Shepherds Hut Pt 2.

When building a boat one of the most common complaints is in the perennial lack of clamps. It seems that the same affliction has befallen this project... having said that, it has been pointed out to me that far from a shed on wheels this hut resembles an inverted boat on a trailer. Without a nail gun in sight, the screws hidden in here number over 4000! And there in over 1 1/2 litres of polyeurathane glue concealed between the boards.

 

 The old oak double glazed windows have cleaned up a treat. As to incorporating angles into things I question why i bother sometimes as the maths is a bit too much... but its worth it to sit on the finished item and have comfy bottom!

 

Chunky sturdiness and functionality is the theme with all of the woodwork. I doubt the average shepherd had it this good in the old days, 

 

As the job begins to finally take shape the Blacksmith next door offers to forge some shepherds crook shaped curtain poles. Now that spring has sprung the Mrs. also comes down to supervise the application of the exterior colours. Sometimes I don't know what i'd do without them!

I'm aware that iv'e probably exceeded the attention span of your average internet user these days... so heres a picture of some kids setting fire to stuff!

Taking care not to listen to the news in case the uncontrollable laughter at our unelected, right wing, brexiteering, frothing at the mouth, sheep flock of a government lessen our concentration; the finished article is carefully loaded onto a trailer and expertly delivered to its final resting place in west wales.

Skepticism about the safety of our careful winching technique eventually drew the oopaloompah's out of the chocolate laboratory.

Begging for habitation the hut is ready for a duvet, a bit of kindling in the stove, and the kettle on.

The thanks I owe to so many people that have supported me to bring this project to fruition know who they are... and my heartfelt thanks, love and respect goes out to all of them...x

 

NB "Barden" Boatmans Cabin

Finding some time between bookings to sort out our back cabin has become a priority. The first officer has threatened a mutiny if we spend another night on our rather unremarkable ikea sofa bed! (just to clarify from the point of view of any subsequent litigation we have had more comfortable nights sleep camping in the Australian outback with the tent accidentally pitched on a nest of giant killer ants!)

Thats it... Just a matter of remembering where i was up to. Cutting out the apertures for the table cupboard.

Table cupboards should be good and chunky in my opinion. 3/4" floorboards make a good table surface when glued and screwed onto the panel cut out of the bulkhead.

Lots of rummaging round in piles of offcuts and kindling to make loads of odd shaped doors and twiddly bits..... sometimes wonder why i bother... IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END! (mutinous behaviour amongst the crew reaching its peak... once the woodwork is finished it will still take a fornight to paint!)

First coat of primer takes eight hours. Once sanded down i can look forward to doing it all again twice in undercoat before scumbling and varnishing. Can hear murmurings and cutlasses being rattled up the front of the boat!!

I've gone for a very pale undercoat to upset the traditionalists. Reckon it will look great with a thin light oak scumble oil. All grey undercoated areas will be painted either green or blue and the beading red but i suspect that won't happen until late 2015 when the first officer incites the next rebellion!

Scumbled and varnished the cabin is cosy yet light even with the doors closed.

Good enough to move into and pacify the crew for the moment. Five inch high density foam in three sections makes a 6'2" x 4'6" bed when the cupboard is folded down. 
Other notable features about this cabin that are absolutely not traditional are:
-It is 9 feet long leaving room for a large bed as well as a small stove and table cupboard.
-It is not damp or mouldy
-There are no bed bugs
-There is electric light
-We don't have to live off tinned pineapple

(Last comments a small tribute to an anonymous boat captain who worked a boat in the late 60's)

NB "Jemima"

Dead space on a boat.... Nightmare! Jemima's owner could only use these bunk beds in the rear cabin as a dumping ground. 

What was required was a home office that could be used as an occasional bedroom whilst preserving some useful storage space.

Using the full width of the forward bulkhead and creating an angled passageway i made a three seat dinette to maximize storage yet facilitate access through the boat.

 
A spacious desk, large bed (when the table is put down), custom shelves and under bench storage breathe new life into this little cabin.

The pale white wood will benefit from a couple of coats of light oak wax oil, bringing it to the same shade as the existing fit out. Using this material is massively cheaper than building in oak, and the customer will apply the wood finish to keep the cost down even further.
  A good value and extremely useful alteration to a liveaboard boat!
 

NB Hazel

Hazel is another Ron Turner boat. A 70ft boat powered by a Lister JP2 its an enthusiasts dream, but suffered from the traditional boatmans problem of a leaky wooden cabin! In 2008 I was commissioned to replace it.

Ahem! No wonder the captains feet were wet!

The Boatmans cabin interior had to be preserved which meant cutting back all of the rotten structure then scarfing in replacement roof beams before recladding the cabin in sturdy 1" tongue and groove.

The whole cabin was then securely clad in marine plywood coated with west system epoxy resin.

A satisfying bit of traditional detail in the new hardwood slide runners

The completed work sealed with two coats of red oxide complete with new handrails and brassware.