Customer Reviews

Boat Building in Your Own Backyard

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First copyrighted in 1947, this 53-year-old book is still a prize. Oh, there are new building methods it doesn't cover: you won't find fiberglass moulding or layup discussed, for example, or ferro-cement, or carbon fiber.

But, you will find out how to steam-bend frames, lay down lines, and you'll be reminded not to forget the forgotten limber holes.

This is "old fashioned" boatbuilding--how to build wooden boats. It tells you what wood to choose for each purpose, and what fasteners to use, and best of all, it provides several excellent plans from which you can build your dream boat.

It takes a lot of patience to build a boat right. It can takes months, even years of dedication. It is a big investment, not only in money, but in time and labor. But, it is something you can learn to do, and in the end, you will sail the boat you, yourself, built. No other feeling I know of can match that pride. I did it. I built the 'Wild Goose,' and sailed her on the ocean with my family.

I built one of Rabl's designs, also.

I took his plans for the Picaroon--the round bilged version--and built a model of her at one inch to the foot scale. I built every frame exactly the way I would have in actual size, and I planked her one plank at a time, carvel planked. I built each detail, scaled down from the original. I even made a keel mould, in sand, melted some wheel weight lead, and poured the keel, which I then fastened to her keelson with miniature keel bolts.

Then, when the hull was finished, I covered her in thin fiberglass (not called for in the plans), which I then sanded and polished. She is rigged with mast hoops instead of a sail slide, and is a gaff-rigged sloop.

I made a pin-rail, and rigged her like the full-sized boat. The hatches work. There are two bunks inside the cabin, and--an oaken bucket for a head.

I have sailed her on a small, quiet lake. She sails beautifully. An 18" model of the Picaroon II, which I have named "Chuckle."

Joseph Pierre,
Author of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: Our Journey Through Eternity

Rabl is a recognized authority on marine construction. This book makes the whole idea of boat building simple to understand. Learn how to read boat plans, loft, and build from cheap but sturdy material. This classic manual should be in every amateur boat builder's library.