Boating Books

Sailboat Electrics Simplified
This is a very good book. I recently bought a small trailer sailor which I wanted to add a stereo to and a new 4 channel distribution panel. The book explained everything in an easy to understand manner from testing and trouble shooting, to theory , wire sizes necessary, and battery selection and maintainance. Even installing solar and wind charging systems. I am glad I got this book.

As usual Don Casey has taken a cryptic topic for many of us and opened up it up into a very clear and easily understood system. Reading what he says about batteries will pay for the book ten times over, and reading the rest will save your boat. I will never leave the dock for more than a day sail without his complete library.

This is the best electrial book on marine electrical systems I have ever read. I am a power boat owner and would have titled the book Sailboat and Power Boat Electrics Simplified. I wired our 23' Bayliner Ciera for AC power using this book. Every boat owner needs to have a copy of this book. They make great Christmas and Birthday presents for your boat owner friends.

I was trained as a microwave electronics technician in the Air Force, and have studied Ham radio theory for years, so I didn't go into the wiring of my Newport 27, or my investigations of installing an HF ham transceiver cold, but Mr. Casey has written a book that, as others have said here, is so easy to read, and covers so much ground at the same time, that it's a truly profound work that added greatly to my technical and theoretical abilities and understanding. You don't truly understand the depth he touches on, or the wisdom in which he unifies and relates various theories, unless you come from some technical discipline. Only then do you recognize his insight as way more than a basic book for beginners. Don't let the personable, "easy read" fool you, this guy's good. I think it was Einstein who said something like "you don't really understand your field unless you can explain the most complex of it's theories to a child." Well Mr. Casey exemplifies that concept.

As another reviewer here has said, it would be nice to see an updated edition covering the latest technologies like conversion of lighting over to LED, Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries (AGM), etc., and Mr. Casey, I'm ready to buy it if you're ready to write it.

But don't wait for a new edition, buy this book, without a doubt.

Execlent Manual
Note: Don't buy if you already have "Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual" as you will find this manual inside the "big" one.

I liked this book. It was fairly informative and gave some great tips. I like the different viewpoints of the two authors. I did think that some of the historical information tended to drag on a little and you can definitely pick up on the political views of the author but it was still a good read... It really reinforced my desire to go cruising!

Who among us has not dreamed about an idyllic life sailing in paradise: sun, snorkeling, azure blue waters, and tropical refreshments in hand? After sailing for years including frequent charters in the Caribbean, Jerry Mashew and Anne MacClintock set sail from Connecticut to Grenada on a 10-month adventure.

Chronicling a sabbatical cruise is not new; Joshua Slocum first published his story more than 100 years ago. Before that there was Homer's Odyssey. What sets the authors' story apart? Why take the time to read it?

For those contemplating a similar voyage, Seasoned by Salt presents a realistic portrayal of life at sea and anchor. Cruising is more than gorgeous sunsets viewed from a cockpit with an "umbrella drink" in hand. It is also about the people and cultures visited, broken boats, seasick crew, and unsettled weather. Other works often gloss over these unpleasantries. Anne and Jerry do not hide the raw truth about cruising on a small sailboat. It can be tough unpleasant work.

As their story unfolds, Anne and Jerry bring forth their experiences and place them in an historical context. Beyond the crescent beaches, swaying palm tree, and mangroves there is an unsettling history. As Mashew presents this history we get to understand and know him, his beliefs, and biases.

From time to time, Mashew's wife MacClintlock provides a counterpoint to his narrative. While Jerry's approach is often academic (he is a Yale Law Professor), Anne approaches the cruise from an artist's perspective, focusing on the emotional experience of cruising. Together a more complete picture of the lifestyle unfolds.

Will Seasoned by Salt convince you to go cruising? No, but reading it is time well spent if you are curious or contemplating a similar adventure.

