Description
This is a solution to the Duckworks 2002 Contest for the terminally
lazy, or those in a super hurry to get out of the ****ing house and the
****ing marriage. It assumes that there is no reason to skimp on expense,
because after all whatever money we spend is half "hers." This is the Easy
Way. And it requires very few skills indeed. All prices in the below are
in US dollars, and cite US suppliers.
 In
much of the US, garden sheds and barns are available from local businesses
"built on your lot" for around $15-20/sq ft (sample at left). These
buildings are kits, constructed by vendor staff, often within a week of
placing the order. What you, the buyer, must do is provide a reasonably
level site with truck access, and of course, the cash: they do the rest:
delivery, assembly, including doors, windows, floors set on timbers,
shingles, and paint. The interior is unfinished, studs, nailheads, and
sheathing visible. One local vendor in my area is
The Amish Connection
(styles and prices noted) but there are many competitors, including
Big Orange.
 The Easy Way
specifies a 20' x 12' shed (~$3600-4800) of the style of your choice (see
the link above) which I will cheap out on and claim that the pictures at
Amish Connection provide elevations. In fact, any "looks like a house"
shed in this size will do nicely. The floorplan (at right) shows a door
midway along the long side, which is typical.
The shed is to be installed on a barrel-supported float 28' x 20'.
This provides a 4' wide deck all around. Because the shed is built to land
standards, and therefore heavier than needed afloat, I specify a 60 gallon
barrel for each 10 sqft, for a total of 56 barrels (or equivalent volume
in any convenient barrel size). Framing for the raft is of 2x6 stock, and
only the decks are decked. Framing is doubled at the places (determined by
the shed supplier) where the shed's inevitable pressure-treated 4x4
footers will go. 2x4 stringers can be added through this area to lock the
frame together more tightly. The shed floor will thus stand 4" proud of
deck height, creating enviable deck drainage. Used barrels are sold
here and
elsewhere, and for this application would cost in the neighborhood of
$2000. With skills, that cost can be largely eliminated. Another barrel on
deck adjacent to the galley/head wall serves as the freshwater reservoir,
and could be rigged as a raincatcher. An additional (57th?) barrel below
this point serves as the wastewater reservoir, and is to be fitted with
pumpout fittings. Towing/mooring bitts (not shown) are installed at all
four corners of the raft.
Alternately, a three-barrel wide section can be placed alongside and
detached for towing to the pumpout; the center being the reservoir and
other two its own floats. When the deck submerges, you should've pumped
out a week ago.
Interior mods include interior sheathing, a few walls, and
installation of utilities. Plumbing can use that extra 4" in warm
climates, should not where freezing temperatures are a reality. With a
futon in the living space, there's room for the kids to come over.
List of Statistics
- Overall size: 28'x20'
- Interior space: 240 sqft
- Barrels specified: 56-60 @ 60 gals.
- Est costs, with all utilities retail: $10,000
- Est costs, extensive scrounging: $6,000
- Construction time: under 1 week!
- Can be "camped aboard" with only raft and shed installation
complete. Complete fitting out as convenient.
Drawings
Lew Clayman grew up in NYC where he learned about small apartments.
He majored in architecture for nearly an entire semester and still knows
the correct pronunciation of "Pabo Maholy-Nagy." |
