Thinking about Boats again

A long while ago, before we were building shepherds huts, Dave built a few small wooden sailing and rowing boats. These boats were built mainly for the fun of it. However they were mostly quite good little boats and in the main quite successful and satisfying builds.

Late in 2019 Dave got the boat building bug again and started a strip planked boat, the frames for which were done on the CNC machine while the rest of the planks would be hand machined. This boat is slowly coming together.

This strip planked boat is from a set of purchased plans that we've had for a while.
The frames were cut out on the CNC machine, the cedar strips were then processed on site.

Which brings us to this year, and we've got an idea to offer plywood boat kits for sale. The great thing about plywood boats is that they look like boats faster than strip planking. The hard part is marking out the plywood and cutting all the parts just right so that the stitch and glue construction works.

Our idea is to take the hard part away from the build.

We supply all the plywood parts already cut out using our CNC machine and a set of instructions.

The customer can then have all the fun and satisfaction of building their boat, without the worse bit.

A good project for kids and parents to do together?

That's the plan. We are working on a couple of prototypes at the moment and as soon as we are happy with the concept we'll get them out there.

The prototypes are being put together in the new shed, a new project suits a new shed, which keeps them out of our way while we work on other things.

Pieces being cut out

The pieces for this test build

Gluing and taping the first pieces together

Starting to look a bit boat shaped.

Plans for this mini one sheet boat are from:
http://flo-mo.weebly.com/one-sheet-boats.html

FOR SALE (SOLD) The Office Hut (A smaller shepherd's hut)

This is our office hut. The idea was to take this one and a 14ft Shepherd's hut to a couple of the country shows we were going to be doing this year. These shows have all been sadly cancelled due to the understandable safety concerns and the impossibility of social distancing at some of the busier shows.

The office hut is 10ft by 6ft and is built to our usual standards and specifications. It is Fully insulated, a few 230v double sockets, small desk, panel heater and has a few down lights. The floor is engineered oak, which is hard wearing, easy to clean and will put up with a lot.

We have a plan in mind for an allotment style hut, about the same size. We're undecided as to whether it should be empty, with plywood walls inside. We're thinking 12V lighting with a solar panel and leisure battery and perhaps a 12v aux socket.

It could easily be used as a Home office, garden room or spare single bed room.

The Shepherd's hut is for sale, can be delivered when deemed safe to do so, and we can also take orders for later in the year.

It is painted in Cuprinol Shades Wild Thyme outside and Country Cream inside.

The Shepherd's hut has a small built in desk with generous sized drawers, a few shelves suitable for box files or just large books, some double sockets, a couple of ceiling lights a wall light and and outside light too.

The Shepherd's hut is fitted with a stable door, and one end window is a top opener.

The Shepherd's hut also comes with a small electric heater which could be wall mounted or left on wheels as shown. It quickly brings the shepherd's hut up to temperature and has frost settings to keep whatever is stored in the Shepherd's Hut frost free.

Power is provided by a 230v 16amp caravan hookup.

There is enough room to put a single bed down the long wall.

The steps are painted in Sage, again Cuprinol shades, and are also included. The wheels will be painted as shown separately.

T

Railway Carriage Mk II.

At the back end of last year we were commissioned to build another Railway Carriage. Much the same as the first one and also different. We're trying some different things on this one from the last.

We had made a start earlier in the year and its coming along quite well, however things are slowing down on the build as we are having problems getting hold of materials during the lock down.

This one is going to be 16ft long x 8ft wide and quite a bit different from the shepherds huts on the outside, however the interior will be fitted to our usual standards, insulated all round, and it will be painted. It will have a bed, a sink and multi-fuel stove, and a separate room with storage cupboards at one end.

Like the first one, this one will have two doors to get inside. Out side lights and be painted in what ever colours the customer picks out.

Sides have been treated with epoxy, the windows primed.
Next is a coat of epoxy on the ends

View from the end door

Roof cladding is western red cedar.
Will then be covered in EPDM

Still Cladding the roof 

View to the end door

Wooden signs and other things.

This is just a collection of signs and benches that John carved using the CNC machine for people or himself.

The benches are oak or cedar, depending on whether they are for inside or outside use and also on personal preference. People have them for all sorts of reasons, wedding gifts, anniversaries, birthdays, just because it's the right size for a nook in a house.

The signs and plaques are much the same. Some are house signs, others are for dens and sheds, they are all decoration as well.

The New Shed

After a busy 2019, and lack of blogging, we started the new year with the building of a new workshop.

January is not the best time of the year to start any outdoor projects, but it had to be done. We don't really remember what the weather was doing, just that it was cold.

Everything takes twice as long as you think and usually costs twice as much too, but we got it up and running by the end of February and managed to re-cycle a lot of materials from the old sheds that had been dismantled to make way.

We are very happy with the end result, sliding doors and all, and have the solar panels from the old sheds powering a few auxiliary lights.

A new concrete floor went in as well, which is currently a dust creator as we are still waiting to seal it. That should be possible in the next couple of weeks.

These photos were taken in April 2020. Much better now the Shed is Painted.

Shepherds Hut For Sale. 12ft x 7ft

12ft x 7ft Forget-me-not hut For Sale

SOLD

Forget-me-not blue

This Shepherds hut features a pull out double bed, Multi-fuel stove, hand basin and storage cupboard.
It is Fully insulated and is ready for use.

Built on a solid timber chassis from pressure treated Douglas Fir. Hand Painted Steel Wheels and draw bar.

The frame is made from pressure treated timber, which is then clad with locally sourced Western Red Cedar, Finished in Cuprinol "Forget-Me-Not"

The windows are reclaimed and re-furbished, 2 of which are stained glass. The hut also features a glazed stable door, fitted with a 5 lever lock

Internally there is a full size double bed, which can be pushed away to create more space. The bed includes a Memory foam Mattress.

Plenty of storage space under the bed.

A small corner hand basin is included fitted with an instant "hot water" tap,(requires a cold water feed)

Also included is a folding table and "Narrowboat" style corner cupboard and drop table.

The Multi-fuel stove fitted is rated at 4kw and is CE marked, the flue is "Twin wall" for extra safety.

There are 2 wall lights independently switched as well as 4 ceiling lights ( All low power LED)
The lights are 12 volts with power supplied via a solar panel and storage battery (all included)
In addition there are 2 mains double sockets wired through a garage consumer unit.
 ( Require mains power supply)

The floor is reclaimed solid oak.

The solid carved steps are included.

Also included is the handmade pine seat

This hut is ready for delivery.

We will deliver and site the hut Delivery to mainland U.K included in the price

The hut needs to be sited on reasonably level ground with a heavy duty slab under each wheel.

Please ask for more information about siting.


More pictures and details can be supplied if required.
Please contact us to arrange a viewing