Boatshops

**Sailor** · 03-24-2006, 07:16 PM

This one's self explanatory. Pics of shops please!!!!

Who's got the gear and who's making due with a closet to build their dreams? Don't be shy, it's enviable to have the skill and determination to build a ship in a closet. Should give some of us beginners some ideas as to how to set up our shops.

**Ken Hutchins** · 03-24-2006, 07:55 PM

With determination most anything can be done within severe constraints, I restored my '26 model T before I had much for tools, an eggbeater hand drill and a bug sprayer for painting and didn't even have a spare closet to work in. But I made up my mind that I would invest in tools and workshop space as money and time permitted. So now I'm finally building my long dreamed of boat I have a decent shop and sufficient tools to get the job done. But the barn wasn't big enough so I had to add the shed on the side for the boat. All woodworking machines and several work benches are on wheels for a constantly changing shop layout as needed for the task at hand.

**Barry** · 03-25-2006, 02:09 AM

Here's a small shop for small boats on fine february day in the pacific northwest.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...0/f019c732.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...d/f019ba62.jpg

[ 03-25-2006, 03:58 AM: Message edited by: Barry ]

**rufustr** · 03-25-2006, 02:16 AM

These are Barry's photos.

**Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )** · 03-25-2006, 07:25 AM

[ 03-25-2006, 08:33 AM: Message edited by: Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson ) ]

**Dolly Varden** · 03-25-2006, 07:46 AM

looking good barry [img]smile.gif[/img]

**Steve Lansdowne** · 03-25-2006, 03:06 PM

I built a 12 x 20 pier and beam insulated shop in the back yard, complete with AC and nice radio, just so I could keep the cars in my former boat shop. I always wanted to build a house, but realistically this was what I did instead. Double doors allow smallish boats to exit. Larger ones can't be built, which was part of the plan.

More photos at http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2108023585

**Clinton B Chase** · 03-26-2006, 12:44 PM

Nice boats all! STEVE...my garage space has about the same dimensions (mine is 11x21)...how big a boat can you build comfortably? I may add a section to the side of the garage (a 7/8' x 14' section). I have a concrete pad that floats above ground level...the new section would take out some deck. No insulation, ventilation, electricity. Those are obvious needs. What would people do to change this set up if it were yours? Below are pics click to enlarge

From driveway

Shot of door to deck (garage not attached to house)

From back yard...the new section would go where the deck is and stop just past the door all the way to the left (to my kitchen)...may keep as a "breezeway"...

I thought about adding a couple feet but the real trick is that i want a a planking bench and boat next to each other with 3' around boat.

Anyway...suggestions would be great. Sorry pics are small.

[ 03-26-2006, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Clinton B Chase ]

**Steve Lansdowne** · 03-26-2006, 07:51 PM

The 13 1/2 foot by 50" Melonseed I'm building now takes up most of the space, though I have benches/storage on each side, as well as at one end. Remember 12 x 20 (outside measurements) is not that large inside, as about 8" of that width and length are taken up by studs/walls. I guess you could do a 15' by 5' boat in that space, but it would be tight. One thing to consider is that the double doors on the end open inward, and now that the strongback is set up and fixed to the floor, I can get these open far enough to get into the shop, but not much further. I have a second single door at the end of one side of a long wall that I normally use for going in and out. If the doors opened outward (or up, as a garage door would), that problem is solved. I put my strongback on rollers, then anchored the whole thing to the wood floor with L brackets. Once planking is all done and I turn the hull over, I'll remove the L brackets and be able to move the strong back around to gain more space on one side of it or the other.

**WFK** · 03-27-2006, 10:47 PM

Here's my shop. 44x48 with a 14 x17 high door on the other end. After having it for a few years now I think I'd like to connect the 2 shed roofs you see in this picture of the exterior, turning it into a hip. It would enable me to have an area that would be easy to heat as well as a space for small wintertime projects

Inside

My little house on the hill

**Lew Barrett** · 03-27-2006, 11:36 PM

Well, not really a shop, I've never actually built a boat from the keel up, and "mine" is somewhat loose because I rent it, but I've been restoring (as opposed to building) my boat in this shed for the last 12 years, and it's had my bandsaw, tablesaw and most every other tool of consequence I've owned in it for most of that time, so close enough? I have a basement/garage shop at home that's slowly been built out and had the major machine tools returned to it as the boat's progressed and needed less heavy lifting .

