Book Name

Boatbuilding for Beginners (And Beyond)

Links to Order

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com

Building Method

Nail and Glue (with a section on Taped-Seam)

Includes plans

Yes half size foldout plans for 6 boats,  Piragua a pirogue, Mayfly 14' sailboat, QT skiff two versions (row, motor) Jonsboat 16' jonboat, Robote 14' Taped Seam Rowboat

Table of Contents

A Brief Overview of Building a Simple Boat
Publisher’s Introduction

Wooden Boat History
Choosing a Design
Materials and Tools

Building Your Boat

The Sailing Bits
Making a Set of Oars
Making Sails
Making a Polytarp Sail
Rigging a Lugsail

Some Other Simple Boats:
Piragua
QT Skiffs
Jonsboat
A Taped-Seam Boat
Robote

Using Your Boat
Rowing
Sailing for Nonsailors: Theory
Sailing for Nonsailors: Doing It
Using a Powerboat
Thoughts About the Weather
Capsize Recovery
Emergency Flotation
Hatches and Vents
Cartopping Boats
Boat Trailers

Appendices

Powerboat Math
Sail Area Math
Joining Plywood Sheets: Butt Straps and Scarfing Methods
Bevels
Resources (Websites, Materials Suppliers, Further Reading)
More Designs

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 Dynamite Payson, Jim Michalak, Thomas Jones Firth and Sam Delvin. (note: I have purchased these books)

This month is the second installment of the book review and we're taking a look at Jim Michalak's “Boatbuilding For Beginners (And Beyond)”. I remember reading a post on one of the newsgroups a while back written by a guy who was upset because his boat plans didn't come with what he considered sufficient instructions. Further more he was convinced that boat designers did this on purpose to create a need for people to buy their books. Mr. Michalak's book disproves this theory by including six complete sets of plans. What the home boat builder needs to be educated on is that plans are much like blueprints for a house, they give sizes and measurements, a scale representation of the finished product, but assumes you have some level of understanding of the skill and techniques needed to complete the project. Thus the need for books and videos on the subject. That said what Jim and other designers include with their plans is still typically enough to build.

This book is organized into three sections, things you should think about before you build a boat, how to build a boat, and what the heck do I need to know once it's built. The latter is something many forget to think about.

The book leads with a history lesson with references to Native American, early Egyptian, Viking, Roman, Greek contributions to boat building. The author discussed early designs and their influence on modern building. It's just enough to give a frame of reference but not so long to bore those just wanting to get the building part. The most valuable chapter of the first part is on choosing a design. This is must reading to make sure you are selecting the right design for the right reasons. Finally the obligatory section on tools and materials which is always a source of constant debate amongst pros and amateurs alike. Jim gives his thoughts on the subject.

Part two contains a detailed explanation on how to build a boat using the nail and glue technique. In addition a few pages are dedicated to taped seam construction as a variation. Also presented are recommendations for sail making (which Jim also includes with many of his plans) and how to make oars. Then what follows are complete plans for building six different boats. A few books include plans that are reduced to fit on the page of the book which often leads to very small writing making them hard to read. While Jim's book has these (and his book is larger then most about 9” x 12” it also has fold out plans in the back which are about 11” x 18” allowing them to be more easily read.

The third section includes things to think and plan for once your boat is built. Don't let this section overwhelm you into not building a boat, but rather let it help you be a better all around boater. It has a primer on sailing which is good even if you already know how to sail. Good advice is provided on how to transport your boat either by trailer or cartop. I wish I had this information prior to trailering a boat for the first time (a Com-Pac 16 from Detroit to Pittsburgh). Safety is important in boating and the author give exposure to flotation, capsize recovery and hatch and vents, a neat few pages about weather considerations. This set of chapters is great information for any boater.

Sprinkled throughout the book are numerous tips and suggestions that are beyond the basic building. These include how to make a weighted rudder, options for rudder attachment, sailmaking and more. The book wraps up with a set of references which includes some math on power boating and sailing. Joining plywood panels using scarfs and butt joints. Bevels for bulkhead (inside vs outside) and a extensive list of the authors designs. A list of additional books, websites and material sources concludes the book.

Overall this is a great book for the boatbuilder as well as the boater. I've read many boatbuilding books and this is the only one with foldout plans that I have seen. The only bit that seems missing is an index. I was trying to find some specific information and I went to the back, no index. That should not stop one from buying this book.