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Sloop: Restoring My Family's Wooden Sailboat--An Adventure in Old-Fashioned Values
When Daniel Robb set out to rebuild a family sailboat that had been deteriorating for years, he couldn't have anticipated what he was getting into.
When Daniel Robb set out to rebuild a family sailboat that had been deteriorating for years, he couldn't have anticipated what he was getting into. Although Robb was a skilled carpenter, boatbuilding (and boat repair) required a specialized set of skills. And this wasn't just any boat; it was a Herreshoff 12 1/2, a classic wooden sailboat. Built especially for the coastal waters of New England, this little sloop had sailed for years out of the author's boyhood home in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, before being relegated to a quiet corner of a yard, no longer the focus of the family's summer. Restoring the sailboat was both an act of respect and an homage to a place and a way of life that are in jeopardy of disappearing.
Sloop is the captivating story of Daniel Robb's education in boatbuilding, peopled by an eccentric cast of characters—lumbermen, boatbuilders, and local artisans—who are part of a changing and perhaps dying world. They tell Robb how to find the materials—certain kinds of wood, fastenings, caulking, and canvas—he'll need, which are increasingly hard to come by, and they educate him in the techniques of restoration, an all-but-lost art. Building and restoring wooden boats means an initiation into a world where life is lived simply, with respect for materials, for labor, and for the local waters.
A craftsman and environmentalist, Robb is a willing and able student, and although the restoration of the boat takes far more time and effort than he'd calculated, it is ultimately successful. After all Robb's struggles with quartersawn white oak, homemade steam boxes, bronze screws, copper rivets, andold mast hoops, the Herreshoff sails again—and a dying art and a vanishing way of life remain alive and vibrant just a while longer.
By turns charming, meditative, and wonderfully quirky, Sloop is a paean to a sense of place and to old-fashioned values.
When Daniel Robb set out to rebuild a family sailboat that had been deteriorating for years, he couldn't have anticipated what he was getting into. Although Robb was a skilled carpenter, boatbuilding (and boat repair) required a specialized set of skills. And this wasn't just any boat; it was a Herreshoff 12 1/2, a classic wooden sailboat. Built especially for the coastal waters of New England, this little sloop had sailed for years out of the author's boyhood home in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, before being relegated to a quiet corner of a yard, no longer the focus of the family's summer. Restoring the sailboat was both an act of respect and an homage to a place and a way of life that are in jeopardy of disappearing.
Sloop is the captivating story of Daniel Robb's education in boatbuilding, peopled by an eccentric cast of characters—lumbermen, boatbuilders, and local artisans—who are part of a changing and perhaps dying world. They tell Robb how to find the materials—certain kinds of wood, fastenings, caulking, and canvas—he'll need, which are increasingly hard to come by, and they educate him in the techniques of restoration, an all-but-lost art. Building and restoring wooden boats means an initiation into a world where life is lived simply, with respect for materials, for labor, and for the local waters.
A craftsman and environmentalist, Robb is a willing and able student, and although the restoration of the boat takes far more time and effort than he'd calculated, it is ultimately successful. After all Robb's struggles with quartersawn white oak, homemade steam boxes, bronze screws, copper rivets, andold mast hoops, the Herreshoff sails again—and a dying art and a vanishing way of life remain alive and vibrant just a while longer.
By turns charming, meditative, and wonderfully quirky, Sloop is a paean to a sense of place and to old-fashioned values.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 2008
4 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 29, 2010
One of the most condescending, smug, and disingenuous books I have ever encountered. Awful, awful, awful. I'd take away stars from this rating and bestow them upon myriad other works before ever offering even a zero-star rating to this. Daniel Robb manages to out smug cloud George Clooney's 2006 Academy Award acceptance speech. But, of course, Robb has a few more pages of material to work with than Clooney did.
I'm still not sure why Robb felt it necessary to inform us that the little cafe he visits for coffee and cliché doses of wisdom serves "shade-grown coffees (promoting triple-canopy ecosystems, birdlife, and general ecological health), and whole-grain pastries." I still am not sure (since there is no reference to such a thing outside of Robb's own description) what "triple-canopy ecosystems" are. Something that induces clouds of smugness to waft over cups of coffee in Wood's Hole, Massachusetts, I suppose.
Having your tonsils removed with a rusty spork should be given equal consideration upon any suggestion to read this.
I'm still not sure why Robb felt it necessary to inform us that the little cafe he visits for coffee and cliché doses of wisdom serves "shade-grown coffees (promoting triple-canopy ecosystems, birdlife, and general ecological health), and whole-grain pastries." I still am not sure (since there is no reference to such a thing outside of Robb's own description) what "triple-canopy ecosystems" are. Something that induces clouds of smugness to waft over cups of coffee in Wood's Hole, Massachusetts, I suppose.
Having your tonsils removed with a rusty spork should be given equal consideration upon any suggestion to read this.
December 18, 2011
I like sailboats, heritage, and building things, so this book is satisfying for all those reasons. Found myself wanting to understand the author better than he felt comfortable revealing in this autobiography. Book also disjointed-as if he did not have enough overall material to inlcude about the boat rebuilding itself and strayed to other topics as filler.
