Make a flower box for your boat.
When we lived on our boat my wife would grow herbs and flowers
in containers on the boat. This flower box is easy to make, hangs over the
water on the gunnel, and can be moved easily when you take the boat out.
The boxes were made from pressure-treated fence slats form a
building supply center. The slats cost about $2.50 each. 3 slats can make 2
boxes. The box has an open bottom with a rail across the bottom that will keep
a flowerpot from dropping through. Small potted plants can be set in the box. A solid bottom can easily be put in if the box
itself is used as a planter and filled with dirt.
The box just hooks on the rail and is over the water.
The 5 parts for the flower box
The box just has 5 parts, the front and back panels, the two
end panels, and the bottom rail (or full bottom if you want). The end panels
are cut with a cut out that will hook over the gunnel or a rail. The box ends
were glued and screwed to the front and back panel, the bottom rail screwed on,
and then the box painted. If you make a solid bottomed box, the bottom will
need drain holes in the bottom board.
The box glued and screwed together and ready to paint.
At first, we thought hanging baskets were the solution for
an on-board garden, but we found that they would swing and bump into things and
often dump dirt and water on the deck.
With the boxes over the side of the boat, they do not take
up room on the walkways around the boat. Dirt from the plants stays off the
boat. They are convenient and easy to water, and water overflow stays off the
boat.
I was quite surprised to find what could be grown in containers
on a boat. Flowers, fresh herbs, radishes, leaf lettuce and small onions are
just a small list. You just have to think “in the flower box.”
This is just a smaller box hing on a rail.
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