with -15C,I would hit + 10C. by noon time.At -30C however,it would only creep up to +6C but felt much warmer for not being in the wind. If you are serious about working in your bowshed in winter,I would further recommend that you build a smallish trap down low at one end and another similarily sized trap up at the peak at the other end of your shed.This will greatly reduce the build up of moisture inside your shed and prevent the interior from turning into Jack Frost's castle.One final thought,if possible orient your structure to face the prevailing winds in your area.This will be a godsend come summer time when the shed begins to turn into a giant easy-bake oven.

Hope this helps.

[David Geiss]

I built one in 97 or thereabouts using spruce 1x3 firring strips. It's great still....very rigid. Used Trex for the footprint rectangle framing on the ground and filled the resulting "sandbox" with quarry run. I built the arches so the bottoms slipped over the Trex (on edge) and then through bolted. Reccomend using slit fire hose or carpet on the ridge (avoid abrading your covering)

The far end (closed in my case) I did in cedar clapboard style and that breathes well. The shed is covered in a very tough opaque truck tarp type material...set up for storage as opposed to being a workshop. I also through bolted the filler blocks making up parts of the arches. There is an article going back in WB on the design.

[HarryH]

I enjoy mine. Turned out to be the club house/tree fort I never had as a kid, and a damned good place to built a boat. Springing for the plan and booklet was a good $18 investment, as it has tips and hints that would not otherwise be obvious, no matter the builder's skill. I find the double diagonal bracing and interior longitudinals on 2' centers a bit overdone; a single diagonal and 4' o.c. horizontals is plenty for my neck of the woods.

Using hand picked strapping is pretty much essential to avoid breakage when the rafters assume the curve. I used some 2x6 P.T. planks on edge for the sills and ridge; once the ribs were assembled on my back deck, a couple of us put the frame up over a weekend. The greenhouse-type plastic I purchased is warranteed for 6 years against U.V. breakdown, also has a coating or additive that inhibits condensation. I have a dirt floor, and experience not a drip. Some infared components helps retain heat too...so I am heartily glad I went this route. The interior exposed stapping framing is so darned handy; I hang tools, knock together gusset-supported shelves, and rack stock overhead on widely spaced "ceiling joists".

Make no mistake: this project is more time intensive than it looks. But the result is far superior to the low end tubing and tarp stuff I was looking at when trying to figure out which way to go. I particularly like the fact I can make even more utilitarian by adding another shelf or tool rack with left over stock, etc. I don't see how one can do much better for the buck, particularly if you have any unused building materials on-hand.

[kc8pql]

Mine's 10 years old and still ok. Did have to sister some short (4') sections this summer when a 90 mph microburst womped it and cracked a few inner ribs. To its credit, I didn't even notice they were broken for about a week. Great way to build a shed.

[Steve McMahon]

If you want a hand give me a shout. I've built a few of them. I'd be more than happy to lend a hand. It's a great design. Give Clifford Long & Sons's Lumber up in White Rock a call and ask for rough sawn 1x3. It will be green which is even better for this application.
Cheers
Steve
680-6115

[HR]

For covering the shed, Avon Valley Greenhouses near Falmouth sell their one year old used greenhouse plastic for $40 for a piece 30' x 100'. Much more weather/UV resistant than regular 6mil and will last a lot longer. Their number is 902-798-8381.

Howard

[MARK@NOVASCOTIA]

Thanks for the info everyone, guess I'll spend my 18 bucks and plan for spring,Steve I'll be looking you up and I think its time we got together for a beer. Howard are you the guy building the Eun Mara.

Mark

[HR]

Yup.

[OEX]

I did this...
wood hoop to cover king (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/Katarina%20Colin%20Archer--%20Atkin%204.html)