Customer Reviews

From A Bare Hull: How To Build A Sailboat

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great book. Ferenc Mate has a very enaging style of writing, and he weaves nuts and bolts information and construction techniques into an excellent reference book. He has strong opinions on most matters, and lets the reader know why he believes things should be done a certain way. I found the book very useful not only for boatbuilding reference, but also as a guide to good construction techniques for existing boats. I have learned how to look at a boat's construction with a critical eye-- How would Ferenc Mate have built that? If you are considering building a boat, get this book first.

I had high expectations when I ordered this book (partly because of the other positive reviews) but was thoroughly disappointed.

To start with, the book was written in the early 80's and much of the technical details are outdated and quoted prices unfortunately rather unrealistic. Measurements are only imperial and not metric.

The structure leaves much to be desired. He starts with a chapter on reinforcing hulls and then moves on to hull selection criteria. There is nothing on fiberglass and epoxy production itself, it is assumed that those parts are purchased ready to be used. There is nothing whatsoever on hull production. Mr Mate endorses internal lead keels (cough) but suggest to purchase the keel rather than DIY.

Throughout the whole book are suggested solutions to remedy problems related to heeling yet the one solution that addresses all of them (a multihull!) is done away with as unsafe! I fail to see how a mono that can sink within minutes is safer.

Then there are suggestions like "lower the saw blade on a table saw to prevent injury while sitting on it"!!! Sure, he should've added to switch off a hydraulic press before taking a nap inside of it. He also recommends to deliberately damage plywood and then haggle down the price.

Also rather annoying is his permanent use of the same phrase, testament to his rather poor writing skills. I am half way through this book now and have to push myself to pick it up again. What a waste of money!!!

This is really a GREAT book. I bought in Sydney as I found the layout interesting with several graphs and numerous details. After reading it, I can only recommend it. It is a mine of information which will never be outdated. It will serve both the experienced and less experienced sailors. The text is clear, well written and I look it up all the time as the extra tool in rebuilding my boat. I am picky but this one came far above my expectations. Thank you.

This book makes friends of the reader and admirers out of them for the author and his skills. Based on the concept of guiding any would-be boat builder through the stages of fitting out a (new) bare hull, the book covers every needed skill in helpful detail. Containing many photographs, particularly of gorgeous French yachts, that excite and encourage attention, Mate insist that readers can achieve perfection in the task.

I agree it is an almost indispensable book for anybody building a boat. I cannot rate it with 5 stars only because of the many (however silly and inconsequential) mistakes which plague my "Revised Edition": Something is said to be "200% under the list price" (214); the advice to drain the head sink into the head (page 278) is challenged by the drawing in page 289. The use of asbestos is recommended without a warning (219); it is suggested to deliberately damage the plywood pile so the stuff could be bought later much cheaper! (212); in 224 the author does not realize that he does not need to make a water level with 70 feet of costly transparent tubing (only the extremes should be transparent); it is said that you will have no waste if you cut the ribs with 45 degree angled sides (page 55) while in fact that is valid for any angle, as they are supplementary of each other; a very simple method -2 sticks and a pencil- to draw the deck's crown is ignored; in 326 the drilling of the lowest hole is advised in order to properly align a tang (any hole will do, as long as it is only one). There are a several references to non- existing drawings or photos (one to a non existing section (362)), while a couple of identical pictures is repeated in different chapters. The name of a chapter is misquoted somewhere else. Figures should be numbered, anyway. (As I said, my copy is what Albatross Publishing calls a "Revised Edition"; I wonder about what the UnRevised would be...) All in all, however, the book displays a lot of humor and includes lots of good advice. I would complement it with Michael Naujok's on boat interior woodworking -great color photos- and of course with Nigel Calder's Boatowners Manual, but Mate's is VERY useful as it is.

I would suggest this book for anyone who want to understand the structural elements of a sailboat.