Dave Lochner
Nauticalreads

This is a good read. The adventure is unpacked by the author, Jerry Mashaw in a very engaging way with a lot of information about the varous places they encounter along the way down the east coast of the US and into the Caribbean. A good deal of history and insight into the sorted history of the slave trade and economic struggles that are the reality of much of the caribbean. The story is further enhanced by Jerry's partner and crew, Anne MacClintoc with journal enteries interspersed throughout.

The authors capture the anticipation, excitement, and even fear very well and draw you into their world. I truly felt like I shared their adventure. I considered this along the lines of Ann Vanderhoof's "Embarrassement of Mangos' Anchor Canada, a division of Random House Publishers - which is a must read if you're into sailing adventures!

The old adage, cruising is fixing your boat in exotic places, certainly applies here. The book is very well written, and the interplay of hearing two sides (husband and wife) about the same events adds depth. After reading the book, I think that flying to Grenada, chartering a boat for a month (ooh the hated charterer) and exploring that area was the highlight of their journey, would be better than all the time and discomfort they experiences getting from Connecticut to the Carribean.
I tended to skip the social commentary. Can't change what happened, can only address how to help improve what is there now.

Part escapist adventure and part historical journey to the Caribbean, Seasoned by Salt tells the tale of a couple who took a year off from their careers to sail the Caribbean. It's a well written yarn, and Mashaw does an excellent job of blending the history of the islands into the contemporary account of his voyage in a way that puts current events into historical perspective. A great added bonus are Anne MacClintock's Passage Notes. She provides a more personal view of the journey, and an occasional counter-point to Mashaw's narrative. - Joe

I specifically purchased this book for the information on Yanmar diesels. I was not disappointed, but later found a factory type manual that was much better and also a source for Yanmar parts. I think I will closely compare both manuals to see if I will resell this or not. I would still give this three stars.

This book turned out to be everything it promised. I own a 44' Ocean Alexander yacht with twin diesel motors as well as a 8KW diesel generator.
After reading the book, for the first time I felt very comfortable in the engine room and knew what I was looking at and for.
It's easy reading and written at a level anyone should be able to understand.
I highly recommend it.

Great book for the average mechanic fixing of diagnosing his/her boats mechanical malfunctions. Look up symptoms and it gives you all problems which could cause them. Saved a bundle of money by being able to fix the problem myself with the help of this book.

excellent and thorough - a real compliment to the spec sheet and manual provided with the engine. Good maintenance tips that were not included in the original manual.

I bought Compton's book based on an ad in [...], a rather heavy duty marine diesel oriented web site. I already had Nigel Calder's marine diesel book and was somehow expecting more, but got less.

Calder's book is more detailed and thorough. If you have Calder's, then you don't need Compton's. So, my advice is to get Calder's marine diesel book instead.

Growing up I had heard stories about this storm from my late grandfather, Hugh McLeod, captain of the "Matoa" one of the grounded and destroyed ships. In fact I have the baromoter from the Matoa and it still works perfectly.

This book really put my grandfather's stories in context of the overall storm. While I knew there were many ships sunk and lives lost (although not on his ship), I knew nothing about them. While a casual reader might find the jumping around from day to day and ship to ship a little confusing, for me it really filled in the blanks.

Ironically, four years to the day before this storm, my grandfather's two brothers died when the Marquette & Bessemer #2 went down in Lake Erie.

I loved this book and could not put it down. Not only did Brown provide a human interest story of the people involved but he provided insight into the state of weather prediction of the time. The book was full of interesting information. I could go on but you simply have to read it. I disagree with the reader who suggested he needed a central focus. The storm was the central focus.

This is a great book for someone with an interest in the Great Lakes, meteorology or ship wrecks. It is a detailed chronological account of a monster storm that hasn't been matched in the Great Lakes for nearly a hundred years. It paints a pretty good picture of what it would have been like to have been on a ship during the storm. There are indexed pictures of each of the major ships involved, but I wish there were weather maps to show what was going on - it's hard to follow fronts and cells in your head when the story jumps around between the lakes.

