Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: cav58d on May 28, 2007, 05:58:07 PM
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I'm looking for some help on a "do it yourselfesque project".
At my lake house I own three boats. Row, Paddle and a Kayak. Theres really no specific place where we keep the boats. Obviously they are always in the water during the summer months, however during the winter we normally just chain the paddle and row boat to a tree, and either bring the kayak inside, or throw it under the deck. Quit sloppy if you ask me.
So I've decided it would be a good idea to build a three tier boat rack to house the three boats. Nothing fancy, just something that can keep all three boats together when they are out of water. Doesn't even have to have a solid top.
Anyways, i've never done a large wood working project like this, so I was hoping that someone on the site may be able to give me a hand draqing up plans, if I give dimensions of the three boats?
Thanks
cav
Terrible job of MS Paint, but this is the type of structure i'd like to build to house the boats...
(http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1074/boatgw9.png)
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It appears you already have a drawing. Now just get some wood, screws and a saw.
You're set.
I'm serious. You've got your idea you don't need blueprints or plans drawn up. Measure your boats for the numbers you need, make sure each "shelf" (maybe use rollers bolted into the side walls) is built with enough clearance for the boats and you're go to go.
If it were me I'd build a simple box frame with 4x4's for the foundation. them at 1/4 length as support. Use 3-4 rollers to add support for the bottom of the structure in addition to allowing you to slide the row boat easily into place.
Do the same using 2x4's to brace the structure as you work higher and cover the outside with pressboard or plywood depending on how cheapy you want to go.
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since you dont need any kind of floor or siding...
4x4 posts, straps capable of holding your boats, and some tin roofing.
put the posts into the ground, frame up a roof (2x4s, with a 2x6 at one end to give you an angle, 2' centers) and nail it on the posts. put your roof material in, attach the straps at the appropriate heights, and your set.
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Don't be so quick. I discovered a huge problem when designing a dinghy storage facility (besides the fact that my club has about 10-15x less then what would be needed).
Having the racks is nice and all, but you also have to take into consideration how you're getting the boats onto the racks. By making just two end supports, and no middle supports, it becomes a game of leverage to get the boats on. Then it's only possible with two people.
You need to determine now some design requirements.
1.) How will you put the boats on to the racks? If you put them up bow first, then you need longitudinal supports to slide the boat on. If you want to slide them in sideways, you just need cross supports AND have the entire length of the structure be longer then your longest boat.
2.) What will be placed on the supports? Are you going to have just bare wood? Or will you place carpeting, to extend the life of your boats?
3.) Will this rack be near water? If so, it'll need some sort of sub structure like concrete placed around a wood timber.
4.) Will the boats be stored upside down, so as to keep the elements from pooling? You'd be surprised how heavy those things get when they are filled with water. Plus if you don't add in space to dump it, you'll have to take it out manually, and THEN dump it.
5.) Will you build a roof over it? Even a rudimentary roof isn't entirely necessary, but it does show how manly you are.
I'll probably think of more later.
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I'm with Golfer.
You have the drawing / Plan
Here's what you need to do:
1: get wood
2: get some nails (or maybe screws would be better)
3: get a hammer (or heck maybe a screwdriver)
4: get a saw (electric is nice!)
5: Saw / Hammer / Screw (not that kinda screw!) until all the wood looks
just like your drawing.
6: Put boats and stuff on it.
7: Have a beer and stare at your creation with that look of Awe and
Satisfaction we all have when we build something cool.
8: Have another Beer
9: Explain to wife that it is very important that you have some "quality"
time with your new creation.
Hope this helps
cheers,
RTR
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I've seen some photos of homemade boats racks on the web and they usually use an A frame structure which would probably be more stable. Also by adding a tarp you get an nice tent to cover the boats. It seems like you could put a couple of stepped layers of PVC pipe (maybe 4" and 5") over the cross supports to act as rollers so you can slide the boats in easier. Thought about building one meself.
Sqrl
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The stability of the box structure will be more then enough, given that it won't have a roof and the boats aren't that heavy.
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a 6 post system like i described earlier would be very easy to adapt - with a roof on, the structure can support anything he wants to do with it, and be easy to add onto at a later date.
he can use treated lumber for the posts, and put concrete pilings in if needed. unlike the box, he wont need to paint or stain it every year.
the only major problem is he'd need to get a building permit for it...
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Originally posted by vorticon
a 6 post system like i described earlier would be very easy to adapt - with a roof on, the structure can support anything he wants to do with it, and be easy to add onto at a later date.
he can use treated lumber for the posts, and put concrete pilings in if needed. unlike the box, he wont need to paint or stain it every year.
the only major problem is he'd need to get a building permit for it...
A building permit for what?
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
A building permit for what?
a system like i described is permanent and would be likely be classed as a shed. depending on what the local codes are like, he could need a permit. he should defiantly check before he does anything...
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Originally posted by vorticon
a system like i described is permanent and would be likely be classed as a shed. depending on what the local codes are like, he could need a permit. he should defiantly check before he does anything...
Check for what? ;)
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
Check for what? ;)
check if he needs building permits
but, what do i know, your the boat sailing engineering student...i just build things. ;)
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Originally posted by vorticon
check if he needs building permits
but, what do i know, your the boat sailing engineering student...i just build things. ;)
The sarcasm is lost over the internet. I was joking that if it doesn't "exist", then it doesn't need a permit.
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Originally posted by vorticon
the only major problem is he'd need to get a building permit for it...
ugh...Well i'm glad you mentioned this. Checked today and not only do I need a permit through my town, but I also need one from the lake association. Shouldn't be a problem, but what a freaking hassle. My family has been on the lake literally longer than anyone else. My grandfather bought the cabin in 45 when he returned from WWII.
Anyways..... I'm going to lumber store tomorrow, and hope to have the project completed by Friday. Will post pics.
Thanks for the helpskies.
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Originally posted by cav58d
ugh...Well i'm glad you mentioned this. Checked today and not only do I need a permit through my town, but I also need one from the lake association. Shouldn't be a problem, but what a freaking hassle. My family has been on the lake literally longer than anyone else. My grandfather bought the cabin in 45 when he returned from WWII.
Anyways..... I'm going to lumber store tomorrow, and hope to have the project completed by Friday. Will post pics.
Thanks for the helpskies.
Lake permits are 10x more difficult to get then building permits. We had to have a pre-established sailing club damn near beg the park rangers to allow us to place a small shed.
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pardon me but... this seems like a very simple project. I have built houses and just added on to mine and am in a remodel phase right now.
It seems to me that if you can't figure out this much that you probly don't have a clue on how to even use basic tools and will make a mess of it.
Maybe not... if not... get some plans.. I imagine there are many out there... like building a deck.. there are probly books of plans. scale to your needs and figure on spending twice what you thought you would..
If you are not a woodworker and haven't got a lot of tools and material ratholed away.... plan on spending 4 times what you thought you would.
I always figure that any new project is an excuse to buy at least one new tool..
lazs