Setting up the building platform

My plan all along has been to assemble and plank my boat in the backyard of my townhouse.  It seemed like a good idea, especially since it's summer and I appreciate working in the great outdoors.  Unfortunately, where I live the summer months are not a guarantee of dry weather so the first order of business was to provide some shelter.

This 12' X 14' car tent nearly fills the yard and provides ample work space.  Thanks for the loaner Dad!

 Next I turned my attention to building a platform on which the boat can be set up.  If you'll remember from my previous post, the moulds each have a cross piece that need a flat and level surface to attatch to.  I put a lot of thought into the best way to accomplish this considering I would be outdoors.  This is what I came up with.

Here's what it looks like all finished:


Completed building platform.  Moulds are spaced according to the plans and braced

Here's how I did it:

1. I assembled a 2X6 ladder style frame just as you would frame a floor.  The cross pieces are spaced so that the moulds will be directly over them. 
2. I attatched a 4'X8' sheet of OSB over the frame creating a flat surface.
3. I placed the frame on sawhorses and added shims between the sawhorse and frame until my level read perfect in all directions. 
4. I stabilized the frame by hammereing a few stakes into the ground and screwing them into the frame.  
5. I screwed the moulds down through the OSB into the frame below.
6. I further secured the moulds by attatching angled braces and cross pieces between moulds.

A simple frame, 12' long and 4' wide

The OSB is nailed down to and the platform is levelled with shims.  The 12' 2X6 extend past both ends for reasons which will be revealed.

The first mould is placed.  There is a centre line on the cross piece of the mould and the platform for easy alignment.



Whoever invented pocket hole screws - Thank You! 
You can see the centering marks as well



All the moulds are screwed down and the shape of the hull is taking form.



Finally the moulds are made plumb and braced as you can see.
I should make a note of how crucial the correct spacing and alignment are to create the complicated 3d shape of a hull.  Anyone else doing this would be well to take a couple hours setting up and triple checking everything.

One final thought for this post:

Some of you reading this may be thinking that I'm crazy for building a boat in a townhouse complex.  Apparently some people don't appreciate the sound of a circular saw, air compressor, etc.  Unfortunately, as anyone else living in the Metro Vancouver area can sympathise, it is entirely out of the means of a young couple to own property around here. So in the meantime, I've learned to keep the noise down to reasonable hours and keep everything clean.  I've also learned that when it comes to questionable activities in a strata situation it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.