The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction - WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

66 Getting Started
An efficient floor plan will pay dividends in productivity.
Allow plenty of room around each power tool. You
will need from 15' to 20' (4.5m to 6m) of clear area
on each end and 5' (1.5m) on each side of a table saw
or planer in order to run stock through it. Portions of
this space may be shared with a band saw, since it’s
unlikely that you’ll operate these machines simultaneously.
Figure 8-12 illustrates a typical and effective
shop layout. Don’t forget to plan for walking room at
either end of your hull.
Because a poorly organized shop can be hazardous as
well as irritating, pay attention to safety factors as you
think over your building. Reduce potential fire hazards
by finding metal cabinets in which to store solvents and
paints. Make sure that no combustibles will be stored
near your heater. Incorporate good housekeeping
procedures and venting devices into your floor plan
to reduce dust and fume inhalation. If young children
may visit you as you work, double your precautions.
Buy a lock for your boatshop to prevent vandalism and
to keep curious visitors out of danger.
Shop electrical installations require special care. Plan on
a minimum of 30 amps of power—more if you have an
extensive lighting system. Use heavy-duty wiring and
extension cords. All of your tools, cords, and wiring
should be double-grounded, especially if you will be
working on a damp earth floor. If you will be using
power tools on a dock or near water, protect circuits
with ground fault interrupters.
Storage area for timber
with sawhorses and
some arrangement for
stacking lumber.
Bench with vise
Tablesaw
Space for a 4' x 8'
sheet of plywood with
storage for plywood.
Figure 8-12 Layout for a typical home shop for building a
25' to 30' (7m-9m) boat.
Tool
crib
Boatbuilders often wonder about the best way to heat
their shops and about the effects of cold on WEST
SYSTEM epoxy. Any type of fuel can be used as long as
it presents no fire hazard. It is important that your
heating system be well vented for your personal safety
and because carbon dioxide emissions, especially from
kerosene heaters, can adversely affect resin cures.
See Chapter 4 for further information if you will be
working with WEST SYSTEM materials in cold weather.
Before getting down to work on your boatshop, stop to
consider the people around you. At some point in your
project, you will undoubtedly want to work into the
night. Will the noise of your power tools disturb neighbors?
If you have decided on an addition to your
garage, will your neighbors approve? If you plan to
carry out portions of your project in your home, have
you figured out some way to control dust?
A Temporary Shelter—One Option
If you are unable to rent or buy a boatshop, or if you
cannot afford to build a permanent structure to accommodate
your project, you may decide to build a
temporary shelter. This might be freestanding or it
might butt up against a pre-existing building. Garages
and sheds can be enlarged simply and quickly with
temporary extensions. Your choices will depend on the
land and buildings you have to work with and on the
size of your boat.
Many different techniques have been used to build
satisfactory temporary shelters, but one stands out.
We suggest that you consider using heavy standard or
reinforced polyethylene sheeting on wood frames. This
construction system requires limited quantities of labor
and materials and can be used in warm or cold regions.
Conventional buildings certainly offer better insulation
from the weather, but polyethylene shops are inexpensive
and adequate for boatbuilding purposes.
Before erecting a temporary shelter, talk with your
neighbors and check local zoning ordinances.
Polyethylene buildings and additions are not beautiful,
they will not enhance your neighborhood, and they can
lead to hard feelings. If you explain your project to the
people next door and ask their blessings before you
begin, they will probably be very understanding. Zoning
officials can offer less latitude. Some towns permit free-