Recent Community Service Projects

28 ft Boat Overhaul

For over 30 years Friends in Sportfishing (https://www.friendsinfishing.net) a Registered Charity has provided free boat rides for those who are disadvantaged due to mental, physical or financial challenges. In the summer of 2023 over 1500 very excited, happy, appreciative people were hosted for a day from three locations on the Rideau River. Most have never been on a small boat before or fished. Wheel chairs are welcome.

Their 30 year old boats need an overhaul. Ottawa Maker's Shed will be doing one per year for the next 4 years. Below illustrates how the first one went.

  • As it arrived.
    As it arrived.
  • Everthing sitting on the 30 yr old wooden deck had to be removed: seats, instrument console, steering and throttle controls, deck rails, the complete wiring harness, etc.
    Everthing sitting on the 30 yr old wooden deck had to be removed: seats, instrument console, steering and throttle controls, deck rails, the complete wiring harness, etc.
  • New deck installed: eight 4 x 8 sheets of Marine Plywood plus stainless steel fasteners were required.
    This is the new deck installed: eight 4 x 8 sheets of Marine Plywood plus stainless steel fasteners were required.
  • Non-slip Vinyl decking fitup
    Non-slip Vinyl decking fitup
  • Glueing new Vinyl
    Glueing new Vinyl
  • Re-assembly begins
    Re-assembly begins
  • Re-assembly in progress
    Re-assembly in progress
  • Some of the team.
  • Ready for Winter Shrink Wrap
    Ready for Winter Shrink Wrap
Orpheus Musical Theatre's 20 ft Rotating Stage

Ottawa's Orpheus Musical Theatre is a not-for-profit registered charity which been entertaining Ottawa theatre audiences since 1906. They deliver three productions a year and typically task 200 volunteers per production. While they have a well equipped workshop and skilled craftsman and women, sometimes a particular play stretches even their abilities. The upcoming Dreamgirls is one of them. The script calls for a motorized revolving stage which can be disassembled at their rehearsal site and moved to the Nepean Meridian Theatre. It took over 30 sheets of plywood for the parts, which once produced, must all fit tightly together. So they called on Ottawa Maker's Shed to precision cut the parts on our 4ft x 8 ft CNC machine.

  • The stage as envisioneded.
    The stage as envisioned.
  • Podium base to raise the revolve deck to 18
    Podium base to raise the revolve deck to 18" above the main stage.
  • Some of the Team at work.
    Some of the Team at work.
  • A few of the parts produced
    A few of the parts produced
  • 28 sheets of 4ft x 8 ft CNC machined plywood went into this massive re-useable and portable stage
    28 sheets of 4ft x 8 ft CNC machined plywood went into this massive re-useable and portable stage
  • Then there was the 18 ft diameter Internal Ring Gear
    Then there was the 18 ft diameter Internal Ring Gear
  • The Pinion Gear was assembled from two layers of three quarter inch plywood then attached to a 1 HP DC motor plus controls for two direction, variable speed rotation.
    The Pinion Gear was assembled from two layers of three quarter inch plywood then attached to a 1 HP DC motor plus controls for two direction, variable speed rotation.
  • Ring Gear was assembled from nine 7 ft long segments of 3/4 inch plywood in two layers
    Ring Gear was assembled from nine 7 ft long segments of 3/4 inch plywood in two layers
  • The mastermind Klaus finish trimming at the router table.
    The mastermind Klaus finish trimming at the router table.
  • Rotating Stage in the Orpheus Rehersal Hall before disassembly and move to the Centrepoint Meridian Theatre
    Rotating Stage in the Orpheus Rehearsal Hall before disassembly and move to the Centrepoint Meridian Theatre
  • Rotating Stage at the Centrepoint Meridian Theatre
    Rotating Stage at the Centrepoint Meridian Theatre
Portable Stage for indoor and outdoor events

Designed and fabricated a modular portable stage for initial use at The Council on Aging of Ottawa's 27 September 2024 Fundraising event plus subsequent Public events across Ottawa. Made up of six 4ft x 4 ft collapsable modules, the stage can be reconfigured into any shape desired.

  • Portable Stage made for The Council on Aging of Ottawa
    Portable Stage made for The Council on Aging of Ottawa
  • Snaps together with no tools
    Snaps together with no tools
  • Breaks down for easy shipping and/or storage
    Breaks down for easy shipping and/or storage
© 2025 Kevin Ford

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