Playground Boat

This wooden boat isn’t bound for the sea, but rather headed for where ever the imagination takes it. Positioned in the center of the playground circle, the boat will point North acting as a large compass and teaching kids a sense of direction. This boat is made from 2″ wide strips of Western Red Cedar, fiberglassed and epoxied inside and out. The inside of the boat has wooden ribs at 2ft on center made from thin layers of cedar. These will act as additional support for the hull of the boat. Steps in the back (or aft) of the boat will lead to the top of the 4ft diameter tunnel on top of which will be a wavy slide. Set sail!

8ft Wooden Tunnel

Check out these few pics of the construction process of the 8ft diameter tunnel!

We first constructed a temporary form made form 3/4″ MDF. The form is 8ft diameter and 4ft deep. We wrapped the form with two layers of 1/4″ thick strips of Western Red Cedar.

Then we pulled the staples and screws out, and sanded the outside. Next we epoxied the tunnel with epoxy resin often used in wood boat construction. Then we fiberglassed the outside and epoxied it to go clear so you still see the wood. Give me a few days and i’ll post some more pictures of the tunnel showing it fully fiberglassed and ready to roll out to the playground site!

“The Vitruvian Man”

The Mold

2nd Layer

I shall call it, “The Bentley Tunnel”

“CAN I GET A HOT TUB?”

Stage Rope

Along the outside of the stage are octagonal shaped treated wood posts. I took 6×6 posts and ripped them on my table saw creating octagonal posts. Once installed and cut off at different heights, I drilled an 1 1/2″ hole in each post to receive the pro manila rope. Then Sparurethane was applied to each post to seal them and to darken them up. I strung the rope through each hole and wrapped it around each post twice, creating a handrail along the edge of the stage.

Nautical Rope

Setting the Stage…

Enter left… or West!

The playground is oriented in a 35ft diameter circle; creating a large compass.

The entrance of the playground is located at the west end of the circle.

An 8ft diameter by 4ft deep tunnel acts as an archway entrance to the playground at the west end of the circle facing the northeast corner of the Village neighborhood.

A 17′ long by 5ft wide by 3ft6in tall wooden boat will be in the center of the circle pointed North. At the back of the boat will be steps leading up to the top and onto a 4ft diameter by 6ft long tunnel. On top of the tunnel will be a slide swooping down to the ground pointing South.

Now, for the stage… Located on the East side of the circle is a curved stage with steps, octagonal posts, 1 1/2″ thick rope strung between the posts, and a curved ramp on the North side leading back down to the ground.

Now that we’ve made it full circle around the playground, check out its progress…