Residents of the Great Lakes region and boaters of all regions will find this book fascinating. The Great Lakes are one of North America's greatest treasures. Their beauty comes not just from their size but from their amazing diversity. From the rocky shores of Lake Superior to Michigan's majestic dunes, to the locks on the St Laurence Seaway these fresh water seas are an endless source of amazing sites and destinations.

From their creation to the present day, the constantly changing weather of the Midwest can change these bodies of water from nearly glass smooth to a source of death and destruction within hours. This is never truer than in the month of November. If you wish a greater understanding of the lakes and their weather this book is for you.

Just as one takes the grocer, and the steel in their car for granted; the lakes are often overlooked by many Americas. Although their commercial use has declined in recent years, these vital waterways provide America with her grain, steel and other bulk commodities. If you enjoy tales of common men facing the uncommon, the stories of the men that made a living on the lakes and survived the Great Storm of 1913 should not be overlooked.

Brown's presentation of the "Big Blow" is the best compilation of information currently available. The central "character" is the storm, and while jumping from one ship to another might seem confusing, that is exactly what the storm was. While Barcus' "Freshwater Fury" is very good, Brown excels in that he not only shows the problems modern historians have in trying to understand the meager records of the day, but also has consulted trained meteorologists in an attempt to give the whole picture. While he does apply some speculation, in most cases he presents it as such.

While this is the best, it's not perfect. A comparison of many authors who have published works on this storm reveals many glaring contradictions, even though all are recognized historians. Brown does better than the others in acknowledging conflicting accounts, and given that many reports and records of the time were designed for sensationalism or covering mistakes, one must expect some variety in the conclusions of the authors. My own preference would be to have all the sources footnoted and compared, but that would have made a tome that few would be able to handle. Because Brown makes a couple of minor errors it still leaves one wondering where the line is between historical fact and reasonable speculation.

I read this book before purchasing it for my library. I think it's worth having there.

You can absolutely build a strip canoe using this book alone, another review to the contrary. A number of designs are presented, along with well-illustrated building techniques. My title refers to the fact that the book covers all phases of building and finishing, not that all possible alternative techniques are covered, as another reviewer also pointed out. Personally, what I think makes this book worth its weight in gold are the details - e.g., close-ups of strip fitting, gunwale sections, practical advice sprinkled throughout, etc. The writing inspires confidence and manages to pull off being entertaining and highly organized at the same time.

I am female, I built the redbird 20 yrs ago. It is the most awesome paddle. It has been to Minnesota, Columbia river, etc. I found the directions clear and easy, I lofted the stations, did everything. The most difficulty I had was the fiberglassing: Colorado winters get cold and the epoxy clouded some on the outside. The shop couldn't keep up with the cold. This book also guides you through design features that help you build the shape for the funtion you desire. After 20 yrs, this book is still on my shelf.

I like this book. Moorse's canoes are striking, but I think that a lot of what is presented may be beyond the skill of the casual builder. It is obvious the Ted Moores is a fabulous woodworker. The problem is that I am not. I really enjoyed reading how he builds his canoes and looking at the wonderful photos that are in the book.

Personally, I don't like external stems on a canoe. They widen the entry line and just look weird to me. Building them is also a fiddly undertaking and I'm not sure that they really add much. I built my canoe using both Canoecraft and Gilpatrick's book . . . I found the latter a much more approachable text.

If I were a master woodworker I would only follow Moore's book and I would have the most beautiful canoe that I could build. I'm not a master woodworker so I follow Gilpatrik and I am fully satisfied.

I recommed anyone that is interested in canoe building to buy this book. It is just amazing what he can do with wood.

