Build Your Own Boat - Completing a bare hull

Publisher: Seafarer Books, 1996

First published in hardback in 1982, this reprint is still valuable for anyone completing a hull in GRP, wood ferro or steel. Easy to read, chapters cover topics in the sequence likely to be encountered.

Starting with the delivery, the setting up of the hull is clearly explained. Making moulds for a boat or for parts (eg hatches) together with methods of working with resin and glass fibre and necessary tools leads on to the fitting of floors, keels, moulded deck and it's finishing, containing much informatioin that could be useful in maintaining older boats. The stiffening of the hull, fixing bulkheads and floors, emphasising the importance of avoiding hard spots by spreading any load comes next. The interior linings and avoidance of condensation, then decoration and furniture together with fitting windows and ports are discussed with useful individual detailed figures. Exterior fittings, rudder and tiller, hatches, doors and their finish form another group.

The engine installation is well covered and there is much wisdom in the chapters on plumbing, pumps, the galley and W.C. Final chapters deal with winches, lifelines, spars, rigging and sails. With its good index, the relatively "old" text, not updated in this paperback, is still a mine of practical information, useful guidelines and rules of thumb, with excellent annotated diagrams. It should increase the enjoyment and reduce the problems for anyone considering home building. - NASM

Page prepared 14 June 1999