June 14, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-e36-f...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-e36...
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-legen...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-leg...
https://theboatyacht.com/hunter-e36-f...
https://numberoneboats.com/hunter-e36...
April 9, 2019
Daniel Robb is a very engaging writer and interesting guy. If you are interested in the craft of small wooden sailboats, the craft of writing stories, or both, read this book. He also does a great job of weaving in the history of coastal Massachusetts.
August 15, 2019
Agree with the other reviews-- smug writer over fantasizing the restoration of a 12ft boat. As someone who's had a 1969 29ft Bristol Hershoff design that was meticulously maintained, I can't help but feel that most non-enthusiasts will be duped by the author's claimed feat.
December 10, 2010
Like so many others of its ilk--autobiopic testimonials (yeah, I'm talking to you "Merle's Door")--"Sloop" sucks. Robb wants us to suffer through each plank he removes and each nail he sinks as though he was building the Great Pyramids. What's more, through his half-baked philosophical ramblings and romanticized accounts of people I know to be plain old Cape Codders, "not going too far, but not doing nothing either" the reader emerges with some hazy notion that restoring old stuff is some sort of religious experience. I'm a big wooden boat fan (built them, sailed them, made a living on them) and a big advocate of being connected with the material things around you, but there's no need to make it out to be more than it is--being momentarily grounded in an untethered world.
Its the simplest, most prosaic prose. There's not one good one-liner in the whole damn book. Its as if Robb just wanted to hang out alone in his cottage in Falmouth all winter and scribbled down and dramatized his every thought so he could pay the bills. His impotent, underhanded jabs at suburbanization are tiresome as well.
If you want to read something that attains the goal this book only flails at pathetically then read Matthew Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft". Motorcycles don't do it for me like an old boat does, but that's beside the point.
Its the simplest, most prosaic prose. There's not one good one-liner in the whole damn book. Its as if Robb just wanted to hang out alone in his cottage in Falmouth all winter and scribbled down and dramatized his every thought so he could pay the bills. His impotent, underhanded jabs at suburbanization are tiresome as well.
If you want to read something that attains the goal this book only flails at pathetically then read Matthew Crawford's "Shop Class as Soulcraft". Motorcycles don't do it for me like an old boat does, but that's beside the point.
September 20, 2010
A quick read. Invoking Melleville, Thoreau and Sloacum, Robb invests his manual labor with literary significance. part commentary on small town New England in conflict with suburbanization and part praise for the simple things. Robb claims Thoreau's goal of learning the worth of something by measuring the work that goes into acquiring it. The work is suffused with respect for craftsmen and good design. As a sailor, I'm awed by his talk of sailing a 16 foot boat in 25 knot winds and sleeping out at night on a boat without a cabin. Maybe his boat is just better designed than mine. Highly recommended.
November 17, 2012
This book is as hard to finish as the author had writing it or refinishing the sloop. The book gets lost in my house, I dream about it look for it can not remember what he was talking about. By the time I pick it up again he is talking about all sorts of other stuff. To me it seems more of a book about how spoiled a signed artist can get. And as the employee of an overly confident cottage designer builder of boats I will tell you there is GREAT problems with letting your ego go that far to the self centered end.
May 7, 2009
sloop is tedious in parts, and unfortunately the best parts are when he isn't writing about boat building. there is a secondary love story, that of his relationship to the landscape of cape cod, that is compelling, and a couple of boatbuilders who charm more than he does. it's just another boat book, though, and it won't scratch the travel itch either. if you want to hear about tools, however, this is a good one for you.
October 12, 2012
Having recently read, and enjoyed Robb's 'Crossing the Water', and having an affinity for restoring old boats, I anxiously dove into 'Sloop'. Expecting a quick cruise through the book, my sails luffed as I found the chapters swelling without crescendo. I felt the book wandered and lacked a solid course.
September 13, 2013
I love this book. His work, his outlook, his life, his writing style, his boat building friends, the location - I enjoyed every bit of it. He avoids being self indulgent and keeps the focus on the boat - except when he doesn't, when he drifts into vignettes about life where he lives and the people he meets. What a great read.
September 6, 2010
I am obsessed with the subject, but this was Lunesta in ink. The journal format was pretty weak. It took months to finish and a big library fine because I could only read in 10 page increments before my head would hit the table.
August 3, 2011
If you are just learning to sail, like I am, this book is great. It is more story than text book, which keeps it interesting. But it is full of sailing terminology and includes a glossary, so my sailing vocabulary grew by leaps and bounds.
October 4, 2012
Decent story, but way too much jargon. Unless you're a sailor and small boat builder, you're not going to understand all the terms. There is a glossary, but I found a lot missing. More photos and diagrams would have been very helpful.
August 20, 2008
Of course I am reading this.
July 30, 2009
very interesting. Makes you want to go outside and build something, damnnit.
July 6, 2010
Probably better if you understand ship building terminology, far too technical for me
July 2, 2013
Was hoping to enjoy this tale of a man restoring his family's [great] old Herreshoff 12 1/2. But what a lot of ego and [often smug] self-centered philosophizing.
September 18, 2015
Good read. Thoughtful. Technically correct. Not for the shallow reader.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews