Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-7 of 7 | | « PREV | | |
 Great book for sailors and builders and want-to-be-eithers October 20, 2007
This book does two things for me, and perhaps for you too. First, it fills a function by standing alongside other "build your own boat" books, and especially canoe books; Bradshaw, Payson, and Dierking, all writers of build-your-boat books accessible to amateurs, each filling a niche, and each forming the core of the essential library for a variety of different types of people attracted to the water (and who can say it better than Melville's Ishmael on page one of "Moby Dick"?). The book in particular is a strong contribution to the do-it-yourself movement, a vital movement in a world of a lot of vague "movements." Here is one you can out your hands on, or rather wrap your hands around -- a tool, a sheet, a piece of wood that will be starting its second life. Doable, affordable adventure is possible for the common person -- this is necessary, so start now -- and can well start on the top of your garage work bench. The second thing this book does is solve a lot of problems. I'm no old salt, I just built a couple of outrigger canoes on my own with no guidance. And, I find that most of my major errors could have been avoided with this straight-forward, complete, and occasionally witty book. --wt
Good value for the money. September 6, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Once in a while I come across a piece of gem. This book is one of them.
First, my background... I am a sailor. I have owned a wooden catamaran for about 15 years. I have learned working with wood and epoxy while maintaining my boat. Early in my life, I have received formal training on engineering and on how to read blueprints.
This book offers three very attractive plans for outrigger canoes and describes how to build and sail them. These plans offer a lot of flexibility.
It was clearly written by a very experienced builder who happens to know how to write well. It has all the information that I need to build any of these boats. The explanation looked very clear to me but required that I study the plans.
Yet, I have found this book really entertaining. It is feeding my dreams. I can just imagine myself going down the St-Lawrence in my wa`apa hmmm ... :)
If you want to build and sail an outrigger canoe, or if you just want to dream about it, then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Gary.
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