This Old Boat [Hardcover]

Don Casey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1991

Selecting and "doing right by" an older production fiberglass boat: fiberglassing, rewiring, cabinetwork, re-rigging, engine work. Loads of clear, useful illustrations and a text that bolsters confidence in the weekend boatwright.

Editorial Reviews

Review

``An outstanding guide for restoring an older boat; chock-full of information, insights and common sense explanations of the things we all need to know.'' (American Sailor )

``Great for the handy person who has just acquired a boat that needs TLC.'' (Bay & Delta Yachtsman )

``Casey's intelligent, practical advice covers just about everything, and his style is just what the doctor ordered for anyone daft enough to want to fix up an old boat.'' (Southern Boating ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Don Casey credits the around-the-world voyage of Robin Lee Graham, featured in National Geographic in the late sixties, with opening his eyes to the world beyond the shoreline. After graduating from the University of Texas he moved to south Florida, where he began to spend virtually all his leisure time messing about in boats.

In 1983 he abandoned a career in banking to devote more time to cruising and writing. His work combining these two passions soon began to appear in many popular sailing and boating magazines. In 1986 he co-authored Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach, an immediate best-seller, and the book responsible for pushing many would-be cruisers over the horizon.

Today Mr. Casey and his wife, Olga, often cruise aboard their own Old Boat--a 22-year-old, much-modified Allied Seawind. They've done all the work themselves, with no adult supervision. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: International Marine Publishing; 1st edition (May 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877422621
• ISBN-13: 978-0877422624
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #591,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Professional & Technical > Transportation > Ships > Boat Building

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish there were 10 stars! It should be on everyones shelf., February 4, 2001

By 

"_j_p_w_" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Old Boat (Hardcover)

I don't know where to begin thanking Casey and recommending him at the same time. A feeble attempt follows:

This is the MOST valuable of my 80 or 90 boatbuilding books, hands-down. It doesn't matter what construction material you are using, or what your level of expertise. At the very least, it is a fun, witty, and motivating book. Even if you come out of it with no more knowledge than when you started (I guarantee that will not happen), it will give you the necessary wisdom and motivation to stay the course. It was the first 'boat building' book I ever purchased, and it alone motivated me to stop dreaming about a boat, and to start building/rebuilding one. And it was to this book I turned whenever a project was frustrating (this is almost daily, for the uninitiated--and he explains this, too). It was also the book I used as a primary reference, and it served me very well in the rebuilding of two medium-sized boats. It has since served me equally well in the building of boats from plans, though you will need more than he offers for this (that does not mean instead of this, but in addition to his book, another will be necessary).

Whether you are going to build a boat from scratch, or you are going to refurbish an older boat (he makes a hard sell), this book MUST be read. If you have only one book on your shelf pertaining to the construction/reconstruction/maintenance, this should be it. You will never forget it, and you will recommend it to others as strongly as I am to you. Your boat will feel naked without it.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ESSENTIAL READING FOR BOATOWNERS--Index & Back Cover listed, November 9, 2000

By 

Conrad B. Senior (Easton, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This Old Boat (Hardcover)

I think I have over a hundred books on sailing and boating.
"This Old Boat" is my most recent addition, which I bought
simultaneously with another of Casey's books "Sailboat Hull and
Deck Repair". I consider them to be two of the most important
books for sailors that are boat owners.

One can take two routes with
boats, buying new and paying a fortune, or going the inexpensive route
and doing the work yourself. There is something to be said for each.
I'm a sailor, I don't like working on boats. I had my fill as a child
working on my Dad's boat. Nevertheless, I'm presently engaged in
refitting an awesome older boat to modern standards. I love every bit
of it.

Casey's books are essential references for me. I've managed
to pick things up from magazines and working on other boats over the
years, but I still found these books not only insightful and powerful
motivators for me. One job that I have been reluctant to do, a deck
modification project has suddenly become do-able for me. Reading his
book made it clear to me that these jobs are not as hard as they first
seem to be. It is difficult to cut up a nice looking deck, but if you
plan the project right, you can transform your deck layout for
single-handed sailing, fix a de-lamination problem and a multitude of
deck leaks all at one time.

I strongly recommend this book and his
Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair.

Buy these books. Map out a strategy
and then focus on one project at a time. Good luck and smooth
sailing.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Attitude, Great Information, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: This Old Boat (Hardcover)

I wanted to give this a 5 star rating, but it's not one of my few bibles I always refer to. It definitely is a 4-1/2 star in my opinion. This is a well written detailed book that goes through virtually everything in buying, refitting and maintaning a used boat. The aspect I like best is the encouraging style that yes you can do it. In each section he recommends starting off with this or that simple project to build up confidence and expierence before starting on the really hard projects. Like paint the inside of lockers before painting the exterior hull. Casey also makes good recommendations on materials, procedures, preparation, execution etc. All geared to the none-pro. ME. Well written, informative, easy to understand, written to the regular guy. OK I guess I give this 4-3/4 star. Buy it. Would I buy again. Definitely.