Pirate Ship Playhouse

Motivated by a recent poster of his awesome Pirate Ship playhouse, I'm posting photos and drawings of my crazy adventure from last summer. My children and I built a ship in our backyard. You know, for the kids.

For you professionals out there, a word of warning - you may see some details that will can cause great horror. But in my defense, I have no training or background in building anything like this. I work in an office, I have a degree in English Literature, but I did spend a year on a Coast Guard icebreaker. So I know the ship's terms at least.

Step 1: The Sub Floor

I built it on top of some cement pavers that my neighbor was eager to get out of his yard, and I had a lot of 2 x 6s left over from when we built our deck.

This was my design for the floor.

By the way, I drew this on MS Publisher. Because that's what I use for my job, and I didn't know any better.

If you look closely, you'll notice that I'm going to make some curves.

In fact, all of the 2x4s that are forward of where the bow starts to curve in are angled outward.

Why? I figured that any moron could build a ship with simple angles, but only one moron in a million would attempt to build ship with curves, instead of angles.

Step 2: Subfloor and Deck

First, look at the subfloor.

You can see the brick pavers, as well as the 2x6s going across. I also put in 2x6 scraps going across the joists.

You can also see how the hull is angled outward.

The angle gradually changes with each rib of the ship, so that there will be a distinct curve.

I had trouble making the outward angles uniform on each side. I struggled with that a great deal, and still didn't get it right. The port side of the bow looks a lot better than the starboard.

The deck is using, well decking boards. I had them left over from making a deck.

In this photo, my daughter is touching the boards I originally planned to use for the hull. They are very thin, unfinished, pine paneling.

However, they were too thin. They cracked every time I tried to screw them, and they ended up being a bit too expensive. So I went with something else.

Step 3: A Mistake

Here is a profile of the ship, and here is where I want to discuss a major error I made.

I make the deck high enough so that little kids could see over the side, but I didn't want the deck too high and they could tumble off. So this is where I put the deck, in relation to the rail.

What I should have done is to put a deck on the bottom of the ship, on top of the joists, then, have the deck higher, and the the sides of the ship a little higher.

This would have created a usable space under the deck of the ship. An actual playroom. With a little effort, it could be made relatively rain proof. The kids could put in chairs, tables, maybe even a video game console. You know, just like Blackbeard.

Step 4: The Mast

I decided that the ship must have a mast. A significant one.

If you're curious, below is my coming clean about an idea I had that didn't quit work out.

I placed the mast just to the left of where my daughter was standing in the previous photo.

The plan was to build it so strong so that kids could climb up to the crow's nest.

I received some great advice -- If you're building for kids -- overbuild it. They are rough on stuff and you don't want them to get hurt.

So, after building the mast, my son and I dug a three-foot hole, put the mast in and surrounded the base with cement.

Here's the details of my good idea that turned out to be something less than that:

A friend of mine works at a utility company, so one day I asked him if I could have an old utility pole that they were going to through away. I thought that would make a good mast for the ship.

Then I forgot about my request. About two weeks later, my wife, who was home, calls me at work, sounding alarmed. She said, "Why is there a semi and a crane here dropping off huge telephone poles?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that."

After two weeks of trying, I had to finally give up on the poles. They were about 40 feet long, and probably 18" across. I'd need a crane to lift one into place. Then I'd have to put it in a hole 6' deep, with cement. Even I cut one of them short enough, they were just too big around.

After a month of looking for a suitable home, I found a welder / artist who cut the poles up and used them as stands for his art work.

Step 5: Crow's Nest

But before putting up the mast, I had the foresight to build the crows nest.

Here is the base of the crows nest.

For this, I used 2x4s for the base and actually used former pallet boards for the floor. It worked out well, and looks great.

However, my wife, the joy killer that she is, decreed upon seeing the crows nest towering over the ship, decreed that I may not build a rope ladder to the crows nest, and that no children are ever allowed up there.

Something about not wanting five year olds to fall to their deaths in our backyard. Whatever.

Step 6: The Quarter Deck

This is the raised platform at the stern of the ship. It's 4x8.

Again I overbuilt it. Instead of 2x4 joists, I had a bunch of 2x6s, so I used those.

But it's still standing, and no kids have died on it, so there you go.

Step 7: The (relatively) Finished Quarterdeck

I splurged and bought posts from Lowe's.

Also, in this photo are, oddly enough, hot wheels and a giant Lego piece. Clear signs that my helper was alongside me helping on this particular afternoon.

And, yes, I made the wheel myself, but that didn't work out too well.

I had to remove the handholds because one afternoon when one kid was spinning the wheel, another kid was coming up the ladder and he got whacked on the head by a peg. Not a big deal. We solved it by giving the kid his very own ice pop.

Step 8: I Could Have Just Bought a Wheel

But this wheel was really small.

And plastic.

I asked my daughter, and she declared she'd rather have a wheel made by Daddy. Of course, she's not the kid who got whacked in the head.

Step 9: The Hull

Here is my (totally not spoiled) daughter, standing next to the hull of the ship.

For the hull boards, I used fence boards.

They are 6" wide, about 6' long, 3/4" thick, pressure treated, and cost less than $2 each at Lowe's (in Delaware, USA)

They were thin enough to bend, and worked perfectly.

However, one mistake I made was that I didn't glue the boards to the supporting 2x4 ribs. The boards shrunk a bit over the past year, and there are noticeable gaps between the boards.

Step 10: 36 Hours Before the Birthday Party

Did I mention that this was a present for my daughter's fifth birthday?

This was two nights before the party.

You can see that most all of the support stuff, and the decks are built. We just need a few things, like a hull, for example.

By that way, am I the only person here who prefers to work on stuff like this in the dead of night? This was in the summer, so it's a lot cooler. And because everyone else is sleeping, there are no other demands on your time for stuff like supper, or a critical need for a walk to the park.

Step 11: 12 Hours Before the Party

For the sail, I used a canvas drop cloth.

They are inexpensive and look perfect for the ship. This summer, I plan to paint a design on them.

Step 12: I'm Never Done.

Here is one of the cleats that I made recently. I use these to secure the sail and for other lines on the ship.

Also, here is a design of what I want to paint on the sails. I have room for two sails, and I'll use an old overhead projector to put the design on the sail, so I can trace it out.

I mean, if this is a pirate ship, it sure needs a skull and cross bones.

Besides, the state's newspaper wants to feature the pirate ship this spring in a photo essay on extreme playhouses. That's the excuse I'm using with my wife why I need to work on the pirate ship. As soon as it gets warm again.

Step 13: Thanks

Lastly, if any of you would like to visit the pirate ship, sit upon the quarterdeck, hoist a beverage and salute the sunset, you're invited.

The ship's current position is 38.807 Latitude, -75.595 longitude (southern Delaware, U.S.)

In the comments below, please leave questions, suggestions, and and statements you may have regarding my sanity.

Thanks a lot for reading.