Build a sailboat sandbox

To complete the base, build the bow. At the tip, the prow sides meet at an easy 90º angle. At the body of the sandbox, they meet at 45º angles. Use a tablesaw or a sliding compound mitre saw to complete these cross cuts. Make the 45º cuts first, leaving the boards an inch or two longer than needed, then fit the boards to the sandbox and measure for the final 90º cut at the tip.

Next, install the prow middle just to one side of centre. A centre placement would require a point on the end of the board. By placing it off centre, a much simpler 45º cut is all you need.

Cruising along
Every sailboat needs a mast. I added a standard patio umbrella to shade the kids. Due to the placement of my sandbox against a fence, I was forced to position the umbrella off-centre in the front deck. But you can place your mast to suit your situation.

I securely attached a 9"-tall pipe into the front structure of the sandbox where one of the prow sides connects with one of the outside ends. A length of 1 1/2"- ­diameter PVC pipe should be just the right size to hold a standard patio umbrella pole, but check your pole first. Nail a scrap of lumber onto the other side of the pipe to ensure it's secure.

Now you can cut the three different front deck boards. The largest piece needs a hole cut into it to leave room for the pipe. Use a jigsaw or hole saw to create this feature. Next, install the front deck boards according to the plans, securing them with 3" deck screws.

Before you attach the seats, start painting. Prime all parts, then add two or three coats of exterior latex. To create the waves, make a cardboard template, trace it onto your boards, then paint to the lines.

Once all the paint is dry, cut and install the three seat pieces with screws. Then prime and paint the seats.

Batten down the hatches
If you choose to add a lid, you need to make a support frame for the lattice. I used 1x2 pine boards, joined with lap joints at the corner. (You could also add a centre support piece if you'd like.) Make sure you use a weatherproof glue.

Once the frame has been primed and painted, cut the plastic lattice down to size. It should be 1/2" shorter than the lid frame on each side. Attach it to the frame with wood screws, then fasten the lid assembly to the sandbox with a pair of hinges.