Is this a bad idea?

Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
I'd like to replace my cheap, ugly garden center dock boxes with something nice. I found plans for building a cedar dock box sans the hangar in the lid. My concern is maintenance. If I used a good varnish and it in the off season do you think the finish would last? I've thought about making custom covers for it (them). Am I making more work for myself? Should I look more mainstream?
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,926
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Wow... that does look nice... I think you are going to get a lot of different opinions here. Some people really appreciate aesthetics and others... not so much. And then you have the middle of the road type. That is where I think of myself as being. If I were making a dock box like that, I'd make that out of trex so it looks almost as nice with 1% of the maintenance needed. But I also admire the guy who has beautiful bright work on the half tonne of wood on his boat... it looks great... but no way I'd own a boat that required that much work. I guess that would apply to a dock box as well.

In the end, you have to be happy with it.

Post pics when you are done. :)
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Thanks ! I have considered composite too but it's heavy, I'm not sure they have thinner dimension boards. A PO of my Hunter replaced the exterior teak with grey composite and I love it. I'm a low maintenance kinda guy so as nice as this would look, I'm hesitating...
I'll definitely post pics if I don't get talked out of it and go forward. Tha Admiral has given the thumbs up.
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Cedar actually holds up better than Red Wood. I have a 12 year old cedar deck that is not curled or rotted. The secret is the finish I use. Used motor oil! Coat boards multiple times in the oil after cutting to size and before construction. Construct and then coat exterior each year with the oil. I use a mop on my deck and I am done in 20 minutes! It is beautiful and practical and no it does not stink! Chief
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
Am I the only one that finds it disturbing that the Admirals permission is required to build a dock box? ;)
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
This will be a wonderful opportunity for her to better develop her bright-work varnishing skills! :yikes:
 
Siamese

Siamese

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Aug 2, 2009
651
Catalina 315 Muskegon
Gee, I think I took my fiberglass dock box for granted until I saw the picture of your proposed cedar dock box.

I look for ways to reduce maintenance on and around my vessel. If for some reason I was forced to have a cedar dock box, I'd use deck stain on it.

But, I like my fiberglass box. Looks great, and no maintenance.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,539
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Beautiful. Just think you can be varnishing the box instead of sailing...

Could that be what is behind the encouragement of the Admiral? Don't know the lady and agreement about a "dock box" seems harmless. Now if it is followed up by suggestions for say, cedar planking on the house is not looking as good as the 'dock box' I would say "You've been had...." :laugh:

Boy that is a beautiful dock box....
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
jssailem said:
Beautiful. Just think you can be varnishing the box instead of sailing... QUOTE]

That is my concern. But I think if I cover it when not in use I can keep it looking good. Stain is a good idea but I like the gloss. Oil seems like a good compromise.

As for the Admiral. I bounce my ideas off of her, I don't need her permission.
Click to expand
 
Johnb

Johnb

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Jan 22, 2008
1,505
Hunter 37-cutter Richmond CA
For me, works of art and gorgeous pieces of furniture belong in homes and museums.
 
kito

kito

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Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
Just don't make it look too good or it will walk off and end up in someone's garden ;)
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
kito said:
Just don't make it look too good or it will walk off and end up in someone's garden ;)
Click to expand
:) All of our boxes are screwed to the docks and locked. We have a fair amount of wind, not to mention occasional tresspassers. Even with locked gates.
 
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Pat

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Jun 7, 2004
1,250
Oday 272LE Ninnescah Yacht Club, Wichita, Ks.
Justin, did you know Roger Easley at the club? He was a wood working teacher in Kingman when we joined in 1979....he built a beautiful dock box but it did not last more than a year or so.....the weather was really tough on it..(I don't know the kind of wood he used)...more so than I would have guessed up-front....but that one in your picture is beautiful...Patrick
 
Justin_NSA

Justin_NSA

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Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Hi Patrick. No I don't think I knew him. I'm getting less and less encouraged to do this. Maybe there are some reasonable composites to work with. <sigh>
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

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Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Put a door on one end. It sounds like you might end up in the "dog house".
 
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