[nicho]

Nice thanks guys, much preciated that's was I was thinking but never hurts to ask. I'll just but the router up to a piece of clamped scrap 3/4" and then move the T each time I make a groove I'm going to make this here soon I'll try to post some pics of how it turns out to keep the porn going.

 

[BilloutWest]

People organize their dryboxes?

I can't find my router bits.

Hmmmmmm

 

[tmacc]

People organize their dryboxes?

For the first day or two anyway. Then, it's smashed corn chips and squashed bread.

 

[lhowemt]

So many good ideas!

 

[Paul the Kayaker]

So I made this yesterday, took about an hour total. Spent under 12 bucks. used one 8ft rough cut 2x6 from the local lumber yard (actually had it laying around didnt make a separate trip) not sure on exact price but they are under 2 bucks and a 2'x4' sheet of 3/8'' plywood (homedepot) for 10 bucks.

So my dry box is 40x16x16'' so I cut my 2x6 into two 39 7/8'' lengths, clamped them to my picnic table flush with one another, marked straight lines every 3 inches with a T-square, and took a scrap piece of wood with a straight edge and lined it up with the first line, screwed it to the two boards with two short screws and routered away (3/8'' straight bit, about 1/2'' deep)! I first tried clamping my guide piece but it moved around and was hard to clamp with the table being in the way, I dont mind the few screw holes so screwing it down made it super solid and easy to run the edge of my router down to ensure my cuts were all straight and lined up on the two individual boards.

After those were cut, I placed them in my box, they fit snuggly, not so tight I had to hammer them in, but snug enough, then I measured and cut two end pieces to help keep the boards in place, probably overkill and unneeded but I had the wood so I figured why not.

Lastly I cut the ply wood to size to squeeze snuggly into the routered slots, I made two 14'' tall and 2 10'' tall so I can lay longer stuff over the top of the shorter dividers. I also had to cut the top corners off the dividers so I could get them in my drybox since the opening on top of my box is not as wide as the outter edge. Leaves a little gap inside, but its another place to place longer items i guess and they will keep most things much more organized than before. Lastly I sanded the edges so they dont attack with splinters to anyone rooting around int he box. 4 dividers may also be over kill but we'll see as I start to repack it.

Anyway, super simple if you have a table saw and a router, 12 bucks and an hour or two. Considering painting them with marine paint just so they are waterproof in case water somehow gets in my dry box, but for now they are staying as they are.

Here are some pics, start to finish:

 

[Paul the Kayaker]

Sorry the pics are old fashioned, my didnt realize my phone's camera was on that setting, and I dont feel like adjusting them. Anyway you get the idea. Enjoy!

 

[BilloutWest]

Looking at the last photo, one does not need to have the end boards.

The slotted 2x6 spacers running lengthwise are already held in place by matching the inside length dimension and the slot plywood pieces hold it across the width.

Avoiding overkill gets one a little less weight and more space.

=======

Scrap closed cell foam could pad the DO from side to side banging.

I'm saving your pic.
Thinking about one side of the plywood (or masonite) having an inverted L shape to go up to the inside edge on that side and the other having a shelf slot for hold longer stuff like poles or one special smaller table.

also 2 x 4 pine for weight.
Or a 2 x 6 that I put in all the slots then rip in half.

-------

Now what nifty holders can I make for stuff in the DO corner spaces?

Is it worth it to make a wood snug holder insert for warmer DO storage?

 

[duct tape]

So I made this yesterday, took about an hour total. Spent under 12 bucks. used one 8ft rough cut 2x6 from the local lumber yard (actually had it laying around didnt make a separate trip) not sure on exact price but they are under 2 bucks and a 2'x4' sheet of 3/8'' plywood (homedepot) for 10 bucks.

So my dry box is 40x16x16'' so I cut my 2x6 into two 39 7/8'' lengths, clamped them to my picnic table flush with one another, marked straight lines every 3 inches with a T-square, and took a scrap piece of wood with a straight edge and lined it up with the first line, screwed it to the two boards with two short screws and routered away (3/8'' straight bit, about 1/2'' deep)! I first tried clamping my guide piece but it moved around and was hard to clamp with the table being in the way, I dont mind the few screw holes so screwing it down made it super solid and easy to run the edge of my router down to ensure my cuts were all straight and lined up on the two individual boards.

After those were cut, I placed them in my box, they fit snuggly, not so tight I had to hammer them in, but snug enough, then I measured and cut two end pieces to help keep the boards in place, probably overkill and unneeded but I had the wood so I figured why not.

