Book Name

Fix It and Sail

Link

http://www.sailingsmall.com

Building Method

Restoration

Includes plans

N/A

Table of Contents

(Link to full TOC)

Preface

1. Why Restore a Small Boat?
     Economic, Practical Considerations, and Having It Your Way

2. Resources and Choices for the Small Boat Sailor: Books, Websites, Magazines, and a Look
    at a few boats.

3. Getting Ready: Safety, Tooling, and Setting Up Shop

4. Getting Started: Restoration Strategies, Cleaning, and More

5. Boat Joinery and Woodworking: Materials, Techniques, and Procedures

6. Marine Metalwork: Cost-Effective Solutions for the Small Sailboat

7. Canvaswork and Upholstery: Sewing Basics for Small Boats

8. The Rig: Inspection, Repair, and Replacement

9. Outboard Motors: Cost Effective Power Plant

10. Sea Trials and Commissioning: Finishing It All Up

Appendixes:
   A Replacement Rudder
   Making Oars
   Trailer Restoration
   Cost to Restore a 1972 MacGregor Venture 222
   Restoration Log
   A Boat Restoration Photo Album
   Restoration Resources

Buildboats.com Review

Those of you who follow the site regularly know there has been a series of plan reviews that I have done. Typically the designer provides those plans for review and I've had a bit of a slowing in designers providing plans so I decided it's time for a series of boat building book reviews. I'll be reviewing books by Harold Dynamite Payson, Jim Michalak, Thomas Jones Firth and Sam Delvin. (note: I have purchased these books)

The book reviews to date have all been boat building books, this book is a sailboat restoration book.  The author, Brian Gilbert, chronicles the restoration of a MacGregor Venture 222 he acquired for $500.   The boat had be "stored" out in the woods and provided a tremendous opportunity for restoration.  As can be seen in the table of contents the Author covers a wide range of topics.  His treatment of these topics provide an entertaining combination of technical information and his personal challenges, this keeps the book from being a stale technical manual.  He addresses the topics that would likely need to be tackled during a boat restoration project.

I would highly recommend this book to the novice or experienced boat owner, let's face it every boat that is not brand new is a restoration project in some manner.  Most importantly Mr. Gilbert covers safety aspects of working on a small sailboat.  I remember when I brought home my first trailer sailor, I parked in the driveway, then parked my car.  Anxious to start taking inventory I attempted to climb aboard and next thing I new the trailer was pointing skyward, had I read this book I would have had a much safer start.  Also covered are topics that any boat owner will at some point need to address including painting inside and out, bedding of hardware, leaks and electrical systems.

I also enjoyed the authors approach to tools across all the topics, he gives sound advice on where to invest in high quality tools, and when more disposable types can be used.   Additionally what's the right tool for the job and which is not, clearly supported by his practical experience. 

I enjoyed the chapters on canvaswork, metalwork and sail; rig. These are topics that I had not run across in other boat building books.  This chapters provide both techniques for restoration and ideas for improvements which are valuable for any boat.

In summary I liked this book very much, it absolutely gives sufficient information to take on a restoration project. It gives the reader a plan to attack such a project in a safe manner.   In every chapter the author provides sources for additional resources as a book that covers this many topics may not get to every little detail on all topics.  That said this is the book I would want at my side as a boat owner / restorer.