The Architect's Apprentice: The Story of the Design and Construction of a Wooden Sailboat [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Gary Schwarzman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 1998

After his classic cutter became unfit for ocean sailing, the author decided to follow his dream and have a new custom-designed sailboat built out of wood. The experiences that follow make a story as interesting as any sailing yarn. With clarity, warmth, and humor he shows the beauty of a naval architect's drawings, and then the glue and sawdust as those plans generate the structure of a boat.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This well-organized book will be helpful to anyone considering custom boatbuilding. -- SAIL Magazine, December 1998

About the Author

Gary Schwarzman is a writer and sailing enthusiast

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Sheridan House (August 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574090089
• ISBN-13: 978-1574090086
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,730,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will satisfy boat lovers and anyone who enjoyed HOUSE, September 29, 1998

By 

Betsy Morris - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Architect's Apprentice: The Story of the Design and Construction of a Wooden Sailboat (Hardcover)

THE ARCHITECT'S APPRENTICE is a book about the conception, design, and construction of a dream that became a beautiful wooden sailboat. More than that, however, it is a book about people involved in the process of bringing an idea to reality. Being human, they do not always have the same agenda, and the author skillfully builds a fascinating account of their personalities, interactions, and conflicts. There is not a happy ending for all of them.

Anyone who enjoyed Tracy Kidder's best seller HOUSE, will enjoy this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Practical, pragmatic advice - non-sailors, steer clear, January 2, 2005

By 

the_global_village_idiot (Hanover, ME USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Architect's Apprentice: The Story of the Design and Construction of a Wooden Sailboat (Hardcover)

"Small' non-fiction books can be real literary gems that transcend their subject matter. Jim Paul's "Catapult - Harry and I Build a Siege Weapon" and Mark Kurlansky's "Cod" are good examples of literary non-fiction wherein obscure topics are presented in a way that shows real wit and insight into the human condition. I'll never build a trebuchet or fish commercially, but by God I did enjoy being in those worlds while turning the pages.

The Architect's Apprentice isn't one of those books, which limits its appeal to anyone who doesn't share a passion for sailing. It's a frank, honest discussion of the process of building a custom sailboat, from dream to delivery. Part process guide and part confessional, the book examines every aspect of building a new boat and the pitfalls therein. It clearly details the relationships between owner, designer, and builder, and is unsentimental about the flash points.

It's a fast read and, for sailors, generally a fun one. But it isn't one I'll re-read for the pure joy of it. Rather, it should be considered a good reference for anyone pondering construction of a custom boat. The boat in question here is wood, but the concepts presented should also serve those considering a custom composite or even a customized production boat.

The Architect's Apprentice is good resource. It just isn't art.