I agree, the workmate makes a good base for our building and repairing projects.
The earlier drawing put forth by
Marky makes good sense

It's great to see 7 read other peoples idea's. Gets one's own brain thinking. Thank's all.

The sketch from Marky started me thinking.Looks like I'm going to build one.That will work on the regular workmate and the table top one too.Could do a couple of sizes of board depending on the size of the boats.

just to add my thoughts i got this few years ago table top workmate measures 40cmx21cm when closed

'Let there be light!" - And there was a deafeningly loud CLICK!
Lo and behold there was light and you could see for bl---y miles!! 😉

The person who never made a mistake, never made anything, I must have made thousands.
Cheers Colin.

Glad to have helped kick start the grey matter ,sorry for the spelling mistakes on the sketch .Cheers Marky

My benches aren't actually workmates but just as good, one has 90degree tilting surfaces. I've got some 18mm plywood that will do to make the main boards, and I've also found a box of 100--m5 anchor inserts for wood. So will have to start sorting through my stockpile for other goodies to use.
You sure got my thinking processes started, will let you all know how I get on.
Cheers Colin.

See a sketch is worth a thousand words, just like I told students back in tech design classes where I taught for 25 yrs.

Great sketch-up done here! I would add foam to the cradle so as not to damage any painted surfaces. Those workmate benches come in very handy.

Thanks Marky, that is exactly the idea I needed, its obvious really, with the shaped grips it's perfect for my restorations and repairs. Very grateful.
Cheers Colin.

Just the same as the balsacraft items, lugs could be fixed to hull formats to secure to board.

That's great Marky..........Let there be light and there was light.

quick sketch for build boards that can either clamp or screw to work mate ,holes to take workmate pegs or custom built holders to suit hull shape ,boards can be of any length and width with holes whatever spacing desired don't know how well the sketch will show up . Cheers Marky👍

Hi Doug, I bet your German friends would have a purpose built jig for every eventuality.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Dragon.
If all else fails I will keep them in mind.
Cheers Colin.

Hi Marky. That sounds interesting, I have a couple of them laying in the back of shed. Rough sketch might get my brain going again, I was used to working with ideas on sketches when I was a prototype engineer. I think I just need stimulating. Cheers Colin.

Sounds very tasty! 😉 With chips? 😜

Try Blackburn Model Suppers they do Model Building Boards,
They may be able to help

what about using a work mate ,they are very adjustable with the plastic peg things ,you could fit longer boards to still allow for width opening if the boards were drilled to take the pegs then custom pegs or brackets cut to suit the hull shape could be fitted ,if i get a minute i will do a drawing /rough sketch a.Cheers Marky

Have explored having it made, but cheapest quote was £300+ vat. That was just for the base board/ table.
And as I'm a pensioner way out of my reach.
I was hoping to make it myself, I have most tools that would enable a self build. Lathe, Mill, Routers, band saw, jigsaw, bench drill, plus all the usual hand tools and air tools.
Cheers Colin.

Colin - it's a difficult one as obviously it's a completely different matter working on a build compared with a completed boat i.e. you don't have anywhere to grip/attach to a completed hull etc.

I was looking at a building board/jig for my builds (over a smaller range compared with your builds i.e. 23" to 33") but decided in the end that it was better to just use a good thick MDF board and temporarily fix the keel and a temporary spine along the top of the frames to it.

But it sounds like you have already found what suits your needs but it needs making out of some stronger material? What about making it out of thick aluminium or even getting it cut out by an engineering company? Would be worth the cost if you are going to get a lot of use out of it?

Chris

Hi Folks, I don't know if it would work, BUT Balsacraft used to market a building jig for aircraft that used "T" nuts on the reverse and sliding plastic brackets on the surface. Could that be modified for boats?

Hi Doug, the building board I was thinking of needs to be usable for all types of boats from tugs to fast patrol boats in varying sizes, but also usable for repairs and renovation work. I saw something in my old job that would have been perfect, it was a 6' by 18" cast iron machine bed with t slots at 3" centres lengthwise. it was used for jigging the prototypes I had to build.
But where would I get something like it, I tried to make one from 25mm MDF but the t slots kept breaking away.
Any ideas.
Cheers Colin.

Thanks, Doug. I am sure with the volume of skilled builders in the U.K. and on this site, someone will be able to engineer a solution. But yes a better understanding of the design problem will help to find a solution. Perhaps a sketch...before and after. Pictures I always told my students save a thousand words.

Hi Granpa, that's a 'skirting board' in UK! 😉
Colin means a Building board. Like your own model slipway.
Though I'm not sure what is to be adjustable!? 😲
Cheers Doug 😎