**Ethan** · 03-28-2006, 01:56 AM

WFK, everytime I see pictures of your shop, I have to reach for a drool cup. Outstanding job you did there.

Lew...that is a great pic of your boat. If my family and friends see that and make it the standard, I'm plain screwed....

I could look at boatshop pictures all day long.

you guys rock.

[ 03-28-2006, 02:58 AM: Message edited by: Ethan ]

**Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )** · 03-28-2006, 09:03 AM

WFK wins every time

**Matt J.** · 03-28-2006, 10:32 AM

Can I sign up for the I hate WFK club? I'm green and drooling! Everytime I see that shop, I think "We need to move!"

And I was all proud of the 20x28 post and beam boatshop I was planning to start next month...

**Ethan** · 03-28-2006, 11:09 AM

Ah, Joe...you're little man space ain't too shabby either.

**Ethan** · 03-28-2006, 11:10 AM

I wish Don would fix his pics..... [img]smile.gif[/img]

**Dale R. Hamilton** · 03-28-2006, 12:53 PM

Well here's my shop guys. Its 60 x 30 with 20' of usable headspace. Has attached 15x30' drive in laminar flow paint booth. Shop has heat, Ac, lotsa light, and all season crapper, a sound system and bar. This last item insures that I will have a constant flow of bubbas visiting the shop, and I always have something for them to lift, hold, or whatever. Shown on floor are the frames to Ray Sargeants 15' sport runabout.

**pcford** · 03-28-2006, 02:37 PM

None of these shops are sufficiently cluttered and dirty.

Who was the old-timer that had the shop on the estuary in Oakland? Did speedboats. Big waterfront building. The center of building was clear about the width of a boat. Off to the sides were about 4 ft. deep in "good stuff."

I came in one day. Saw an old guy under the hood of a '63 Chev pickup. Asked for the owner. He said you are talking to him.

god, I've got to get to work.

**Lew Barrett** · 03-28-2006, 03:12 PM

Thanks Ethan. Make some trouble for yourself and come on up to Seattle

No talking about mustard, just boats

**Les Schuldt** · 03-28-2006, 03:54 PM

pcford,
That would be the Lester Stone Boatyard on the Estuary. A classic, cluttered, boat shop, but they got things done in their day. Unfortunately, the yard has changed hands recently and I don't think there's any commercial boat work happening, but not a thing has been changed in the shop.
Many beautiful boats were built there, some were Lester Stone's own designs. Also recent restoration of Bird Boats, Polly and Robin.
http://www.birdboat.com/ (No Reef Points!)
If I get by this summer I'll take some pics.

**Dave Fleming** · 03-28-2006, 04:17 PM

Nah, that wasn't the Stone Boatyard I worked at.
That would have been in the 1960's when Lester was still active in the yard with Jack Erhorn as foreman.

Place was pretty neat, clutter wise.
Machine Shop building was less neat though.

Photo in one of the first chapters of Steward's book shows a new build under construction in that big 'tin building'.

Also Stone's was in Alameda not 'jokeland'.

On the 'jokeland' side of the Estuary there were several places that fit that description. One in the old Atlas Imperial plant comes to mind. Moore Shipyard buildings were later 'homesteaded' by hippie dippies in the '60's too.

[ 03-28-2006, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Dave Fleming ]

**pcford** · 03-28-2006, 06:47 PM

Les and Dave,

No it wasn't Stone. They specialised in speedboats. In business 'til fairly recently. On the Oakland side.

Damn, just can't remember. 60s are coming back to haunt me. Name will surface.

