# Need help with a naval cannon carriage **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Tags:** 3dwarehouse, mac\ **Created:** [November 3, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235 "2026-11-03T21:38:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/1 "2026-11-03T21:38:34Z")
Continuing the discussion from [Welcome to our forums! Please introduce yourself 🙂](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/welcome-to-our-forums-please-introduce-yourself/6944): > [@Welcome to our forums! Please introduce yourself slight\_smile](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/welcome-to-our-forums-please-introduce-yourself/6944/1): > > - `Who are you?`I am retired and do wood working as a hobby, mainly furniture > - **`What is your industry and profession?`hobby** > - **`Where do you use SketchUp? Personally/professionally?`Personnally** > - **`Why do you use SketchUp and what is your favorite thing about it?`it is SO much easier to build large projects once they are designed** > - **`How proficient are you in SketchUp?`** Beginner, intermediate, advanced? I’d have to say and advanced beginner or early intermediate > - **`Have you gone to a SketchUp 3DBasecamp?`no** > - **`What is your current set up?`** [Computer type, SketchUp version…etc.] \* Mac, I believe it is Sketchup Pro 2025 > - **`Do you have a 3D Warehouse page with your models, Extensions, or a website you would like to link to or show off to us?`I do not** > - **`Anything else you would like to tell us?`I hope to get some help** > - **`What is your favorite Emoji? Not sure`** > > Here is my project that I need help; I have never used any forums before. > > I am designing a naval cannon carriage. The front transom will be comprised of three boards that are 2 3/4" thick x 3" tall and 6 1/4" long. These will be glued to make a transom 9" high. I need a 9/16" hole the entire 6 1/4" length of each of these plus a rabbet in the lowest one that will be 1 1/4" x 1" high. I can get all these done easily on a flat face of the board. However, the ends of these boards require a 1.85 degree angle. I have tried all I know, even AI and all of these efforts do not allow these cuts to be made in Sketchup Pro. Please tell me how to make this happen. I am using a Mac computer. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/2 "2026-11-03T21:46:48Z")
I’m a visual thinker. Could you attach an image showing what you mean? ---
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/4 "2026-11-03T22:22:22Z")
![Inline image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/4X/f/9/5/f9532f66514faf6314657c620c3796cb9866c739.jpeg "Inline image") ---
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/5 "2026-11-03T22:34:19Z")
I just posted a picture. The difficulty is the 1.85 degree angle that I need for the transom Karl Someone replied to your post. > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/45/7601_2.png "DaveR") | [DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/daver) SketchUp Sage > November 3 | > > - | - | It would be helpful if you share the .skp file with us but my guess wiothout seeing it is to model the three boards as solid components or groups and then model a cylinder as a “drill” and objects for the other cuts. Then use the Solid Tools to make the cuts. ---
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/6 "2026-11-03T22:35:53Z")
I am not familiar with the solid tools Seems I need to learn them thanks Karl Someone replied to your post. > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/45/7601_2.png "DaveR") | [DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/daver) SketchUp Sage > November 3 | > > - | - | It would be helpful if you share the .skp file with us but my guess wiothout seeing it is to model the three boards as solid components or groups and then model a cylinder as a “drill” and objects for the other cuts. Then use the Solid Tools to make the cuts. ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/7 "2026-11-03T22:51:14Z")
Ok, that helps a lot. Which direction does the 1.85 degree slope need to go? Vertically (so the top of the whole assembly is narrower than the bottom)? Or horizontally? And if horizontally, is the front meant to be wider or narrower than the rear? ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/8 "2026-11-03T22:53:21Z")
Looks like Steve will help you so I’ll stand aside. ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/9 "2026-11-03T22:58:49Z")
Thanks @DaveR! I can see what to do but I’m on my phone away from my computer right now, so it will be a while before I can make a model to show how. ---
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/10 "2026-11-04T00:09:26Z")
I have done a lot of research to make this. Cannons are the widest in the rear, as I am sure you know. The carriage will be 6 1/4" wide on the inside width in the front and 8 1/4" wide in the back. This is where the angle comes from. Therefore, the transom (the vertical front piece) will have this angle on the edges of these three 2 3/4" x 3" x 6 1/4" boards. There will be a “bed board” which is the horizontal platform on which the back of the cannon will sit. Because it is horizontal it will have the front of it smaller than the back at this angle. It, too, will have three through holes to pass the long bolts to connect the upright pieces (cheeks). So this problem will exist here as well. I have not yet attempted to draw this piece yet. Hope this helps, thanks so very much!! Karl Someone replied to your post. > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/45/7302_2.png "slbaumgartner") | [slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner) SketchUp Sage > November 3 | > > - | - | Ok, that helps a lot. Which direction does the 1.85 degree slope need to go? Vertically (so the top of the whole assembly is narrower than the bottom)? Or horizontally? And if horizontally, is the front meant to be wider or narrower than the rear? ---
