CRAFTSMANSHIP Traditional Tool
Shipwright’s toolbag BY ROBIN GATES
Customarily, the time-served shipwright stored his tools in a wooden chest he’d made in the first weeks of apprenticeship. But this might weigh up to 20lb (9 kg) even without tools – a significant burden to the journeyman of a century ago, travelling pot-holed tracks. When working on a vessel some distance from his shed he carried the tools he needed in a lightweight basket slung upon his shoulder. The better quality baskets were cloth- lined with rope handles reaching around the base and lending support like a sling. For today’s shipwright working with hand tools, there is a dearth of practical tool bags on the market,
Above: Shipwright’s green canvas toolbag made to order in the 1960s Insert: Side pocket and manila rope handle
“Look at what tools you need to carry and talk to a sailmaker”
with those available being too fiddly, hampered by redundant flaps and zips, too plastic or, in the case of power tool luggage, too redolent of the travelling salesman. One avenue out of this quandary is to look at what tools you need to carry, design the bag accordingly and take your specifications to a sailmaker. That is how this tool bag came into being around 45 years ago when a boatyard ordered green canvas bags for all its apprentices. Measuring around 28 x 8 x 10 in (71 x 20 x 25 cm) it’s long enough to accommodate a panel saw, wide enough for a couple of planes but not so high that tools become buried and you find yourself fishing for a chisel in sharp-infested depths. The base is reinforced with a marine ply insert.
There are no arbitrary dividers or compartments dictating what goes where so you can chuck in some lengths of timber. Capacious inside pockets are handy for smaller marking-out tools or those used frequently.
While the open top provides easy access to everything inside, when you’ve found the tool you need the contents can be covered over simply by folding sides and ends inwards. For extra security the bag can be closed by a cord threaded between brass grommets.
Those tufty handles offering the sure grip of manila rope attached by eye splices have seen better days, but despite toting tools up and down jetties since the 1960s, this faithful servant has some years before it yet.
CLASSIC BOAT MARCH 2012 91
ROBIN GATES
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100