Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction

by Howard Irving Chapelle

Boatbuilding is a practical handbook and boatshop assistant, designed and written to meet the needs of the builder, covering the complete process of wooden boat construction. The text covers all types of craft from flat-bottom rowboats to ocean cruisers and commercial vessels, and aids the builder in overcoming difficulties and discouraging delays resulting from the lack of easily available information on the practical side of boatbuilding. Boatbuilding gives detailed instructions, with many illustrations, on all phases of boatbuilding written out of actual boatbuilding practice and aids the builder in planning each job in its proper sequence in relation to those that follow. After a chapter discussing the choice of plans suitable for amateur work there are chapters on lofting, the backbone and setting up, flat-bottom hull construction, V-bottom hull construction, round-bottom hull construction, deck framing and building, special construction (plywood, strip planking, lap-strake, diagonal, ribband carvel, canvas), heavy construction, joiner-work, iron-work, and spar making. Each chapter is organized for easy and quick reference, and the book is completely indexed. An added feature is the inclusion of building plans for nineteen boats designed for this book and suitable for amateur building. Illustrated throughout

Genres: Technology, Woodwork, Maritime

626 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1994

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in building old school wooden boats, this is one of the definitive books on the subject. My edition was published in 1941, no portable power tools and plywood is that experimental material. Instead of fiberglass there are small boats covered with painted canvas. And good luck finding red lead primer! Well illustrated

When I was a kid we built a small wooden boat, along with ship models, however I think I will donate this. I can't see myself building, sailing and maintaining and old style boat. Still pretty pricey on Amazon!

[Dan Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to build a wooden boat, this is a must read. The book was recommended by Leo Sampson Goolden, who is rebuilding a large wooden boat "Tally Ho". Several of the introductory chapters were excellent, but I ended up skipping a bit when the details weighed me down. Were I actually to build a boat, the details I am sure would be crucial to understand.

[Kim Zinkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bible as far as I'm concerned!

[Robert Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for someone who wants to build a wooden boat.