Backyard Pirate Ship - days 8 + 9

Been a few days but I've still been keeping busy.  Keep in mind that I am on vacation so did take it a little easier this past weekend.

So Saturday I started by framing and covering the back portion of the main deck.

Well technically, it isn't part of the deck but rather it will be a cannon chamber.  With an opening leading to below deck.

I also built another ladder for this room but I'll eventually change it as this on doesn't have enough of an agnle built into it.

Yesterday I finished framing the cannon chamber as well as the doorway leading to the main deck. So structure wise, this thing I would say is 90% complete.  I do now apparently have to find a way of squeezing in a brig in this thing though.

Covered the front part of the cannon chamber to straigten things out and as you can see, Mathieu is already burying treasure.

Today the most I may get done is to get the two 4X4s I need to finish the masts and braces for the rope bridge that'll go from the bridge to the crow's nest.  Aside from that I really don't think we'll even get the tools out as it is another beautiful sunny day here and I think we may head to the beach after lunch.

Arghhh.

Backyard Pirate Ship - day 7

Another day at the shipyard.  Looking at the pics we took today my wife commented on how much got done today.  While I'm at it though, I've been thinking of sharing some useful tips that I've learned doing projects like these.

Tip 1:  Minimize you setup time.  I you spend 30 minutes dragging tools to the site every day then anoter 30 min. putting everything away, that's an hour lost of production.  In my case, I use a small garden tractor trailer.  As you can see, I can pack quite a bit in there and it ends up only taking me about 10 minutes in the morning and I am completely good to go for the day.



So if you read yesterday's post, you saw that I put in a ladder going to the main deck.  This morning I wanted to add another one going to the bow bunk.  So here is another tip, when building a simple wooden ladder, I like to use my router and make a small indentation into the side of the ladder.

This way, the weight of someone stepping on these steps will not only be supported by screws but by these grooves as well.

Here it is installed.

Now the next thing I did after that was finish framing the back door.

Then finally cam time to start covering the hull with eastern white pine.  I started with the back of the ship as when we stood on the main deck I found that the structure was still a bit wobbly.  After just these few pieces were put on, stability was greatly increased.



Then I ran out of 2 1/2 inch screws.  That box was new when I started, so aside from the 3 inch screws I use for the framing, I've already gone through 1200 screws.  So here is another tip, whenever I start a project and I am making a materials list, I always budget 10% of the budget on fastners (nails, screws, bolts, etc...).  Now you may be thinking that 2 and a 1/2 inch screws is a bit overkill, why not use 2 inch, or 1 and 3/4, reason is quite simple, it's cheaper this way.  Two inch screws are about 28$ for 500 at my closest big box store.  The same store has these contractor tubs on at 39.99 for 1200.  Not saying this would be the case where you live, but shop.  When screws can account to as much as 10% of your project budget, it pays to make sure you're getting as much possible for your money.

 

Back to the ship, things went pretty well as the day went on.  I managed to cover over half of the hull.

So tonight we bounced around some ideas on how to maximize the realestate that will be the bridge as well as directly underneath.  I think we came up with a really cool idea that won't need any more materials than we already have and will fit in quite well with my original structural plan.  I'll be working on that tomorrow then Sunday I think we may take the day off.

To be continued....

Backyard Pirate Ship - Day 6

The backyard shipyard was busy today! 

Didn't feel like doing much today so I got Mathieu to call one of his friends over and paid them each 2 big Mr. Freezes to finish the main deck.  They griped a bit about having to wear hard hats but hey, safety first.  So when they were using the power saws they didn't dare give me any crap about having to wear ear plugs either.

And look at that, they did a pretty decent job of it too.

To be honest, that pic of the munchkins up top was staged, but I did get plenty of help from the wife today.  Things went a lot faster when all I had to do was cut the boards and pass them up to her on deck.  She would start screwing them in while I was already on to the next board to cut.

That's eastern white pine on the main deck.  I'll be using the same thing for the hull of the ship.  For obvious reasons, I'm a little biased when it comes to what I use for lumber but you can't deny that this deck just looks awsome.  Can't wait to see the whole thing dressed up in this stuff.