A very good book about Cedar Strip Canoe building and its history. I have looked at other canoe building books online, but I kept seeing this book pop up. And I now know why people kept raving about it. It is a very well done book that's a progretion of the authors and others knowledge. Right off the top of my head I can't remember what addition he's up to, but he learns and releases new additions with more information. I have not got my canoe done yet, but I have started. One suggestion, read or at least familiarize yourself with all of the techniques/chapters in the book before you start. You can always look back, but you can't always fix the wood if you miss something. TAKE MY WORD ON IT!!!

Coupled with Building a Strip Canoe by Gil Gilpatrick this book will explain everything you need to know to craft an absolutely beautiful canoe. This book begins with a description of canoe history and follows up with desireable characteristics of various canoe designs. While the actual process is described very well, there are some technical aspects that a person with less woodworking experience would have to search elsewhere to find an explaination. I many places the author explains the best way to do a task as well as some options for alternative construction. The method described in this book really is "fine" canoebuilding. The finishing details the author desribes are what will really set your craft ahead of all other do-it-yourself canoes on the water. Keep in mind that there are no plans for actual canoes in this book. If you are someone who is experienced in "lofting" or technical drawing maybe you can make your own plans from the specs the author gives for his boats but for most people they just expect you to buy your plans from Bear Mountain Canoe or some other design house. That aside, this is an excellent book to help in the construction of any canoe and it left me absolutely jazzed to begin my own boat.

I loved this book. It both entertaining and informative. I would buy more books authored by Hal.

Sailors of all experience levels will learn from one man's experience cruising around the world. You'll also learn why some things work, and others don't.

Well writen. Clear and practical. Author share his great experience sailing around the world in a small sailboat and little money. Very good ideas and advises...as a bluewater sailor (30'sailboat) I found myself making changes in my boat that make my life easier out there.

Recently I've bought a book from Amazon com. "How To Sail Around The World" by Hal Ruth its an excellent book every thing you need to know about this topic is mentioned in details a lot of photos and sketches.
The book got 29 chapters each chapter have a heading such as:- To find a yacht suitable for the voyage in full details- The best self-steering to choose with digrams explains its operation and you could build one from the diagrams if you wish- Storm management- Navigation and pilot charts as well the place where to buy these charts and their referance numbers and many many more topics covered in the 29 chapters of this book.
The style and the way this book is written is marvellous once you start reading it you don't feel like to stop. In my view Its an excellent book highly recommended to buy.
David Dawud

I've read a number of Mr. Roth's books.His writing skill is excellent.His photography is superb.His knowledge of sailing is that of a true grandmaster.This book has tips for cruising sailers on any level of experience:what works and why; what didn't work for Him and His incredible partner & wife and why.No plans for an around the world cruise is needed to get this book and pick it up often. Much of the great info is valid for most any overlight sail, or any daysail on our great magestic oceans ,lakes or rivers.His humility is gratifying. He's been out there and done that (a thousand times),but He doesn't have to keep showing us His "medals"in every paragraph. His Bibliography and references at the end are a great source to what else is worth exploring in the world of print.If you sail- get this book!

Younger teenagers want ACTION -- in their movies, video games, music, classrooms, extra-curricular activities, and books; in short, they are doing anything and everything they can to avoid "The Big B": Boredom. Too easily are kids on the verge of complaining that they're "bored!!!" And what rids us of boredom? ACTION!

RED KAYAK made be the diagnostic tool needed to determine the maturity level of any young adult -- the less mature will have trouble getting through this book because they're missing the requisite Action (these are the kids who deem THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK "incredibly boring because nothing happens!") ; the mature teenager, however, will embrace this book because he or she sees him- or herself in the character of Brady, and recognizes that the way we torture ourselves with our thoughts and fears and memories forces us to create Action in our lives in order to move forward.

RED KAYAK is written for the teenager who has tortured him- or herself by stressing over whether or not he or she has done the right thing when faced with a choice that provides no winning outcome. RED KAYAK is for the teenager who has come to realize that Character is the most important element of a coming-of-age story as it reflects Self; RED KAYAK should be read by adults who tend to de-value the teenage mind thinking it's not capable of deep thoughts that aren't driven by selfishness.

