Workshop and Tools

You need a space to build your boat. And you need the right tools.

A successful boat restoration depends as much on the workshop, tools and fabrication techniques as it does on the materials going into the boat. The projects below cover the tools and equipment I use for fiberglass repair, composite fabrication, woodworking, sanding, cutting, drilling, painting and general boat restoration. I also cover workshop organization, dust collection, workbenches, power tools, specialty marine tools and homemade solutions that make difficult projects easier and safer. You don’t need a professional boatyard to restore or build a boat, but having the right tools, a functional workspace and efficient ways to fabricate parts can make an enormous difference in the quality and speed of the work.

DIY Boat Shelter: What Failed After 2½ Years

A temporary boat shelter can make year-round restoration possible without the cost of a permanent building. In this video, I examine the failure of my DIY shrink-wrap boat shelter after more than 2½ years of Michigan weather, including wind, snow and temperatures reaching -14°F. The shelter was constructed from party-tent poles, shrink-wrap plastic and PVC components, and had performed well until extreme cold caused the PVC pieces to become brittle and crack. I break down what failed, why the material failed and what I would change in the design. The project provides practical lessons for anyone building a temporary boat workshop, shrink-wrap shelter or winter boat-storage structure for a long-term restoration project.

Building an Affordable DIY Boat Shelter and Workshop

Working on a boat through the winter is difficult without a protected space, but a permanent building isn’t always practical. In this video, I build a 10 x 30 x 14-foot temporary boat shelter using two recycled party-tent frames, hardware-store materials and professionally installed shrink wrap. I show how I extend and reinforce the frame, anchor it with ground spikes, prepare the structure for shrink wrapping, and create enough enclosed space to store and work on a 20-foot sailboat throughout the winter. I also cover the complete cost and when it makes sense to hire a professional for the shrink wrapping. The result is an inexpensive temporary boat workshop and storage shelter that protects a restoration project from rain, snow, leaves and winter weather.

Lifting and Blocking a Large Boat Inside a Workshop

Getting a large boat off its trailer inside a workshop requires planning the building around the boat as much as planning the lifting equipment. In this video, I lift a 4,200-pound bare-hull Albin 27 trawler off its triple-axle trailer using a GoHoist A-frame lifting system, keel supports and adjustable boat stands, then block the hull so the trailer can be removed. I also discuss the importance of workshop ceiling height, clear overhead space and scissor-truss construction, which provide the vertical clearance needed for lifting equipment and tall boat projects. The project demonstrates how the right shop design, lifting system and blocking equipment can make it possible to undertake major boat restorations entirely inside a private workshop.

Building a Steel Gantry for Boat Restoration

Heavy components are a routine part of boat restoration, and having the ability to safely lift engines, boats, masts and fabricated parts inside the workshop can eliminate the need for outside lifting equipment. In this video, I build a large steel gantry lifting system for my boat-building and restoration projects, covering its construction, cost and setup with a Badland 1500-pound 120V electric winch. I also explain the differences between a winch and a hoist and look at my restored Sumner Roust-A-Bout portable crane. The project demonstrates how specialized lifting equipment can expand the types of heavy fabrication, installation and restoration work that can be performed in a DIY boat workshop.

Building a Dream Pole Barn Boat Workshop — Part 1: Design and Planning

A serious boat restoration workshop needs to be designed around the size, height and working space required by the boats, not simply as a large garage. In this video, I explain how I planned and built the Motor City Boat Werks pole barn as a dedicated boat-building and restoration studio, including choosing the location, establishing the building dimensions and planning the interior workspace. I cover why I chose 16-foot sidewalls and scissor trusses for additional overhead clearance, along with insulation, lighting, interior walls and other features that make long-term boat projects easier. This first part of the workshop series focuses on the major design decisions and lessons learned when planning a purpose-built boat restoration shop.

Building a Dream Pole Barn Boat Workshop — Part 2: Construction and Cost

Once the basic workshop design was established, the next challenge was turning the plan into a finished boat-building and restoration shop. In Part 2, I follow the construction of Motor City Boat Werks from site excavation, grading and driveway preparation through the completed pole barn, including the concrete floor, insulation, interior barn liner, LED lighting and garage doors. I also discuss the epoxy floor system and how choices involving lighting, interior finishes and access affect the usefulness of a shop built around large boat projects. Finally, I break down the actual construction costs and budget, providing a real-world look at what it cost to turn an empty backyard site into a dedicated boat restoration workshop.

Boat Workshop Tour: Organization, Layout and Equipment

A good boat restoration workshop isn’t just about having enough square footage—it needs to be organized around the way you work. In this video, I give a complete tour of my 30 x 40-foot Boat Werks and explain the six design principles I use to keep the shop efficient, clean and flexible for fiberglass repair, woodworking and boat restoration. I cover my tool and parts bin system, mobile work surfaces and equipment on casters, lighting, storage, shop furniture and project organization. I also show some of the equipment that has proven most useful, including my seven-foot rolling ladder and the “Big Board” I use to track restoration projects. The tour demonstrates how thoughtful workshop layout and organization can make a relatively modest-sized shop function effectively for large, long-term boat projects.

Building a Dream Pole Barn Boat Workshop — Part 3: Lessons Learned

Even with years of planning and more than 30 years of boat restoration experience, there were important workshop-design issues I didn’t fully appreciate until the building was complete. In Part 3, I cover seven lessons learned from designing and building a pole barn specifically for fiberglass boat building and restoration. I discuss zoning and permits, metal barn liner, insulation, windows and doors, and the importance of garage and ceiling height when working on larger boats. I also look at decisions that affect everyday comfort and usability once you’re spending hundreds of hours inside the shop. This final part of the series focuses on the details I would reconsider or approach differently when building another dedicated boat restoration workshop.

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