Notice at the tip of the deck, there's a 2X2 ft opening?  That's going to be one of the 4 ways on to this deck.

Now back below, our next task was to build some usable space into the bow of the ship.

Framed it up and again covered it with eastern white pine.  Below this "shelf" is going to be some storage and possibly a hidden escape hatch, but you didn't hear that from me.

Then the top part will serve as a platform where there's a ladder that leads up into that 2X2 opening in the main deck.  And no more setting up a tent in the backyard when he feels like camping, this platform will also double as a bunk.  And WOW!  now that the structure is taking shape and Mathieu now has access to the top deck and there's starting to be some playability (if that's not a word it should be) built into this thing, he's all over it.

At one point during a break, I commented to my wife that had we built a swing set, he probably wouldn't have used it that much and that I hoped that he'd get 6-7 years out of this structure instead (he's 7 now).  She agreed but said that a few years later (after the initial 6 years) this would probably be the place where we'd catch him doing stuff that teens do, but shouldn't.  So I really do hope we have at least 7 years before having to worry about that.

Tomorrow I have at least one more ladder to build and we start covering the hull.  If all goes well I want to start framing the bridge as well.  At some point I need to get some more 4X4s to finish the main mast and the secondary mast.  I also need to get some plans over to my neighbour (the welder) for some custom metal hardware.  Until then...

Good night all.



Backyard Pirate Ship - Day 5

So I woke up this morning and told my wife I was putting the big mast in today, she said "pardon???"

So the bottom part of the main mast is in.  It's just a 6x6 PT piece that I hollowed out a bit.  I made a groove in it that a 4x4 will fit in.  My 40 year old Craftsman circular saw heated up quite a bit when I did this.  I made parallel cuts in the 6x6, then used a chisel to hollow it out.  This did take way longer than I thought it would though.

Once the mast was in, I was able to frame the main deck pretty quickly.

Ended up the evening by starting to lay down the decking but by the time I started putting tools away it was getting pretty dark so sorry, no pics of that tonight.

Tomorrow I plan on finishing the main deck, frame the front bunk in the hold and start covering the hull.  So tomorrow is the day that Mathieu finally gets to stand on deck.

To be continued...

Backyard Pirate Ship - Day 4

I know, I know, you were expecting a a post yesterday, but truth is we didn't do anything on the ship yesterday.  Humidex hit 35 degrees yesterday so I took the day off and headed to the beach.  Today was another scorcher but we did manage to start early enough in the day and got quite a bit done.

Started with the front (I think they call that the bow) of the ship.  Had a hard time getting all the angles right and had to scrap two pieces.  I wasn't winging it or anything, but I had put in the front piece and then tried to fit the 2 top plate pieces  by measuring them in place.  For some reason that didn't work.  So, I finally went back to the plan and just trusted the dimensions and angles I had calculated and lo and behold, it fit like a glove.  When it came to the back (the stern?), a few odd angles here again but I just followed my notes and everything fit.  On a side note, if anyone has a wood carving that would fit on the bow, let me know.  Doesn't have to be a mermaid or anything, just looking to add some authenticity to the ship.

Around 3 PM, it just got too hot again (Moncton had a humidex of 38).  One of the advantages of living here is that it's just 5 minutes to the beach, so off we went again.  It's a weekday so the beach was practically deserted.  Came back around 6, had supper then went back out again.  Finished top plates and put in first braces for the main deck.  We're now ready to put in the main mast.

All thru this build, we are making some slight modifications to the plan, both for practical reasons and for some creative ones too.  For one, the hold is 6 inches higher than planned, to accomodate the occasional adult pirate.  Second is a secret escape hatch that wasn't planned, but I am not at liberty to discuss it any further, for fear of being made to walk the plank by a 7 year old.

Tomorrow they're calling for 20 mm of rain.  If it starts in the morning I guess we'll be playing Legos and building toy rockets all day.  If it starts in the afternoon, I may get enough time in to put in the mast and some of the supports for the main deck.  Either way, I'll be back tomorrow with something.

Good night.

André