Author Priscilla Cummings has written a book that will challenge the reader head-on. The first-person narrative of a boy who experiences an event that will forever change who he is as a person and how he looks at life is a gorgeous character-driven piece that flops around in time from event to thought to memory and back, all the while aching to find how our actions (and inactions) can affect the world around us. This book digs deeply into the maturing process -- the time when we begin to accept responsibility for ourselves and how our actions affect others.

I found Cummings's writing excelled right from the first chapter with gorgeous prose channeled through the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old boy. Her language was simultaneously poetic and character-appropriate. Most remarkable was the unpredictable nature of where the story was going next, and THAT is rare in the world of Young Adult novels.

I find this to be one of the most mature YA books I have ever read, I would be remiss to not shout it out that this should be REQUIRED reading for all thirteen-, fourteen- and fifteen-year olds. It is a mirror in which many of today's youth could possible see themselves. Adults would do themselves a favor by reading it to check on their own maturity, and to reshape the perception of teenagers as complex individuals who understand that their lives have context.

In short, RED KAYAK is better, deeper and more worthwhile than any action movie or video game.

In truth, I had trouble getting into this book at first; when I finally just sat down and read Red Kayak, I found that the novel spun a tale that even made me hurt in the same way the main character did. Unexpected and horribly frightening at times, Ms. Priscilla Cummings tells the story of a group of boys who get themselves into a whole lot more trouble than planned, resulting in a death, sadness, separation, and three lonely boys. To get the full impact of the moral, I would recommend that teenagers and young adults read Red Kayak, but any age can learn a lesson from this truly heart-wrenching novel.

If you are like most young teens, there will be a time when you will struggle to do the right thing. For sometimes, doing the right thing means your life or the life of someone else will never be the same. The Red Kayak is exactly that kind of story. This gripping and tragic story of a sunken red kayak centers on Brady, his two best friends and a Chesapeake Bay town that is undergoing some very big changes.
This book captures your attention from beginning to end with vivid descriptions and unexpected happenings. From the beginning, when the kayak is seen traveling down the street on top of a sports car, to the death of a young boy, and to the end when Brady discovers the truth behind the sunken kayak, the story grabs your attention. Brady is faced with one of the biggest decisions of his life.
I would highly recommend this book to any young readers, age 9 and up, because the reader can really relate to the many emotions and struggles of the characters. It is a quick and easy read with lots of suspense and life lessons. Even though the book is fictional, the author does a great job of making the story seem realistic.

-Kaylor Kelley

This book was very good, a little dramatic and the language lacked hard words and use of words. I would overall recomand for kids 8-12.

I just borrowed this book from my husband who teaches 6th grade, and I devoured it in one weekend. It is a good story that reminds me of 'On My Honor'. It deals with loyalty, death and friendships. The end was slightly predictable and I felt it was missing some resolution between the main charater and the mother he was working for.
I think this would be a great read aloud because it moves along quick and it has some good cliff hangers. It would also lead to some good discussion.

This book is an interesting first hand account of the Shackleton expedition and their journey by small boat to South Georgia Island. As a narrative by the captain of the Endurance, it can make for laborious reading, as it is not written as a spell-binding novel. As well, it requires some basic foreknowledge of the Shackleton expedition; their mission and the result. The Endurance sinks on the first page of this book, so there is really no background information about the expedition. If you know nothing about Shackleton, you probably should read a more comprehensive history before you read this book. If you already know a bit about it, though, this narrative provides an interesting look at their boat journey from the perspective of the captain. The details of the journey are clearly understated, but you can still gain a glimpse of the horrors of the voyage by reading between the lines. This was a nearly impossible journey, completed by tough and capable men who triumphed against the odds. The story is awe-inspiring and powerful, just make sure you have some background knowledge before you read it.

