Setting up a portable workshop

A well-ordered workspace is essential to be able to work quickly and safely, so the time spent organising your tools and materials for each project is often repaid many times over.

Few boatowners have the luxury of being able to work on their vessels at home, with full workshop facilities available. For most, creating an efficient work area is therefore a major challenge. Don’t be tempted to skimp on this stage, though.

A decent workshop makes a huge difference to the time it takes to complete a job and to the quality of the finish that can be achieved.

A proper on-site workshop

Most well-funded racing yachts have shipping containers fitted out as fully equipped workshops and stores, enabling their crews to fix almost any type of damage overnight. Not many boatowners have the resources for this kind of facility, but for a big project it’s worth looking at ways to create a proper workshop. With a bit of planning, it’s possible to create space for labour-saving items such as table saws, bench drill presses and even lathes.

A portable workstation on deck speeds up repair work and reduces the dangers associated with repeatedly ascending and descending a ladder.

A large wheeled tool chest facilitates the organisation and transportation of tools.

Erecting a shelter over the boat is well worth the effort, but never tie tarpaulins to the shores supporting the vessel.

The easiest option for this is a ‘tow a van’ type trailer, which can be fitted out with workbenches, power tools and storage. Much of the capital cost of buying a trailer can be recovered by selling it at the end of the project, although fitting out an inexpensive old caravan in a similar manner might reduce the upfront costs. Similarly, the cost of parking the trailer in a boatyard is often recouped through finishing the project more quickly.

Creating a shelter

Unless the boat is in a shed it is also worth spending time building a decent shelter around it. In hot climates this will give protection from the sun, allowing you to work with more energy, and in the case of wooden boats it helps to prevent them drying out too much. In cooler regions a shelter will keep the rain off and the wind out, and allow the work area to be heated in cold weather. Another alternative, if using staging, is to build a shed on a scaffolding platform – this has the advantage of the workshop being on the same level as your work, which can save an enormous amount of time.

Many raceboats use containers or trailers as a workshop and a store – ideal when close to hand and properly organised.

For a big project it’s worth building a free-standing and all-encompassing shelter that can double as a workshop.

For a smaller project, it’s possible to create a portable yet practical workstation based around a folding workbench, which can even be set up on deck if necessary.

Transporting tools to and from your boat can, however, be a headache – it’s all too easy to find you’ve left a crucial item at home – so it pays to keep them well organised. Fortunately, large toolboxes on wheels are now readily available, and this makes it much easier to travel with a complete set of tools, and even by public transport if necessary.