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wood shop on board

3K views 11 replies 8 participants last post by  byr0n 
#1 ·
Has anyone successfully moved a small woodshop on board?
 
#2 ·
I was thinking if i ever do become a live aboard I would put my woodshop in a large covered trailer and start a "woodshop 2 U" kind of enterprise.

I saw a cabo rico that had a shop area on it when I was at the boat show in annapolis a couple of years ago. the boat was "only" Just under 900K on "sale"
 
#4 ·
It all depends on what you mean by woodshop. Yes, many cruising boats will have a workshop area, but a woodshop with a planer, lathe, bandsaw, routing table, etc, is not very likely to fit on most reasonably sized and priced sailboats.
 
#5 · (Edited)
:chainsaw .....I could see it being done if you wanted to eat and sleep on work surfaces that convert to settees and saloon table..ect..and you have 38 to 40' minimum to work with.

You could have a small bench table saw possible router table combination for use as a sharper for a saloon table....a 48" joiner... 10 to 12" portable planer, ect all configured to be counter top or seat bottom space with the tool cranked down flush or flipped over like old sewing machine tables use to do...a Good saber saw can do almost what a band saw can except re-saw...and fill in the rest with hand tools and power hand tools..you could conceivably pull it off.

You will of course loose valuable storage area but it all depends if your single and what your goal for sailing is...I don't think it would be hard to do necessarily but the work space may get a little tight with any material of any length...or a half compleated project to constantly work around.. and dont forget to not build anything that wount fit out the companyon way...:rolleyes:

I have a sinking feeling My wife would drill the first hole though if I tried something like that....and I can bet the bank on that..:D :eek:
 
#7 ·
Sounds like a metal shop to me....but hey we'll fit it in..:p
 
#8 ·
Hey I found you one...:D
 

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#9 ·
Sorry I don't remember where; but I saw a kit that had a cordless circular saw, jig saw and drill that could be adapted to a table saw, scroll saw and drill press by using the case it all packed in. I doubt it would be super accurate but better than nothing.
I carry a drill and sabre saw, dremel tool and a lot of hand tools. Doubt I'll pack a router or circular saw.

A board with a bench vise will get fitted to work in the cockpit
 
#10 ·
Sorry I don't remember where; but I saw a kit that had a cordless circular saw, jig saw and drill that could be adapted to a table saw, scroll saw and drill press by using the case it all packed in. I doubt it would be super accurate but better than nothing.
I carry a drill and sabre saw, dremel tool and a lot of hand tools. Doubt I'll pack a router or circular saw.

A board with a bench vise will get fitted to work in the cockpit
Latest issue of Practical Sailor has a write up on something similar. Don't have it with me so I can't tell you the brand but they seemed to think fairly highly of the gear, given that we are not talking professional quality gear.

Many of the early cruisers (the Hiscocks are a good example) did not use the forepeak as sleeping quarters but used that area as both workshop and darkroom.

These days we demand bloody great huge bedrooms, using the saloon berths as both bunk and settee is not something we'll accept. Out goes the workshop.
 
#12 ·
I think regularly about this. I think if I was in a >50 foot vessel I could convert a center-forward cabin to a bench-shop with adequate ventilation (for varnishes etc), but I don't think space is the biggest issue.

I think the bigger issues are ample power, rust and weight distribution as the tool collection inevitably grows. Lots of tools (hand & otherwise) succumb as they are not designed for the harsh wet environment. (Unless we are talking about a live-aboard which doesn't move off the dock).

For now, I work in the space I am in and take over my father-in-laws garage when I need more room for a project :).

As others have said, the trailer idea is also potentially a good one, but perhaps something that is a co-op, like, rent the trailer with all the tools for x days...hmmm...

Also, I think a good old trawler could be made into a floating woodshop as the space could lend itself nicely, but the previous list of problems still exists.
 
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