Copyright TheBeachcats.com
News
Do-It-Yourself
| Sailing Hardware
I had the yard cut the second sheet into two 10' x 13" pieces (this leaves a leftover of one piece of 10' x 22" to be set aside for the moment). The two pieces are used for the sides of the box. I used 13" because there is approx. 16" of space available under the dolphin striker. Once completed, the height of the box becomes 14". The leftover piece I cut myself to create the doors, one on each end of the box.
I also bought 4 pieces of 2" x 2" x 8' wood. Turns out you only need about 2-1/2 pieces. This wood is used for the side supports.
I cut the supports into pieces 12" tall and mounted them on the bottom edges, 1/2" recessed,pointing upward using screws. Each end of the box has three pieces to provide full support, side, top, side (think of a 3 sided box) screwed into each other, sort of like this |~|
Additionally, I put one more "H" in the middle where the lids meet. For extra strength, I put two other regular supports on each side, spaced a few inches apart, to hold up the side panels.
Got some hinges from Do It Center for the doors/lids and some U-bolts to attach the box to the trailer. I put Astroturf on the bottom of the box after priming and painting so that the rudders,etc. would slide in easier.
Had my 7 year old daughter paint something on one of the doors but it already faded in the rain!
That's more or less the plans. I spent about a week working on it, probably 12-14 hours or more. Lots of that was thinking time 'cause I had no idea how to do certain things. I spent 40 minutes one day figuring out how to do one hinge! Dumb. Anyway, everything fits in and that's all I wanted in the first place! It's just not all that pretty!
Total cost of the parts was around $100 (Socal area stores)
Do-It-Yourself: Plywood Cat Box
Instructions for building a Plywood Catbox.
Note: If I can build this box, anyone can as I am a way better sailor than carpenter! This box needed to fit under a Prindle 18 on a trailer.
I started with two sheets of 1/2" 10' x 4' exterior grade plywood. I would have gotten 5/8" but it's not easy to find in 10' sheets as most of the yards sell 8' only. I had the yard cut one sheet down the middle to create two 10' x 24" halves. (so, the overall width of the box is 24")...
This becomes the top and bottom. I had the top one cut one more time across the middle to create two 5'x 24" pieces. I used these two for the lid. I wanted two because it cuts down the lifting weight and makes it easier to open just one side at a time.Note: If I can build this box, anyone can as I am a way better sailor than carpenter! This box needed to fit under a Prindle 18 on a trailer.
I started with two sheets of 1/2" 10' x 4' exterior grade plywood. I would have gotten 5/8" but it's not easy to find in 10' sheets as most of the yards sell 8' only. I had the yard cut one sheet down the middle to create two 10' x 24" halves. (so, the overall width of the box is 24")...
I had the yard cut the second sheet into two 10' x 13" pieces (this leaves a leftover of one piece of 10' x 22" to be set aside for the moment). The two pieces are used for the sides of the box. I used 13" because there is approx. 16" of space available under the dolphin striker. Once completed, the height of the box becomes 14". The leftover piece I cut myself to create the doors, one on each end of the box.
I also bought 4 pieces of 2" x 2" x 8' wood. Turns out you only need about 2-1/2 pieces. This wood is used for the side supports.
I cut the supports into pieces 12" tall and mounted them on the bottom edges, 1/2" recessed,pointing upward using screws. Each end of the box has three pieces to provide full support, side, top, side (think of a 3 sided box) screwed into each other, sort of like this |~|
Additionally, I put one more "H" in the middle where the lids meet. For extra strength, I put two other regular supports on each side, spaced a few inches apart, to hold up the side panels.
Got some hinges from Do It Center for the doors/lids and some U-bolts to attach the box to the trailer. I put Astroturf on the bottom of the box after priming and painting so that the rudders,etc. would slide in easier.
Had my 7 year old daughter paint something on one of the doors but it already faded in the rain!
That's more or less the plans. I spent about a week working on it, probably 12-14 hours or more. Lots of that was thinking time 'cause I had no idea how to do certain things. I spent 40 minutes one day figuring out how to do one hinge! Dumb. Anyway, everything fits in and that's all I wanted in the first place! It's just not all that pretty!
Total cost of the parts was around $100 (Socal area stores)
More articles in category Do-It-Yourself & Sailing Hardware
- Catamaran Soft Deck Repair With Expoxy Injection (by DamonLinkous on Apr 17, 2013)
- Aligning Rudders on a Nacra 6.0 (by delaunhe on Apr 19, 2010)
- Share Catamaran Repair Tips at TheBeachcats.com (by damonAdmin on Aug 08, 2008)
- Repairing a Dented Mast (by damonAdmin on Dec 15, 2005)
- Building Your Own Catamaran Sails (by damonAdmin on Dec 08, 2005)
- 15 Class Legal Repair Tips for the Hobie 17 Catamaran (by damonAdmin on Mar 08, 2004)
- Adding Wings to the Hobie 14 Catamaran (by damonAdmin on Mar 05, 2004)
- Capsize prevention system (TORUS) for the Hobie 17 Catamaran (by damonAdmin on Dec 09, 2003)
- Build Your Own Trap Seat Wings for your Hobie 16 Catamaran (by damonAdmin on Nov 11, 2003)
- Catamaran Sailboats Delamination Repair Instructions (by damonAdmin on Nov 01, 2003)