DIY Sailboat Number 1

 
DIY Sailboat Number 1 is the first sailboat I’ve made, actually made it last summer. I used 1/8″ sheet MDF {medium density fiberboard} for the sails, pieces of 3/4″ MDF for the boat, and 3/8″ dowel for the mast.

One sail is 31″ high by 14 and the smaller sail is 31″ high by 9″. I cut the dowel to 34″.

The “boat” or the placeIwouldlayondeckwithapinacolada is three rough arch shapes, the largest 15″ long by 5″ wide. The other two are each smaller by 1/2″, making the smallest 14″ by 4″.

I cut the MDF using a Drimal saw, but a jig saw would work as well. The edges of the “boat” were sanded using a belt sander giving a rough edge to the three layers.

I painted the pieces before assembly, and before painting I rubbed Bri~wax {tudor brown} along the edges. I wanted a distress look to the edges. I painted everything a creamy white. Then sanded the edges revealing the dark brown waxed edges.

I drilled a small hole into the “mast” and “sails”.

I layered the boat pieces and glued them together. The deck was Bri~waxed with lines. Then after two coats of paint, I used a metal file on it’s edge to get the look of planked wood. I drilled a hole in the middle, added the “mast” and used two pieces of wire to attach the sails. Like a paper clip!

Here’s a close up of the deck.

Here’s a picture from last summer of the living room mantle that is 14′ long and as you can see a stone wall.  Those white things are simple birds I made using the left over 1/8″ MDF.  I cut out 9 seagulls, sanded 9 seagulls, scored and folded 9 seagulls, Bri~waxed 9 seagulls, but before I could get then all painted, one flew the coup! I can’t find it anywhere! Count them and let me know how many you see.

So this is DIY Sailboat Number 1 and I’ve got at least three to make.  I have plans for ‘a sailing we will go’ for our bedroom mantle:)