Moose COVID Build
 

The time had finally come where I was done with tent city and dirty boats... Done with projects done in the rain, heat and sweat. And done with the Friday night fire drill getting the boat loaded when the weather breaks. So I drink a double margarita and wandered out into the back forty with a stick and a half ass plan. My goal was to lay out a building foot print large enough to back the boat in and maybe the lawn mower and still remain married.

That evening I pulled Mels wine to the front of the fridge and waited patiently until she fell for the bait. After the third Dixie cup of white zin made it down I decided to spring my plan on her and hope for a glimmer of alcohol induced approval. At first she remained unusually silent and I knew I was going to hear how we need to save for Audi’s college and our retirement. But to my surprise she stood up and said “Show me what we’re going to do!”. So out the door we went with my measuring wheel in hand to layout the proposed project.

Long story much shorter, Mel was really excited about the idea but had pretty long list of mutually agreed upon demands that to assure we were both happy long term.
1. I was to contract out all aspects of the build and only act in the supervisory/owner roll
2. Building must be large enough to house at least 2 boats, one large project in the 30’ range
3. Room enough for a general work area with overhead storage and organized tool storage
4. Office with a clean room for rods, tackle and dive gear
5. Fully insulated for the entire shop and A/C for the Office/tackle room
6. NO CHEAPING OUT FOR ANY REASON!

After I measured and drew up the plans I spent a full week looking at buildings, pricing and quantity. I ended up selecting a company five miles a way that fabricated there own truss systems and floor rails. All to coastal wind specs.
And away we went.... Land clearing first!

51 dump trucks full of dirt had to be removed due to a hill we had to cut down... and hauled off the old tool shed.

6 inches of concrete throughout. Lots and lots of concrete. 2’x2’ footers with 3/4 rebar and “pencil rod” mesh over everything else with no fiber. Polished shop floors with broomed aprons and landing. Recessed door gutters. She said don’t skimp :)

After 3 long weeks of watering and applying densifier the big 3 day weekend began. I did have to rent a lull for setting 40’ trusses but the crew as amazing and were very careful to not mess up the concrete in any way. The framework on this building is way more sturdy and heavy than I thought it would be. I was told by the crew that erects commercial building as well that the only step of from this was a red metal building. I did look at them but the cost and wait times for materials was astronomical.

The build took 3 full days but the last day was just hanging the 14x14 doors. The 10x10 were a breeze but the 14s were totally different animals.

I couldn’t wait to test fit the Tsunami. We did lots of measuring and clearing to enable a drive thru garage and everything worked as planed with no more backing in!

I really didn’t grasp how big the building really was until it swallowed the SeaCraft like it was a row boat.

After having the electric run and panel installed we got an estimate for LED lighting that was simply ridiculous. Fortunately Mel and I priced out all of the fixtures and handled that ourselves. I did have to remind her that we were both lineman/woman at one time and that this was well within our wheelhouse.

The only problem we had was getting us to the work. I called my friend Scott (who has been to several of our gatherings) to see if he had some scaffolding. He had better! A perfect condition propane, hard tire forklift!..... that I could have If I’d come down and get it!

Well it’s a dam good thing OSHA didn’t see how this went down but man, having a fork lift is awesome! The thing is a thousand times more versatile than a gable and chainfall and saved me from having to buy one.

Insulation was one of the ugliest purchases to endure. None of its cheap but holy smokes. Anyway, after a month of visiting dozens buildings we encountered two types of steel building owners.... Happy ones that used closed cell foam and those that wished they did. Some of the buildings were over ten years old and not one person with it had issues with leaks or rotting panels or moisture/condensation inside. The only requirement was that you need to have one ceiling or rail mounted fan running on low year round. I was told that the reason for this was that circulating the air kept all the surfaces in the shop at the Same temperature. For what it’s worth I have had no issues so far, even with the cold fronts.