This is an outstanding little book. Worsley, who was part of the adventure, writes in the first person and keeps the reader on the hook. Of course, Shackleton's adventure is well known and well covered by authors. However, Worsley's being there and telling stories of the crew is unique. If you are into Polar adventures, this book is a must read.

In the summer of 1914 Ernest Schackleton's ship Endurance became trapped in Antarctic ice in 53 degree below zero weather. The following winter, the ship was crushed and sank, leaving the crew to camp on the ice while eking out subsistence under unimaginable conditions. In April of 1916, the ice broke apart beneath their feet, and twenty eight men piled into the lifeboats they had rescued from the wreck of the Endurance.

These hair raising events are not part of the story of Shackleton's Boat Journey, but simply the preamble, described in less than a page, that sets the stage for the real action that is to follow.

The tale is told by F.A. Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance. And what a saga it is, as the entire crew barely makes it to Elephant Island and from there an advance party navigates across the raging, freezing ocean in a tiny boat, all the way to South Georgia Island, from which the balance of the crew are eventually rescued, without one man being lost.

What these men endured is beyond belief, yet Worsley recounts it humbly, with understatement, and with considerable grace. Here is an example of his prose:

"Squall by squall the wind grew fiercer and the sea heavier. Through a rift in the clouds the moon shone out on the stormy sea and for two minutes revealed the ghostly white uplands and glaciers of the island. Another squall blotted everything out. We heard whales blow right alongside. They may have been killers, but, whatever they were, a push from one of them would have capsized us. If they were killers we would have had a quicker end. Soon to our great relief they left us for some nobler quarry than dirty smelly little men in Burberry overalls".

It is amazing that in the midst of a Herculean struggle for survival the author was able to take note of beauty in what must have been a living hell, and to describe it so elegantly. Here for example, is his description of icebergs, "All the strange fantastic shapes rose and fell in a stately cadence, with a rustling, whispering sound and hollow echoes to the thudding seas, clear green at the water line, shading to a deep dark blue far below, all snowy purity and cool blue shadows above".

This combination of gripping action and poetic insight makes for a richly rewarding read.

Highly recommended.

This book is well written. I've read a great deal about Shackleton and seen videos, movies, DVDs and Hurley film. But this book provides detail where the second hand accounts do not. If you like sailing, you will especially love this book. The testament also highlights some areas of disagreement between Sir Ernst and Worsley, not of much import, but also not often discussed. Overall a required addition to any Expidetion library. But most of all, perhaps of the the greatest adventures ever told.

If you want to imagine cold -- real bone-numbing cold -- read Worsley's memoir of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated voyage to the south polar regions during 1914-15. I first learned about Shackleton in the 2000 documentary The Endurance (narrated by Liam Neeson and quite a fine film), and I found I wanted to know more. And what better account than one written by Shackleton's friend, and the captain of the Endurance, Frank Worsley?

The real surprise is just how good Worsley's writing is! Despite the harrowing ordeal, the adventure really comes through — what it is that would make Shackleton want to venture into the south polar regions in the first place. And the truly amazing thing is that Shackleton managed to save every single last man from that star-crossed journey. They may have had to live on rotten seal meat, but they all lived to tell the tale.

Worsley's praise of Shackleton is at times almost ridiculously hyperbolic, but I suppose we can forgive him that, under the circumstances. And his writing is lively and entertaining at every turn. A wonderful ocean adventure tale.

This is an excellent how to book which has stood the test of time and is relevant to any "back yard" kayak builder.

Text and pictures are well laid out and easy to compare. The author has a sense of humour which add to the reading enjoyment.

I have to admit it - I did not build this kayak. In fact, I have never built a kayak, and most likely I never will build a kayak. I already have a kayak which I like a lot, and if I wanted another one I would probably go store bought. But still...

