How to Build Drawers in Boats

Measure the the height and width of the drawer opening, using a measuring tape. Add 1 inch to the measurement from top to bottom and 1 inch to the measurement from side to side, for the face of the drawer.

Measure the depth of the void into which the drawer will slide. Cut two pieces of 1/4-inch marine plywood, 1 inch wide by the depth of the drawer void, using a circular saw.

Measure, from the top of the drawer opening, half the height of the drawer and mark that point on both sides of the drawer opening on the cabinet face. Attach female drawer slides, one left and one right, to the wide side of the strips.

Apply construction adhesive to both ends of the 1-inch-wide strip of plywood. Position the strip inside the void, so that it is vertically centered on the mark indicating the half-height of the drawer opening. Position the other end of the strip on the back of the void. Use a C-clamp above and and a C-clamp below each strip to hold the strips in place. Allow the adhesive to dry.

Cut the face of the drawer from a sheet of 3/8-inch marine plywood, using a circular saw. Cut two pieces of 3/8-inch marine plywood, each equal to the depth of the void, for the sides of the drawer. Cut a single piece of 1/8-inch marine plywood equal to the depth of the void and the width of the drawer opening, for the bottom of the drawer.

Secure the 1/8-inch plywood panel to the long edge of one of the two pieces of 3/8-inch marine plywood so that the panel runs along the bottom of the edge of the side of the drawer, using a hammer and brass brads. Attach the other side of the drawer to the bottom panel.

Install male drawer slides on the center of the sides of the drawer. Push the drawer into the void. On the back of the face of the drawer, place a mark a half inch from the top edge and a half inch from the bottom edge, to indicate where the tops of the drawer sides should fall.

Install the face of the drawer to the sides of the drawer using a hammer and brass brads. Check the action of the drawer. Screw an eye into the top center of the drawer. Set the hook into the eye. Mark the place on the face of the cabinetry where the end of the screw falls. Drill a pilot hole, remove the hook from the eye and screw the hook into the side of the cabinet. Close and hook the drawer.