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Boat Bed

Project by Damian Penney posted 883 days ago 10976 views 11 times favorited 45 comments Add to Favorites Watch

So this piece was inspired by the one that Pottery Barn sells, but I made Fins a tad fancier. The headboard and bow are made with a walnut frame, and a teak and holly panel. Four drawers in the bow, two accessed by flipping open top, and the bottom two swing out on soss hinges, there is a caster under the drawer that it rolls out on for added support.

The drawers were pretty challenging and as they are two sets of bent laminations that twist and had to match up in the middle (should have made them as one piece and then band sawed them into two pieces. The rails are topped with walnut, using dowels and glue to attach them (the dowels are maple and look great against the walnut)

Firsts for this projects :- spraying (it’s Target coatings water based lacquer) doweling (the frame for the bow is doweled) torsion boxes – the headboard, and the bow are both attached to torsion boxes (with the long rails attached to the torsion boxes using bed hanger bolts)

Took a while but Fin loves it :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso


45 comments so far

View Bill's profile

Bill

2562 posts in 1054 days


posted 883 days ago

Very cool Damian. I bet he just loves the boat. Sails away each night in his dreams..

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View WayneC's profile

WayneC

5965 posts in 990 days


posted 883 days ago

Very, Very nice Fins a lucky boy.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

View Bob Babcock's profile

Bob Babcock

1808 posts in 978 days


posted 883 days ago

Cool!...my niece lives on the water on Cape Cod and has a little boy. Their downstairs family room has a boat bar and buffet table from the previous owner but this is much nicer. I think I’ll show it to her. They might like to do something similar.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1668 posts in 982 days


posted 883 days ago

Very cool project. Did you save anything over buying the pottery barn item? Obviously higher quality with yours, but any savings? Usually I negate the cost by purchasing tools for the project.

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

1030 posts in 884 days


posted 883 days ago

I probably did save a bunch; but that’s only because the PotteryBarn one is so over priced ($2000) it took forever though (about 18mths) the drawers being especially difficult.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14161 posts in 1053 days


posted 883 days ago

magnificent.
SO cool.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4572 posts in 1203 days


posted 883 days ago

That is the neatest bed I’ve ever seen. The four drawers in the bow are a great idea. You took on quite a challenge and won.

-- Jesus is Lord!

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1467 posts in 884 days


posted 883 days ago

Wow! I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and would have loved to have that as a bed!

-- Chris

View mot's profile

mot

4902 posts in 929 days


posted 883 days ago

Awesome! That’s a great bed!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View Napaman's profile

Napaman

3483 posts in 969 days


posted 883 days ago

that is sweet!!!! i want one…forget the kids…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

View hermanv's profile

hermanv

15 posts in 915 days


posted 883 days ago

I am Inspired! Thank you so much for sharing. Now to convince the wife that we need one too. ;)

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

1030 posts in 884 days


posted 883 days ago

If I was to build another it would come together a lot quicker. I designed this project in sketchup and I think having designs that were a little too detailed held me back in this case; specifically regarding the front drawers.

I built the walnut/teak&holly bow before the drawers. So the curve was set, then from that I built four forms, two for the top drawers, two for the bottom. What I should have done is just twisted the luan for both the top and bottom drawer and just let it form its own twist. Spent way too much time bending them to my will (pardon the pun) instead of letting the wood itself dictate the design. Also building them separately instead of together meant a lot of fiddling getting the bottom of the top drawer aligned with the top of the bottom drawer. A very good lesson though.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Bob Babcock's profile

Bob Babcock

1808 posts in 978 days


posted 883 days ago

Its funny how Sketchup can almost make it too easy. Very easy to design things that are very difficult to build. A great list of 1sts there Damian.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

View scottb's profile

scottb

3403 posts in 1219 days


posted 883 days ago

That’s just fantastic! Nice that you learned several things too.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

View mb_BeachBum's profile

mb_BeachBum

18 posts in 944 days


posted 883 days ago

Now that is COOL!

-- Don, on California's Central Coast

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7298 posts in 1139 days


posted 883 days ago

Your Boy will remember you always for this, you must be a great Dad. Wonderful project very well done.Jockmike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View RobH's profile

RobH

460 posts in 942 days


posted 883 days ago

I love it. I think I want one of those to replace the one I made for our bedroom a few years ago.

Good work. Keep it up.

Rob

-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA

View TreeBones's profile

TreeBones

1559 posts in 916 days


posted 883 days ago

Nice work. I wish I had the time to spend on projects with this kind of detail work. If I did nothing els would ever get done.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

997 posts in 986 days


posted 883 days ago

Oh man. To be Fin’s age again and have my dad build something this cool for me… That would be such fun. Great work Damian. I think the drawers look great!

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

1030 posts in 884 days


posted 882 days ago

Thanks for the kind words guys, much appreciated. It was a real blast finally setting it up for him, now I’m going to force him to sleep in it till he’s at least 26 years old :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Karson's profile

Karson

25795 posts in 1293 days


posted 882 days ago

Damian: that is one great bed. Congratulations on the project and completion.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14161 posts in 1053 days


posted 882 days ago

lol I can see the teenage years—hiding “visitors” in the storage area when he hears you coming :D

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3791 posts in 1207 days


posted 882 days ago

View laker's profile

laker

2 posts in 888 days


posted 882 days ago

Thats a great bed there Matey. What kid wouldnt walk the plank for it?

