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Build this boat-shaped bar
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Be the Captain Morgan of your domain with this clever boat-shaped bar
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By Rick Campbell, photos by Roger Yip, illustration by Len Churchill
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Ships Ahoy! The bar's gunwale is made from strips that hug the side panel and the bow is topped with a decorative plate
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Begin by installing one of the side strips that touches the back panel. Start fastening it at the bow and tack it to the edge of the bulkheads and back panel as you progress downward. These strips are longer than necessary to allow for a slight overhang at the bow and stern.
After you've attached all three strips to one side, grab a handsaw and trim the excess material from the ends before repeating the entire process on the opposing side. Don't be concerned if there's a gap where the two sides meet at the bow. You'll cover this with nose trim. To make this trim, cut out the two 1 1/2"-wide trim strips from 1/4"-thick material and bevel the top edges to form a corner where the two pieces meet. After gluing the strips in place, perform a nose job by rounding over the sharp point with a sanding block, creating a softer, slightly weathered appearance.
All the Trimmings
The next task is to build up the top edges of the gunwales (the thick ridge along the top edge of each side) by adding several layers of 3/4"-wide x 1/4"-thick trim strips. For this job, you'll need to gather as many small clamps as you can find around the shop. Also, install only one strip at a time to make the job more manageable.
To apply the strips, coat one side with glue, then work from bow to stern as you clamp the trim to the gunwale. Check for gaps and make sure the outside edges are aligned before allowing the glue to dry. Apply one layer to the outside and two more following the interior curve. The strips start from the top bulkhead on the inside and one strip goes from the nose trim on the exterior. Like the side panels, the strips are longer than needed. Simply saw off the excess at the stern when you're done. After the last strip is applied, sand the outside faces of the lamination and roundover the corners.
With the gunwale complete, make the decorative bow plate that covers the bow structure. Cut out a blank from 1/2"-thick material, trace the shape of the bow to lay out the sides, and use the grid diagram in the plans to outline the design for the decorative bottom edge. Cut out the shape on your bandsaw, sand and roundover the top edges with a router spinning a 1/4"-radius bit. After you glue the plate in place, sand the sides to blend the edges of the cap with the outside of the gunwale trim.
Open and Shut
With the basic structure of the boat bar complete, you're ready to add doors to the lower compartment. These are simple frames that capture floating solid-wood interior panels. Start by edge-gluing 1/4"-thick material to make the panels. This is one more opportunity to practise the resawing techniques below.
Next, cut out the vertical stiles and horizontal rails. Mill 1/2"-deep x 1/4"-wide grooves along the inside edges to receive the panels. Don't change the set-up-you also need to make slots of the same size on the ends of the horizontal rails. These receive wood splines that reinforce the corner joints. Cut out some splines from scrap and you're ready to assemble the doors. When you do, apply glue to the end of the rails and both sides of the splines, but keep the panel slots dry. The panels need to float freely in grooves to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction.
Install the panels and bring the frame members together with splines and clamps. Check for square before setting the doors aside to dry. I used some decorative brass hinges to mount the doors and found decorative brass dock cleats at my local building centre to use as door handles.
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