Boatbuilder's Notebook

by Glen L. Witt This is a book that anyone building or contemplating the construction of a boat should have. It's slanted primarily towards plywood trailerable size boats but much of the information applies to larger craft as well. The text includes valuable information on how a boat is designed, boat types and shapes, plans explanation, and similar subjects to better inform the prospective builder what they will be undertaking. The nitty gritty of boatbuilding is well covered with progressive subjects from the building form, constructing the framework, installing longitudinals, planking the boat (both sheet plywood and cold molded), decking frame and covering, plus details for virtually every phase of what a typical builder will need to do. The general outline covers building boats either sail or power. However, specific information on installing inboard motors, outboard motor wells, and related subjects are also detailed. And of course sailboat construction and information such as rig types, sail nomenclature, spars, rigging, centerboard and rudder construction is also covered; even a Glossary of sailboat terminology. This 138 page book contains hundreds of detailed drawings and charts. The spiral bound text is made to open and stay flat; ideal for laying on the workbench during the boatbuilding project. There are no chapters per se. Instead the subjects are covered individually for better and more concise reference. Here are some of the subjects covered in this book: Hull shapes Abbreviations Definitions Plywood & Wood info Table saw jig Glues and adhesives Building form Cold Molding Dinettes & gauchos Drawers, doors, countertops & windows Fiberglassing Flying bridge & helm Marking the waterline Air cooled motors Inboard shaft angles & layouts Boring the shaft hole Cooling systems Wiring diagrams & instructions Steering Power & person capacity Running lights Sailboat details Human figure sizes i.e. sitting headroom, seat back & arm rest height, seat width, etc.and much, much more... 136 pp., softcover