Re: Workshops for RVs and Sailboats

[RAM³]

I am looking for ideas and examples (with links hopefully) to how

> others include a workshop in both their RV and sailboats. > > General metalworking and woodworking as the goals. > > The examples can be of either type or a combination of both. > > Also discussions of having a shop (tools and stock storage) within a > small space and alternative power sources come to mind. > > Thanks > > TMT

Think small and think minimalist.

Lugging a whole machine shop around with you is a lot simpler if you've restricted yourself to a mini-mill/-lathe, especially if you're driving a

1-ton dually and dragging a large-sized fifth-wheel RV.

For the U-Drive-It crowd [Class "A", "B", and "C" motorhomes] a modest shop can be set up in a cargo trailer.

Sailboats are a whole 'nother world: far more limited space, far more limited weight-carrying capability, a virtual absence of electricity, and the simple fact that sailboats travel on their sides...

When on the road with my dually/FW combination [21' of truck and 38' of trailer], I limit myself to hand-held power tools and hand tools. These I carry in a set of 4 Stanley tool boxes [used as organizers] within a cross-bed Al tool chest. They are organized as:

Pneumatic Impact wrenches Impact sockets Die Grinders Air Brush Supplies, etc. Wrenches Ratchets & Speedhandles Breaker bars Sockets Extensions Adapters Box-end Open-end Combination Woodworking Saws Screwdrivers Hammers Files & Rasps Chisels Spade and Forstner bits Sandpaper Squares Filler Putty Misc. "Stuff" Metalworking Hammers [Ball Pein, Drilling, Sledge] Files Drill Bits Cold Chisels Punches Carborundum stones Diamond Hones "Stuff"

Between the Stanley boxes, the Al box also holds a hand-held electric drill, a "drill press attachment" [that actually works reasonably well], a Dremel Detail Sander, a couple of 4.5" grinders, an electric circular saw, and a bunch of other "stuff" including a 10'x13' screen tent.

In a rear storage compartment of the trailer is my Dremel gear including several grinders with most of the available "goodies" from plunge router to drill press, planer to saw.

Oyea, my compressor [Porter-Cable C3151] rides by the truck's tailgate.

When "Shore Power" isn't available, I just fire up the 7KW Onan generator mounted in the front of the trailer.

Hopefully this may give you a few ideas...

[Ed Edelenbos]

If it's on it's side, it's either broken or at the hand of a non-sailor.

Ed

[J. Clarke]

As for "limited weight carrying", most of the ones I'd be interested in carry a big chunk of lead or iron or on a few gold platers depleted uranium on the bottom.

[RAM³]

"Ed Edelenbos" wrote in rec.crafts.metalworking:

Nope!

Only motorsailers under power and sailboats with furled sails will be upright.

Otherwise the wind pressure against the sails cause the mast(s) to lever the boat towards the downwind side.

About the only time a sailboat can remain upright while under weigh is on a downwind reach - usually with the sails at right angles to the wind and the skipper praying that the wind doesn't suddenly increase sharply.

FWIW [metal content] that wind-pressure-lever force is what prompted the invention of the Lead Keel to counterbalance that force...

[J. Clarke]

Heeled a bit is not "on its side" except to a lubber.

[cavelamb]

Timely topic for me.

We are trying to equip our sailboat without sinking her at the dock. That's a pretty decent startling point.

No way to take the shop aboard. Even a hiobby level garage based shop. No drill press, band saws, chop saw, welding stuff, angle grinders, etc. There just isn't room or displacement to do Noah's Arc of Tools.

So we do the best we can.

Organizing stuff is the biggest challenge. There is no place to store everything together, so the tools and materials get spread out.

I found a bunch of small zipper bags (9" long x 2 x 3) that neatly hold small tools.

Wrenches (SAE and Metric), sockets (1/4" drive, 3/8" - metric and SAE), drill bits (separated large and small) and driver bits, hex wrenches, etc. Dorothy got some "fabric paint" at the crafts store and neatly lettered the bags. These are packed into tool bags - as logically as possible. It makes finding the tool you need quickly a lot easier. Makes it easier to re-pack them as well.

Add specialty tools for the engine (29 HP Yanmar diesel and a small diesel gen set)

Cable cutters that can actually cut up to 1/4" stainless cable and "BB" chain links.

Come-Alongs A couple of smaller ones and a honkin' heavy duty one. I think I want another big one specifically for hauling in chain anchor rode. Use them like nippers to the capstan - like in the days of wooden ships (and iron men).

ratchet straps - 1-1/2" and 2" strap - in various lengths, but a few extra long ones that can go all the way around the hull.

