Upcycle a wooden boat into banquette seats

Introduction

DYLAN_EASTMAN

adam cohen

For our breakfast nook, we wanted a new take on banquet seating. Since Blog Cabin 2016 was in fisherman's paradise, a recycled wooden boat seemed like a great opportunity. Each ship style features different lines and angles. Sailboats are usually long and thin. Work boats tend to be wide and deep. I scoured the internet for months and finally found this 1960's restaurateur in Gainesville, Florida. Because it was made primarily of mahogany, the wood would be reusable despite being 50 years old.

While it may seem like a nautical sin to cut up a boat like this, I made sure it had been around for a long time, needed a lot of work, and had a blown engine. Also, because it had so many unique features, I knew we could do a lot of projects from this boat around the house.

Step 1

adam cohen

Remove metal and trim

For the size of the room and the shape we needed, the midships section was the best option. Start by removing any metal or trim in the areas that need to be cut. Set these aside to reattach later. Also be sure to remove badges and logos to reuse later.

Step 2

adam cohen

Chosen Section Cut

Cut the section with a chainsaw along the chalk cut lines. Try to use an even, steady motion as you cut. If necessary, you can clean these cuts later with a circular saw. As you cut, watch out for hidden screws. Typically wooden boats will have brass screws hidden under the wooden plugs.

Step 3

Johnny Stevens Upcycle a wooden boat into banquette seats

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Clear debris

If the boat is too big to turn on its side, you may need to support it on the block to make the cuts through the bottom of the hull. For added convenience, we left the boat in the trailer it came with. Pick up the section and remove all the old debris. While it may seem like we have a lot of boats left over, all of the remaining parts went into other projects, such as a coffee table, breakfast table, porch benches, and children's play area.

Stage 4

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Create Bench Base

Cut and install two 2x4 sixteen inch pieces above the bottom of the boat section with wood screws. Not only will this form the base of the bench seat, but it will also join the two sides together and reinforce the hull. Then cut a piece of 3/4" plywood and attach it to the top of the 2x4s with screws. Since the hull may have lost some of its structural integrity by removing the stern and bow, install wood screws into the corners to help tie the ribs together.

Step 5

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Build the seat back

For the seat back, we used some leftover V-groove soffit panels. Cut these to length to reach from the top of the seat to the top of the boat. To make the seats comfortable, install a horizontal wooden block at a slight angle. Then install the V-groove panels using 15-gauge finishing nails.

Step 6

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Attach seat

To match the mahogany shell, we used some leftover ipe wood from Blog Cabin 2014 for the seating surface. Cut your seat board to size and attach with stainless steel wood screws. Tropical hardwoods like ipe will require pre-drilling of screw holes.

Step 7

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Paint

After lightly sanding the bottom of the painted shell, we decided that a mixture of paint colors provided the perfect patina to match other kitchen design elements.

Step 8

Photos:Christopher Shane / Styling:Elizabeth Demos

Neutral pillows with different embellishments add comfort to the breakfast nook breakfast hull banquette.

Photos:Christopher Shane / Styling:Elizabeth Demos

Finish

Finish the top with a routed edge piece of ipe or cedar. Then remount the removed metal trim and badge. We mounted the original Springer logo horizontally to the side. We also mount an original scoop on the top cap. Finish the build by painting the back panels, greasing the ipe, and sealing all original surfaces with polyurethane. This DIY upcycled boat hull is a perfect complement to Blog Cabin's new 2016 design style. Not only does it speak to the area's renowned fishing culture, but it also features a unique way to transform an old boat into new furniture. ..