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/11 "2026-11-04T00:10:31Z")
Any and all help is appreciated Karl Someone replied to your post. > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/45/7302_2.png "slbaumgartner") | [slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner) SketchUp Sage > November 3 | > > - | - | Thanks [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/daver)! I can see what to do but I’m on my phone away from my computer right now, so it will be a while before I can make a model to show how. ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/12 "2026-11-04T16:51:58Z")
If you step through the scenes in the attached model, you will see how I would go about this (except that I put in guides that I might not have used if doing this just for myself because they will help you understand what I did). Scene 1: I drew a 6 1/4" line from the origin along the red axis. Then I used the protractor tool to create guides slanted 1.85 degrees at each end. Next, I drew a guide line 2 3/4" offset from the red axis. Then I traced around the edges and guides using the line tool to create the shape of the bottom of the transom block. Finally, I pushpulled the shape up by 3" and made a component of the resulting block. Scene 2: I drew a red-axis circle of radius 1/4 (I don’t know what actual size you need) down on the red axis away from the block. I pushpulled this circle to a 10" length and made a component of the resulting “cutter”. Then I moved a copy of the cutter up and across so that it passes through the center of the block and projects from both sides. Finally, I used the solid trim tool to cut the hole through the block (I actually used the for-pay BoolTools 2 extension because it preserves components whereas the built-in tool converts them to groups). Scene 3: I hid the cutter so that you can see the borehole now passing through the block. Important points: - Draw the cutter off to the side as I did because the end of the block is not perpendicular to the red axis. If you draw it on the end face, the cutter will be skewed. - This same kind of alignment will be needed when you make the holes through the side pieces after they are rotated to the 1.85 degrees angle of the transom blocks. Otherwise the boreholes won’t be on the same axis! - The ends of the side pieces could also be sloped at 1.85 degrees. If you understood how I did the transom block, you should be able to figure that out. [transom block.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/szQ7WvGr9a3BQBCxhtd9gfgBd3x.skp) (100.3 KB) ---
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/13 "2026-11-04T20:39:38Z")
This is so helpful! I appreciate this so much. How did you hide the cutter exactly? Subtract too? I have been studying the solid tools. Karl Someone replied to your post. > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/45/7302_2.png "slbaumgartner") | [slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner) SketchUp Sage > November 4 | > > - | - | If you step through the scenes in the attached model, you will see how I would go about this (except that I put in guides that I might not have used if doing this just for myself because they will help you understand what I did). Scene 1: I drew a 6 1/4" line from the origin along the red axis. Then I used the protractor tool to create guides slanted 1.85 degrees at each end. Next, I drew a guide line 2 3/4" offset from the red axis. Then I traced around the edges and guides using the line tool to create the shape of the bottom of the transom block. Finally, I pushpulled the shape up by 3" and made a component of the resulting block. Scene 2: I drew a red-axis circle of radius 1/4 (I don’t know what actual size you need) down on the red axis away from the block. I pushpulled this circle to a 10" length and made a component of the resulting “cutter”. Then I moved a copy of the cutter up and across so that it passes through the center of the block and projects from both sides. Finally, I used the solid trim tool to cut the hole through the block (I actually used the for-pay BoolTools 2 extension because it preserves components whereas the built-in tool converts them to groups). Scene 3: I hid the cutter so that you can see the borehole now passing through the block. Important points: - Draw the cutter off to the side as I did because the end of the block is not perpendicular to the red axis. If you draw it on the end face, the cutter will be skewed. - This same kind of alignment will be needed when you make the holes through the side pieces after they are rotated to the 1.85 degrees angle of the transom blocks. Otherwise the boreholes won’t be on the same axis! - The ends of the side pieces could also be sloped at 1.85 degrees. If you understood how I did the transom block, you should be able to figure that out. [transom block.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/nWApDqO1ggmvfWK5HDpiLhoDbSr.skp) (103.7 KB) ---
**Author:** ![slbaumgartner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/32/7302_2.png) [@slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/14 "2026-11-04T21:15:50Z")
I assigned a tag to it and turned that tag’s visibility off. It’s still there, just not visible. ---
**Author:** ![Karl3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Karl3](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Karl3)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/need-help-with-a-naval-cannon-carriage/351235/15 "2026-11-04T22:04:33Z")
Thanks Karl Someone replied to your post. > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/slbaumgartner/45/7302_2.png "slbaumgartner") | [slbaumgartner](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/slbaumgartner) SketchUp Sage > November 4 | > > - | - | I assigned a tag to it and turned that tag’s visibility off. It’s still there, just not visible.