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100 Miles in the Atlantic Woodworking

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2K views 20 replies 15 participants last post by  jmartel 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello All!

I am a high school teacher for 180 days of the year. I teach music and I love doing so. In the summer however I venture out to sea with my family's business commercial fishing to catch as much squid (Calamari) as possible. I usually spend about 6 days out at sea. When we come back in we turn around and unload as quick as possible and get back out to slam them again.

Being that I have now become completely and utterly addicted to woodworking, I would like to continue it, even in the middle of the Atlantic.

I plan on bringing a small toolbox full of tools. Mind you I can't bring a table saw, jointer, shaper, panel saw, you know, I have to have everything fit in a smallish plastic tool box. I am going to bring two hand planes, a Japanese saw that can rip and crosscut, a back saw, a 1/4 sheet sander with sandpaper, chisels, a coping saw 4 or 5 clamps.

Whatever other tools you can help me think of would be great. Bear in mind it's a real fishing vessel, not a luxury sport boat (think deadliest catch), so don't recommend a beautiful Lie Nielson no 7 plane for 500 dollars (it ain't gonna happen). I am taking out cheaper tools, pawn shop stuff, just to have fun and practice with.

I want to know what you guys think for smaller projects and tools? Think under 18 inches or so. I know boxes are great, which I will do. What else? I can only take so much wood as well. Just want to know what you guys wood do in a really, really, really, really bare bones situation such as this.

Thanks in advance

The Swede
 
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#3 ·
Any kind of spokeshave work, as spokeshaves are cheap, plentiful, and relatively safe…
I would not want a chisel cut 100 miles out.
You can do lots of curved work, even spoons with a spoon knife like Peter Follansbee does.

You will become a spokeshave master by the end of August.

Good luck with the catch this summer!
 
#13 ·
Don't forget to take oil to protect your tools. Salt water will pit the steel.

Also, you might consider carving utensils. I recently made my best friend a spoon and spatula set with a hook knife, pocket knife, cabinet scraper, and sand paper and she loves them. Everything you need to make them fits in your back pocket.
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
It would depend but I would consider also including with what your going to bring over time…

A fairly decent miter box,
Two back saws--dovetail and a 12" crosscut,
Side rabbet plane and for sure a block plane,
Bit brace and augers,
Hand drill and bits.
Router plane (who knows, but why not)

Paste wax, sharping stones
Mountain of different types wood
Finishes of your choice (I've only used BLO and Tung based wiping varnish but like them)

Dramamine
Private supply of beer
And a hickory bat to keep people away from your beer and tools…lol

I'm not sure but I think these would be all (for the most part) you need for a lot of different projects.
In the middle of the ocean they will be hard to get.
 
#17 ·
Thanks a lot guys. Leaving Monday on the tide here in New Jersey. Great ideas, I figure it's going to be a lot of hand tool work and the like. Which is good, but I sure will miss my new table saw…..........and my wife. (Don't tell her I put it in that order :).
 
#19 ·
Why not save the serious woodworking for when you get home and take the Alistair advice plan.What is that I hear you cry?
Buy tools mostly used and as good as new and you will save yourself a lot of money.
Collecting and buying new tools and machinery is half the fun of owning a workshop /woodshop.I would try whittling carving when I was away at sea and not able to have too much eqipment with you or sneak aboard a small wood lathe and make some pens etc.In any case have fun my friend kindest regards Alistair
 
#20 ·
How much time between watches? Seriously?

Sailor's hobbies traditionally include: Macrame (not only pretty but pretty useful.) Scrimshaw, whittling/figure carving and model boat building.

Whatever you'd like to do, plan it out ahead and bring the stuff you'll need to complete the project. You could always buy a kit and go from there. I'm partial to sailboats myself but fishing boats are good. Get a laugh by breaking-out the Titanic life-boat kit.

Assemble and complete something for the families boat that you've already cut or purchased, like a teak wood grating or a medicine cabinet etc. Do all the woodshop work before you depart.
Boat Watercraft Naval architecture Vehicle Mast
 

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#21 ·
Going along with the macrame idea, what about doing things with rope? That is quite popular with sailors. A copy of The Marlinspike Sailor will give you plenty of things to keep you busy for a while. When you get bored, do a decorative rope covering for whatever you can find onboard such as handrails.

http://www.amazon.com/Marlinspike-Sailor-Hervey-Garrett-Smith/dp/0070592187

Make yourself some nice rope mats for the house, some monkey's fist keychains, etc.
 
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