**WFK** · 03-28-2006, 07:08 PM

Thanks Joe, your shop is no slouch...........and damit Matt J., I'm not a bad guy, so don't hate me

. I'd wanted a complete shop since I was 21 when I rented a little bat infested house with a 12 X 20 out building, and was pretty damn happy there but knew there had to be a bigger one in my future so I eventually built my house with a 20 X 36 shop attached.

..........Still not big enough, and a few years back I went for the barn.
Bill

**Matt J.** · 03-28-2006, 07:23 PM

WFK, my jealousy knows no bounds...

I'm in a falling down 12x20 shed right now. Got power but only 6' headroom... unfortunately I'm 6'-3" or 6'-4".

The new shed will be so much better - but I'm always going to think of your barn when it's time to daydream.

**Dave Fleming** · 03-28-2006, 07:46 PM

PC, you aren't thinking of Stephens Bros. are you?

If so they were up the Sacramento River in the Stockton area.

**Dave Fleming** · 03-28-2006, 07:49 PM

Gonna pick a "big nit" here.....

Dhowman doesn't have a real shop. What he has is a nice garage for some sweet small craft. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I don't see one bandsoar, tablesoar, planer, joiner in that nice space. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

IMOOP, paint brushes don't count in defining a boat shop.

**Don Kurylko** · 03-28-2006, 07:58 PM

WFK’s barn would definitely rate for “Boat Shop of the Year” down in the Bilge. Wow!!!

Here’s my much humbler contribution for a "temporary" shop in which to build the dream boat. Pretty simple to construct and strong enough to withstand the snow loads common here in the interior of B.C. (2 to 3 feet deep at times). Relatively cheap too and much longer lasting than the usual plastic and lath structures favoured for one off projects. The Shop measures 52’ x 20’ x 16’. Big enough for my 34 footer, yet unobtrusive enough not to annoy the neighbours.

**Ethan** · 03-28-2006, 09:46 PM

Lew - sounds like a plan!

That really is a beautiful cruiser you've got there!

**pcford** · 03-29-2006, 12:17 AM

PC, you aren't thinking of Stephens Bros. are you?

No, Dave. They did runabouts and it was in Oakland. If the name does not bubble up, I'll call someone to refresh my memory.

**Dave Fleming** · 03-29-2006, 01:00 AM

PC, at one time Chris Craft had a plant down near Fremont, that ring a bell?

We need the Cleekster to help out here.

**pcford** · 03-29-2006, 08:24 AM

Nope. It was a brand that was the guy's name. Began with D. (I think.)

[ 03-29-2006, 09:27 AM: Message edited by: pcford ]

**pcford** · 03-29-2006, 10:53 AM

PC, at one time Chris Craft had a plant down near Fremont, that ring a bell?

We need the Cleekster to help out here.

Philbrick. It was driving me nuts.

Nice boats, though he built them "his way." Semigloss finish. He died several years ago.

**andrewdarius** · 03-29-2006, 02:48 PM

I hope this one can be for the folks who think they can't build because of their lifestyle. I live in a second floor apartment in the middle of Philly. The only boat I could build was one that would go through a standard doorway, be able to be stored on the ceiling and be carted around without a trailer.
Annual maintenance is done in the living room. Here's a shot from the apartment door through the living room into the kitchen;

This boat was built in the basement, which required the basement door jamb to be taken apart and patience from the first floor tennant. You can see the gypsum on the gun'l trying to squeeze it out;

Here's how she stores. It is a straight shot down the steps to the street:

I certainly dream of owning a larger boat, but until then, sing with me now, "If you can't be with the boat you love, love the boat you're with".

**dmede** · 03-29-2006, 03:06 PM

Nice boat Andrew, what design is it? Got any more pics of her?

**Thorne** · 03-29-2006, 03:51 PM

"Shop"?? You guys actually need a **building"" to work in???

Here in California, we can work outside 365 daze a year...

Actually I lie like a doggy -- but have been too embarased to take any pics in my messy garage which is my actual workplace when it gets dark or even rains. I'll post some pics later...

;- )

**andrewdarius** · 03-31-2006, 03:20 PM

It's Iain Oughtred's MacGregor. When it warms up outside I'll have more pics of her. I made a canvas coaming/deck which is sprung over/around the gun'l.
I'll start a new thread for that one. Thanks for asking.