-- john @ Minnesota

View DrSawdust's profile

DrSawdust

231 posts in 990 days


posted 881 days ago

AWESOME !!!

-- Making sawdust is what I do best

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

5632 posts in 992 days


posted 880 days ago

That is pretty nice work. I don’t think that you will have a problem getting into the pages of FineWoodworking with the level of work you are doing.

I am going on over to your other project next.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

View Kaleo's profile

Kaleo

200 posts in 1032 days


posted 876 days ago

Damian-

This is a really cool project. My little boy would love a bed like that, I actually might have to make one when we get back to the states.

Really nice work on all the projects that you have posted.

-- Kaleo , http://www.kalafinefurniture.com

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3710 posts in 872 days


posted 870 days ago

Damian,

Great looking bed. Very nice workmanship. Nice design, nice proportion.

Terrific job, for a worthy cause.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3424 posts in 956 days


posted 857 days ago

Love the bed, and Fin’s expression is priceless. Great work. That is truly a heirloom. It’s clear that the gift of something made by a father for his son resonates in many of us. I still have three pieces my Dad made in the fifties.
Commendable woodworking and parenting.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View Lumberjock's profile

Lumberjock

1 post in 745 days


posted 745 days ago

Damian, you did such a wonderful job. I was just searching for plans to build this bed and came across this site. I have had my eye on that Pottery Barn bed for years. Although I’ve never really built much of anything, I always had hoped to take the time to pursue this project for my son. I think it is the greatest bed ever and you did such a wonderful job building it. Any chance you’d be interested in sharing your plans?

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

1030 posts in 884 days


posted 745 days ago

Thanks so much iebrutus, the kind words are much appreciated. I’ll see if I can dig up the plans I made, bits of it I just kind of made up as I went along though :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1298 days


posted 713 days ago

Damian: I can’t believe that it has taken me this long to comment on this bed. I have loved it since you first posted it, but I have been so caught up in my own life and survival, that I didn’t take time to tell you about my admiration…...until now. This is a great project. What a great way to keep from having to make the bed every day also, ha. Smooth lines, perfect in function, makes a little boy feel very honored and appreciated, I am sure. I had a handmade bed that my dad did for me when I was a little guy, and it was always a point of pride and felt love by him. Other kids had store bought beds, but not “Me”. And now, not “Fins.”

good work,
M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

1030 posts in 884 days


posted 713 days ago

Thanks Mark, much appreciated, it was definitely a labor of love. Now I need to start thinking about something for Fins little sister Daisy :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View rockomccombs's profile

rockomccombs

43 posts in 763 days


posted 700 days ago

Nice bed. I’m interested in those plans too. Anything to get me started :)

Thanks,
-Rocko

-- -> Malta, IL www.flickr.com/rockomccombs -<

View dustynewt's profile

dustynewt

446 posts in 755 days


posted 656 days ago

Wow. Really cool bed. I bet he loves it.

-- Please visit me at http://dustynewt.com

View motthunter's profile

motthunter

2079 posts in 691 days


posted 656 days ago

Ahoy maitee.

If there is a flood, he will be safe. Looks great

-- making sawdust....

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 767 days


posted 656 days ago

Now that is cool. I’ll bet the Bosun loves it!

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

1030 posts in 884 days


posted 656 days ago

Thanks guys, it was a really fun project, long, but fun :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View Raymond's profile

Raymond

80 posts in 620 days


posted 617 days ago

I love that boat bed, almost makes me want to have another child just to make one….Almost

-- Ray

View TedM's profile

TedM

1843 posts in 625 days


posted 557 days ago

This is so cool. Makes me wish I was a kid again. :)

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

View J_Hill's profile

J_Hill

1 post in 465 days


posted 465 days ago

Damian, Very nice! Something about that pottery barn bed inspired me as well. I have attached a link to my version.

http://picasaweb.google.com/hillj4/BoatBed

I made the deck with Cherry and gave it a gloss finish. I hooked up boat lights too. You can imagine his face when we first got in the house. He enjoyed watching me build it for him. Now I love to watch him enjoy it !

View mcoyfrog's profile

mcoyfrog

809 posts in 487 days


posted 464 days ago

Whoa thats cool. Dug

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug

View Beginningwoodworker's profile

Beginningwoodworker

4102 posts in 565 days


posted 451 days ago

Thats a nice looking bed.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

View mmh's profile

mmh

1381 posts in 615 days


posted 353 days ago

Very fun and nicely made. I bet he doesn’t argue with you when it’s time to go to bed.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

View Kilowatt_Studio's profile

Kilowatt_Studio

10 posts in 55 days


posted 54 days ago

Oh man would I have loved to have that bed as a kid! Really nice work!

-- Gregory Kenny, Vancouver BC www.kilowattstudio.com

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