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This is a sandbox shaped like a boat: two long 2x12 sides mitered at 45° on each end so they meet at a point, deck boards across the stern, angled hull pieces closing the bow, and a mast with a sewn sail rigged with real rope through grommet-style stitched corners. The hull geometry is simpler than it looks — it's the same 45° angle repeated at both ends of both sides, so once you've cut one angle correctly you're just repeating it three more times.
Use an exterior-rated glue and stainless or coated deck screws throughout; this sits outside, filled with damp sand, for years. The sail isn't just decorative — sewing a channel into the fabric and threading the dowel through it, then lashing the whole thing to the mast with exterior rope, is what turns a plain sandbox into a boat kids actually play pretend in.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 2x12 board, 8 ftThe hull sides — this is what gives the sandbox its boat shape. | 2 each |
| 2x6 board, 8 ft | 3 each |
| 2x4 board, 8 ft | 1 each |
| 2x4 board, 12 ftThe mast pieces come from this longer board. | 1 each |
| Exterior fabric, 45" width | 3 yard |
| Exterior rope | 1 each |
| Exterior wood glue | 6 oz |
| Deck screws, 2-1/2", self-tapping | 50 each |
| Wood dowel, 1-1/4", 48" | 1 each |
| I-bolts (for sail rigging) | 4 each |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Hull sides2x12Both ends cut at 45°. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" × 96" |
| Deck boards2x6 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 49" |
| Hull end pieces (2x6)2x6 | 4 | 1 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 45" |
| Hull end pieces (2x4)2x4 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 45" |
| Mast2x4 | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 72" |
| Sail boom dowelDowel | 1 | 1 1/4" × 1 1/4" × 48" |
Some parts are longer than a 8 ft board, so there is no honest board count to show here. Open the board plan to pick a longer stock length — it names every part that does not fit.
0 boards
3 boards
3 boards
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Mark and cut 45° angles at both ends of both 2x12 hull sides, using a speed square as your angle guide.
Position the two hull sides on a flat, level surface. Apply exterior glue and screw the deck boards to the edges of the hull sides with 2-1/2" deck screws.
Flip the assembly over. Apply glue to the mating surfaces and screw the 45"-long 2x4 and 2x6 hull end pieces to the angled ends of the hull sides.
Screw the two mast pieces to the inside of the hull sides, centered, with glue and at least four screws per side. Drill a hole in the top of the assembled mast for the sail boom dowel and thread the dowel through.
Cut the fabric to 45" wide by 3 yards long. Fold and hem the sides and ends, then fold the corners in and stitch to create a channel for rope at each corner. Screw the I-bolts into the corners of the deck boards, then tie rope between the I-bolts and the sail, pulling the sail over the boom dowel and tightening it down.
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