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Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction
 
 
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Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction [Hardcover]

Howard Irving Chapelle (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

List Price: $39.95
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Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction + Boatbuilding Manual + Details of Classic Boat Construction: The Hull
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 624 pages
  • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (April 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0393035549
  • ISBN-13: 978-0393035544
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #188,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #26 in  Books > Nonfiction > Transportation > Ships > Boat Building

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Howard Irving Chapelle
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction
58% buy the item featured on this page:
Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction 4.2 out of 5 stars (14)
$34.15
Building Small Boats
13% buy
Building Small Boats 4.6 out of 5 stars (17)
$26.37
Boatbuilding Manual
12% buy
Boatbuilding Manual 4.5 out of 5 stars (6)
$25.05
Building Classic Small Craft : Complete Plans and Instructions for 47 Boats
9% buy
Building Classic Small Craft : Complete Plans and Instructions for 47 Boats 4.3 out of 5 stars (15)
$21.75

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The reference on wooden boatbuilding, May 7, 2002
This review is from: Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction (Hardcover)
Pure and simple.

I'm a professional, doing repairs on wooden workboats and I do refer to it whenever I'm stumped. Not the easiest read, not completely user-friendly.....well, I'll let you in on a little secret; neither is boatbuilding.

Some have whinged about the terms, some have groused about the old-style construction methods. Well, there are certain terms that are used for certain things and you are not knowledgeable unless you can use and understand them. Learning them is part of learning the trade. Study!

Tremendous detail, wide variety of different methods covered. Chapelle was a NA/ME and a skilled designer in his own right and it too shows. Highly recommended.

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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of wooden boat building., October 13, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction (Hardcover)
A classic in every sense of the word. Howard I. Chapelle covers nearly every aspect of the design and construction of small, traditional, wooden craft. There is much insight to be gained, and the illustrations and plans included are priceless bits of our marine heritage. Worth a read, even if you don't plan on building a boat yourself.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A true classic - just not a beginner's how-to book, September 17, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Boatbuilding: A Complete Handbook of Wooden Boat Construction (Hardcover)
As the editorial review from Book News clearly states, this is a reprint of a book from 1941. As such it is not written or illustrated like a modern how-to book. It is, however, packed with information about traditional methods of boat construction. There are certainly more appropriate choices for a first book on boatbuilding, or for someone who wants step-by-step guidance to building a particular design, but this book is is a classic that belongs in the library of anyone with a strong interest in the craft.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
This is a great book full of detail on how to build a boat for the novice. describes everything from reading boat building plans through the finishing touches.
Published 25 days ago by deerelk4x4

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the three most thumbed books in my boatbuilding library
When I used to find myself stumped, I'd go to Chapelles book first to get an overview of the subject. Read more
Published 2 months ago by offshore

5.0 out of 5 stars The Trusted Foundation & Classic
I bought and read this book first, then bought and read most of the boatbuilding books on the current market over the last five years. Read more
Published on April 20, 2008 by Robert C. Mitchell

5.0 out of 5 stars simply great
this one is simple. if you work or are interested in old school wood boats,,then you must have this book on your shelf.

thats it

~R~
Published on August 30, 2006 by Roystr

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't let my three star rating turn you away from this book.
Don't let my three star rating turn you away from this book. It is well written, complete in every sense of the word and well illustrated. Read more
Published on May 8, 2005 by Robert S. Vannrox

5.0 out of 5 stars What About the Designs?
I agree with the other (positive) reviewers--not an easy read, but well worth the investment in time. My favorite part of the book, though, has not been mentioned. Mr. Read more
Published on September 10, 2002 by Rick B.

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic book for those interested in tratidition
This is a classic book for those interested in traditional boatbuilding techniques and old-fashioned robust design. Read more
Published on November 2, 2001 by Ragnar Thor Mikkelsen

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic book for those interested in tratidition
This is a classic book for those interested in traditional boatbuilding techniques and old-fashioned robust design. Read more
Published on November 2, 2001 by Ragnar Thor Mikkelsen

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Boat Construction
A classic work from a legendary author. Provides background and instruction in boat building [in 1941]. Read more
Published on November 29, 2000 by Davis Eichelberger

1.0 out of 5 stars Boatbuilding By Chapelle---Confusion for a Newbie
I think this book has a place in a complete boatbuilding library but, as a beginner, it uses terms that are unknown to most newbies. Read more
Published on August 13, 2000 by Chris Freeland

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