I unloaded the shipping crate, then flipped it on its side and it became a 3ft X 9ft work table with storage for long parts underneath. When the time comes and I need a 12 ft table... the lid of the crate becomes the needed length. The "Strong-Back" is from my Cedar Strip Canoe building days. Every canoe built was straight and true... so why not use it to build my floats? I've had the strong-back for over 15 yrs...several buddies have borrowed it, and the "canoe stations" to build a canoe.