Boatbuilder’s Tool Tote

Now and then, I run into people who dream of learning boatbuilding but are intimidated by the prospect of building a boat on their own. It is easy to understand why: Any wooden boat is a big, complex project. It requires a large workshop space, quite a few tools, and a substantial amount of time and skill. A failed project would be a big, expensive, and possibly dangerous embarrassment.

Building a boat, preferably under the guidance of an experienced boatbuilder, is without a doubt the best way to learn the craft. But when that’s not an option, small shop projects can be a perfect gateway to gain confidence and the necessary skills.

This tool tote is one of those projects. It is fun and accessible, can be built in a long weekend or so, and allows the builder to gain experience with many of the tools and techniques required for wooden boat building: understanding three-dimensional drawings; measuring and marking accurately; drawing fair curves; using edge tools such as planes, spokeshaves, and chisels; cutting accurate joints; working with odd angles and rolling bevels; making evenly rounded pieces; and steam-bending wood. It would be beyond the scope of this article to describe every process in great detail, but it is a starting point that can be supplemented by printed resources such as WoodenBoat’s archived articles and online videos such as the Mastering Skills series (skills.woodenboat.com).

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