**fixmyboat** · 03-31-2006, 04:27 PM

ok here we go Po' Vermonter Style [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Half a 2-car garage......Damn housemates!

Massive spill over into the rest of the basement which is currently dripping water out of the ceiling someplace....Damn landlord!

And a 40 X 60 blue poly strung between some sugar maples

What more couldya ask for, eh?

**Sailor** · 03-31-2006, 05:54 PM

The 40 by 60 could be a trend here. Problem with that is I'd be hard pressed to find the trees on my 2.5 acres. Love the inginuety (SP) keep 'em comin'

**Jagermeister** · 03-31-2006, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by WFK:
Inside

Can I ask, "What is that?" Looks like very pretty lines.

- Kevin

**fixmyboat** · 03-31-2006, 06:16 PM

Looks like a Herreshoff

**Stu Fyfe** · 03-31-2006, 06:54 PM

Fix My Boat,
That's a Farymann! What does she go in?

**fixmyboat** · 03-31-2006, 07:44 PM

Aye a K-34 might have talked to ya about it before. Theres my Girl!

**WFK** · 03-31-2006, 09:57 PM

Kevin, The boat is an international One Design a group of us are restoring. She was built in Norway in the mid to late 30's and eventually made her way to the San Francisco I.O.D. fleet where she was to be cut up a year ago. To date, we've replaced 36 frames with another 8 ready to go in next week. Before we're done, all the frames, floors, deck, and house will be replaced
Have a look. and if anybody gets to Orcas, by all means look me up.
Bill
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2125992158

**Bill Perkins** · 04-07-2006, 06:41 AM

My shop from last May till mid December , when it became too cold for the primer I was using .This was a nice set up , consisting of a 2 by 2 by 4 lock box crammed with all my tools , a bit of kitchen cabinet and top for storage and glue mixing , and a piece of an old HVAC parts bin for a workbench .The side tarp fastened up when it was rainy or was jammed to the back of the bench when not . The shelter withstood a near miss by a tropical storm ,and a hit by the remnents of one of last years hurricanes .

This was a free space , unusual in the city, but there were some negatives .It was located in what is called here a " transitional neighborhood " . As I set this workplace up I heard a car with a loudspeaker approaching and thought it might be an evangelist . Instead it turned out to be the Atlanta Police Department broadcasting a public service announcement : "If you park on the street , do not leave valuables in your car , they will be stolen ." I asked my host if I might be in for a problem ? No no nothing ever happened here just the one incident earlier in the year when some builders working a few blocks away had been robbed at gunpoint of their tools , their truck , and their shoes .... I kept the front gate locked when working here .

This is the setup battened down for the night . The valuables were out of sight , and the lot was surrounded with a chain link fence topped with barbed wire . This was old , but good enough .Plus my friends were typically in residence in an adjacent house .I installed an outdoor outlet there where I plugged in , also a motion activated spotlight .

It was a rainy Summer , and the tiger mosquitoes were a real trial at times . It was drizzleing when I took these pics .The scraps of plywood on the ground served as stepping stones as the area became boggy in prolonged rains . On the plus side , we have no snow loads in Atlanta , and all the in town neighborhoods are well wooded , which is a joy .

**RichKrough** · 04-08-2006, 10:26 PM

My shop tonight

**Wild Wassa** · 04-09-2006, 05:01 AM

My boat shop photographs have disappeared from this thread. Well, that is appropriate as I'm a transient worker doing mobile fibreglass repairs ... how fitting.

WBF well done in moving me on ... that is so appropriate it is uncanny. Move on to the next job.

If you ask who has a paintery rather than who has a boat shop ... well that is totally different.

Warren.

**Sailor** · 04-15-2006, 09:57 PM

Ok I started this thread I should at leat put a pic of my shop in here but I really can't figure it out. What's the deal here? I barely figured it out on the last edition of the forum and now it's gone all different on me. every once in a while I wish I was a computer nerd. (Not very often though)

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