"Yankee" screwdriver with extra flat and Phillips blades.

A hand operated drill - (brace?)

Several sizes of fine files for smoothing nicks in aluminum mast or boom.

Multimeters and light bulb style continuity testers.

Power tools are a problem. In emergencies you might not have power to run them!

So I have two Ryobi battery powered hand drills and 4 batteries. (on aboard and one at home - but if we go cruising, both will go)

Two (hand powered) wood saws and a hack saw with extra blades.

Line and cable tools. Fid and rope splicing tools. Cable clamps for the rigging cables, nicopress tool (big squeeze - not the little bolt operated one), thimbles, collars, etc.

Epoxy sticks that cure underwater - 1 dozen.

We have no pneumatic tools at all on the boat - yet. Not sure we will - but time will tell.

If we move her down to the coast, I plan to add a small Honda generator (~3000 watts) and a tiny Honda gas powered pump - 1" hose (from Northern Tools).

These are portable life insurance.

Even though they are gasoline powered. The outboard on the dinghy is gas too, so there is already some gasoline aboard. (outside - on the fan tail - with extinguishers handy!)

Still looking at a Hooka or "super snorkel" set up for working on the bottom. Gas powered? or Electric? The electric one draws 830 watts (10.5 amps - 120vac 60 cycle) I think that's the stopper on electric.

On and on, the list grows longer and heavier...

The question, of course, is what will you actually NEED - vs want. They are quite different.

Richard

[cavelamb]

Doesn't matter at all.

Dorothy's Hunter 38 displaces 16,600 pounds with 6,500 pounds of lead in the keel

Even that is limited displacement.

Richard

[Karl Townsend]

Speaking of sailing and shops...

Anybody heard from Glenn Ashmore?

've not seen him on RCM for quite some time.

Karl

[Ed Edelenbos]

Most sailboats have a design heel angle. It is usually pretty shallow, at

10-20 degrees. At that angle the waterline is at its most advantageous (typically at it's longest), the keel is still able to do a good job of holding lateral movement, and (probably most importantly) the sails are where they are gong to do the most good... in the air catching wind.

Ed

[Leon]

In all seriousness, do you think you would have room for a metal working or wood shop on an RV? You already should have a mechanical shop on board to keep the RV running and repaired.

RV's, Airplanes and Boats, You are happy the day you buy them and the day you sell them.

[J. Clarke]

By that logic an aircraft carrier has "limited dispalcement".

[Pete Keillor]

Early in his career, my cousin heard this from a thrice divorced surgeon at a medical meeting.

The 3F Rule: If it flies, floats, or f***s, rent it.

Pete Keillor

[Ralph E Lindberg]

Personally I keep a limited amount of tools, but then my rig is "smaller" (25 ft). I know a (former) co-worker that full-times in a DP, pulling an enclosed cargo trailer. It contains both his toad (a micro-car) and all his bench-top tools, lathe, table-saw, etc. They also use the trailer as a patio

[Pete C.]

Or a machinist.

[Leon]

My parents purchased 2 RV's. The happiest day in my life was when they got rid of the last one. Repairs and maintenance is a constant regardless of how much you use them. I did all the work and that cured me from ever wanting to own an RV. A good friend that was very mechanically inclined requested my advise on buying an RV. I simply replied, they are constant work. He bought an RV and sold it 3 years later and commented that he was happy to get rid of it, he should not have purchased one.

[Pete C.]

First off since I didn't see the original post, are we talking hobby workshop or fix the boat in the middle of nowhere shop, as they have quite different requirements.

Second off, on your hookah setup, in the interest of saving space and weight, I'd suggest you home-brew this one as a combo unit, combining a small Honda gas engine with both a small water pump and a small oilless air compressor with filter to feed the hookah. This should save weight over two separate units. For the hoohah part you just need a suitable oilless compressor with filter, and a normal SCUBA second stage regulator on a long hose.

Also, 830W is 6.9A, not 10.5A which is probably starting surge. Either way, a Honda EU2000i will run that, My EU2000i runs my camper A/C of similar spec just fine.

[Pete C.]

Yes, and you can always afford to rent a better one than you can afford to "own".

[Pete C.]

What kind of RV? I have had a large and well equipped truck camper for a few years and I still love it. Of course it has a lot less issues than a camper / RV with running gear will have.

[Pete C.]

I have plans on the drawing board for something similar where I'll live in my truck camper and keep a pretty complete metalworking shop in my

24' enclosed trailer when I go into "hermit mode" on some property I own as global civilization implodes due to the economic tidy bowl swirl.

[cavelamb]

Absolutely!

And every time they up-anchor, they go on water rations.