Lastly I cut the ply wood to size to squeeze snuggly into the routered slots, I made two 14'' tall and 2 10'' tall so I can lay longer stuff over the top of the shorter dividers. I also had to cut the top corners off the dividers so I could get them in my drybox since the opening on top of my box is not as wide as the outter edge. Leaves a little gap inside, but its another place to place longer items i guess and they will keep most things much more organized than before. Lastly I sanded the edges so they dont attack with splinters to anyone rooting around int he box. 4 dividers may also be over kill but we'll see as I start to repack it.

Anyway, super simple if you have a table saw and a router, 12 bucks and an hour or two. Considering painting them with marine paint just so they are waterproof in case water somehow gets in my dry box, but for now they are staying as they are.

Here are some pics, start to finish:

Very nice Paul. Hope to see it on the Main! Would write more but I have to go out for yet another great Italian meal. Gonna need a bigger raft.

 

[Paul the Kayaker]

Very true, like I said its overkill for sure... Maybe I'll use them as last ditch heat if we need more wood on the fire... Doesnt take up a ton of room though and only about a half pound...

Correction: sorry I meant to say I used 1x6 not 2x6.... 2x6 would really be over kill, but you could get away with 3/4'' pine from home depot for sure, but an 8 foot section of 1x6 is about 6 bucks vs the 1.50 for the rough cut stuff. Its really only pennies, but I had it laying around and wanted to get rid of it, if I had to buy it I would have gone with the smooth pine probably and the total would have been about 16 bucks.

Also thinking about making some simple shelves/compartment tops to fit between the ply dividers and rest on top of the 1x6 to enclose the lower compartments and fill them with things I dont need to get to all the time, like a first aid kit, raft repair, tools etc. Then there will be a nice wood shelf to pile spices and things ontop of those rarely used items.

Jon, you'll see them alright, by the end of the trip I have a feeling I'll be making you a set too!! Glad you're enjoying Italy!

 

[BilloutWest]

Also thinking about making some simple shelves/compartment tops to fit between the ply dividers and rest on top of the 1x6 to enclose the lower compartments and fill them with things I dont need to get to all the time, like a first aid kit, raft repair, tools etc. Then there will be a nice wood shelf to pile spices and things ontop of those rarely used items.

I like that.

Put one or two drilled finger holes in them to make lifting easy.

 

[Riverbound]

A little acetone on a rag will take that old sharpie off. Unless it is there for character .

 

[cataraftgirl]

Very nice! I like the adjustability.

 

[lhowemt]

I decided against building the slots. I didn't want to give up one inch of space, this box gets loaded! I did however upgrade from cardboard to wood. I had some thin wood sitting around the house, maybe 1/4" thick something. I cut it for dividers and taped them in like I used to do the cardboard. This trip we are taking the kitchen and dry food in the box. I even had a divided go perpendicular for holding up pans on their side. Now it is packed but I'll take a photo on the river.

 

[Paul the Kayaker]

I took another look at my box and decided the end pieces were over kill, so I pulled those out, moved my dividers around and cut one more slot so my DO and big stew pot are in there nice and tight. Then added some shelving make small compartments. Also added a shelf over my DO so I have a flat surface to pack on above it. I feel like I haven't given up too much space for having an easy-to-organize dry box, with hopefully easy unpacking and repacking every evening and morning at camp. The shelves were made out of the scraps from the remaining thin plywood, so still at about 12 bucks. Going to habitat for humanity to snag some exterior acrylic latex paint (3 bucks for a quart) and I'm going to slap on one or two coats just for longevity in case water or oil or anything gets all over the inside of the box so the wood doesn't soak anything up and swell or get heavier and then this project is finished for good!

 

[aventeren]

Dry Box Organization

I'd like to thank everyone in this thread for sharing their ideas and thoughts. Based on the ideas I saw here, I ended up building my box organization around routered 1x2, 1x4 and 1x6 for fillers and 1/4" dividers cut full height, lower/upper height and middle height. I'm pretty happy with the result, as it allows me to create different height shelves and compartment widths in 2" increments. I made the shelves ~6" wide, and they lay in on top of the router 1x2.

I used a 5/16" router bit for the 1x2 routers, which receive the 1/4" dividers.

Working from the bottom up, I stacked: 1x2 + 1x4 + 1x2 + 1x6 + 1x2 + 1x4 + 1x4. I then shot the 1x2 + 1x4 together with a nailer, the 1x2 + 1x6 together with a nailer, 1x2 + 1x4 + 1x2 together with a nailer. I then just slide the 1/4" dividers in to hold everything together.

The end result allows me to have deep storage, shelves/compartments to hold stuff that is not used very often (valves, repair kits, rain gear, first aid, etc), and then stack stuff on top.

Again, thanks to everyone in the above thread for their ideas. Can't wait to get it on the river.