Book Name

Instant Boatbuilding

Links to Order

http://www.instantboats.com/

Building Method

Stitch & Glue – Tack & Tape

Includes plans

Yes for 15 boats,  a pirogue, cartopper (sail, row) Sweet Pea (Double ender – Peapod), 3 dinghies, 2 row boats, 5 motorboats and 2 sailboats

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
   Plywood Boats
   About this Book

Part one : INSTANT BOAT BASICS
   Chapter 1:  Questions, Answers, and Figuring Things Out
   Chapter 2: Materials for Instant Boatbuilding
   Chapter 3: Tools
   Chapter 4: Boat Plans and Building Procedures

Part Two : INSTANT BOATS STEP BY STEP
   Chapter 5: Building Boat Models
   Chapter 6: Payson’s Pirogue (13’ 0”)
   Chapter 7: Cartopper (11’ 6”)
   Chapter 8: Sweet Pea (15’ 0”)

Part Three: MORE BOATS TO BUILD

DINGHIES
   Chapter 9 : Ruben’s Nymph (7’ 9”)
   Chapter 10: Big Tortoise (8’ 0”)
   Chapter 11: Auray Punt (9’ 9”)

ROWBOATS
   Chapter 12: Fisherman’s Skiff (12’ 0”)
   Chapter 13: Stretched Dory (19’ 6”)

MOTORBOATS
   Chapter 14: Sea Hawk (15’ 6”)
   Chapter 15: Diablo Grande (18” 0”)
   Chapter 16: 18’ Clamskiff
   Chapter 17: 15’ 6” Clamskiff
   Chapter 18 Sneakeasy (26’ 6”)

SAILBOATS
   Chapter 19: Catfish (15’ 1 ½”)
   Chapter 20: Chebacco (19’ 8”)

APPURTENANCES
   Chapter 21: Building Oars
   Chapter 22: Moorings

APPENDIX: RESOURCES
GLOSSARY
INDEX  

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 boatbuilding book reviews. I'll be reviewing books by Harold Dyamite Payson, Jim Michalak, Thomas Jones Firth and Sam Delvin. (note: I have purchased these books)

The average home boatbuilder has a tendancy to be on the frugal side, but sometimes we skimp on silly things, like good plans, books and glues. Sometimes we also forget that plans are called plans and not called “instruction manuals” for a reason. While the building instructions that come with plans vary by designer, a good book on the building method used to build a certin boat design can be of great assistance, and keep us from making silly mistakes. (ok we will make them anyways but it might help avert one or two).

I like books for two reasons, first I can always learn more about boatbuilding and second I like books that come with plans (see frugal ). Dyamite Payson's Instant Boatbuilding fills the bill on both counts. The “instant” boatbuilding method refers to both stitch and glue, and tack and tape, this volume has great focus on the former.

The first section of the book covers the tools, materials and methods for this type of building. It serves a good primer on the woods and glues and other bits on needs to understand to get started. Two topics that always generate tons of discussion epoxy vs fiberglass resin, and plywood are give attention in the early part of the book. Payson also includes some funny and interesting stories along the way which keeps the reading fresh.

Part two is where the building action starts. A chapter devoted to building scale models as a means to learning the craft is followed by three chapters which goes through the building of a pirogue (canoe like craft), Cartopper a row/sail craft and a multi chine Peapod. The chapters give a through discussion of the building along with plenty of pictures which add clarity to the instructions. Many updated tips and tricks are also included with this recently written book.

The next 12 chapters present plans for 12 more boats with limited instructions as the general technique has already been presented in earlier chapters. The 15 plans are with the price of the book alone. For experienced builders these reduced size plans would likely be sufficient to build the boats, but full size plans would be earsier and more clear to work from and are available on the authors website www.instantboats.com .

A section which provides the procedure for building oars is provided and the book finishes with chapters on moorings, ways of keeping ones boat in the water. This is good reading and import knowledge for boaters.

I really enjoyed Mr. Payson's book and if you are going to have only one book on this building method this would be a good one to have. His Instant Boats, and The New Instant Boats come in a close second) I purchased my copy at Barnes and Noble, I know it is also available at www.amazon.com and on the author's website.