For the record, to have a reputable company do it with fresh, name brand chemicals the cost will be right at $2 per sq ft of surface. It’s one of those things you get what u pay for.

Right now we are finishing up the work, tool and storage areas as well as plumping. I built the two workbenches and the top that goes on the mail train cart that looks like a cage. It is on 4 large urethane locking casters and can easily be moved anywhere in the shop. It is a great project table for sawing, assembly, and rigging. If you have to grind or saw anything you just roll it out on the driveway and shut the bay door to keep the mess out of the shop. They also store a ton of crap inside as well. If anybody here wants one let me know as I think there is a few left.

Nice job Ken & Mel !!
The only problem is you never build them big enough.......
My 50 X 40
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Dream Shops
 

You guys are my heroes. Every guys (persons) dream.

Ken, you da man! Can I bring my SeaCraft over to play?

Awesome, Ken!

Beauty! Serious barn envy.

No back forty to speak of here on Cape Cod.
But I do have a boatyard at my disposal.
It's just all the damn paying customers always get in the way!
:rolleyes:

Very nice! And well thought out.

Hey Ken, best advice I can give is map out your plans on how you plan to arrange the coming accumulation of stuff and more stuff ! :eek:
The more space you have the more you tend to spread..:rolleyes:

First thing installed was a 32' X 4' X 10' high section of pallet racking..
Then my work benches, tool boxes (I'am a tool freak) air compressor,etc,etc.

I really wish that I had documented over the years how things got rearranged
to make more room for the stuff that just keeps coming.

We need to have shop updates once a year..:D:)

One thing for sure you will be spending more time out there than in the house.

Hope you did not mind me cleaning your pics up...

My tool addiction ! With gondola shelving above (This was my Covid project during shut down last year)
Attachment 23138

Good Job!

Bones that's way too organized!! I would not be able to find anything :)

Moose I notice on post #6 Mel is wearing a wine colored shirt to remind herself how you took advantage of the "over indulgence persuasion method", whatever works. Job well done!!!

I wish I was that organized but it will never happen. Mel cleans up after me in the kitchen and the shop.
Yeah, the space can shrink up pretty quick but we got rid of all the other boats except the Tsunami so she is still a ball room. The fork lift rack storage is on its way as well. To reduce Mel's cleaning load we are putting on a 14x44 lean on the south end over concrete for grinding and glass work. Looking like my early retirement will have a place to pursue other options now.

Wow, I could slide my motorhome in on one side and park my boat on the other side. Nice.

No man ever said "I wish my garage was smaller".

I thought I was hot s..t with my Gville house. The builder had a limo business and the garage was large enough to park both limos. Minor league compared to you guys.

bad ass, I'm envious

Nice work Moose. It's almost a sin to not have a shop if you got the room on the property. My little 30x30 shop has been one of the best additions I've ever done (besides my wife's laundry room addition of course :) I pretty much live in the shop. Like NoBones say they are never big enough but you seem to have a good start on that already. Congrats!

strick

I will be adding approx. a half acre to my lot this year in hopes of being able to do the same. Hope I live long enough! Awesome setup, Moose!

I would love to have a shop like that! Had a 2500 square foot shop behind my house in Ft. Worth back in 2006-2008. I was awesome.

Vintage pencil sharpener.
Love it Haha.

Having been a bartender/ ski bum in my 20`s, I`ve seen many relationships crash
and burn.

Mel absolutely loves you.

A beautiful shop there Mr. and Mrs. Moose.

I could not be happier for you and Mel, and yes the foam will keep the temps
wayyyy down.

I knew that when Moose posted the picture of her down in the bilge working hard!

Like button.

I think you have room for a paint booth inside.
I`m not jealous at all.

Congrats.

I like being the sharpest pencil in the cup..:rolleyes:

Thanks Sandy, As I’ve always said, her only character flaw is her taste in men. :D

She put her gear on thanks to you.

I loved climbing trees.

Great view.

I'm jealous thats some shop! Awesome!