People like to make things, and when I can not make real things I do it vicariously, which makes this book a particularly good match for me. I almost felt like I was in the shop, smelling wood chips and epoxy as I read it. The author is always entertaining, almost always clear as a bell, and reasonably well organized. There are a few places where I might have put the picture a page earlier, or even used a line drawing, but once you understand his style, you know that if you just keep reading the mystery will be solved straightaway. He explains the technique so thoroughly that the reader has no doubt that this is a job they could do, and do well. One must only begin.

A true classic that will last as long as other good literature of it's ilk. Well presented, very clear and above all has a humourous dialog that begs to keep reading. I finished it in an afternoon and reread it the next day. I am already chasing the materials for my kayak. Thanks George

This is not traditional kayak building. It is modern, "Popular Mechanics" style kayak building, which means the boat will be fine for what it is, but overbuilt, too heavy, and basically nothing like the sleek racy craft that it could be. The design and construction is suited for the amateur builder who wants as little of a woodworking challenge as possible, which makes it perfect for a project to build with kids. A parent and child could have great fun building a boat such as this. So, keeping that in mind, it's just fine. For real kayak building in the traditional manner see Cunningham's "Building the West Greenland Kayak", or Morris's "Building Skin on Frame Boats".

If you are a beginner looking for a, relatively speaking, quick and easy way to build your first kayak, this book is for you. While these kayaks probably are not ones that will push the envelope, they will serve the recreational kayaker well. Also included with the book is the article of the kayak that inspired George's design and if you compare the design to others kayaks that are on the market you will see that their designs were inspired by it too (Klepper and the old Folbots, though heavily modified, resemble both George's Walrus as well as the original Walrus design). While I probably will not build this kayak as my first, I do plan on using many of the weight savings ideas that are evident in George's design. There is an excellent chapter that discusses the various issues with repairing problems after the kayak has seen some use. Other books tend to leave this info. out.

One area I was disappointed in is that I believe the author should have shown an alternative building method that utilized the actual plywood floor frames instead of using the stands, then going back and replacing the stands with plywood frames. The other point that I disagreed with was the author's attitude toward plastic kayaks, there is enough room on the water for kayaks of all kinds. The author's writing style was different, very much down to earth although opinionated in some respects, but does not detract from the book at all, IMHO.

I have almost finished making my first Greenland kayak and this book has received it's fair share of use. I bought this book together with the book from Robert Morris and the books do differ quite a bit. I would recommend you use both of these books, however if I had to choose one book and I only wanted to make a greenland kayak, this would be the one. This book was worth it just for the jig on bending ribs, an area where i really struggled to get consistent results until i built the jig.

Overall i found this book extremely detailed and exacting, with precise jigs and tooling to ensure a quality result. In comparison, Robert Morris describes more different boats and makes you aware of the many different methods of building a kayak. If you have a solid appreciation for the working characteristics of wood and experience with kayaks to know how your work will affect your boat, Robert Morris provides alot more encouragment for experimentation.

Great book, if you want a Greenland kayak, and info on paddle building, equipment making and technique relating to the Greenland kayak, this is the one.

This is the basic book everyone shold read to built the wooden kayak. Step by step, piece by piece, tool by tool. But remenber, your hands make the spirit of the water.
Este libro es el "básico". Todo lo que hay que saber para constrir un kayak tradicional, paso a paso. Pero recuerda, no hay que ser tan preciso, tus manos le darán el espíritu del agua

I have a small library of building skin on frame kayaks. Some are better than others; this is one of the best. Another reviewer commented that this book along with Robert Morris's Building Skin-On-Frame boats would be all you need for a successful build. He has a good point. Cunningham is, of course, extremely knowledgeable and his book while small in size covers a wide range of other kayak topics very well. He is particularly good on using various tools for the same task. It helps a lot since many of us do not have extremely well equipped tool shops and need workarounds.

Fine book, nicely written, with good pictures. I'm glad I bought it.

My daughter and I are building kayaks in an Adult Ed class using this book as our bible. Luckily, there is an instructor who has built 2 kayaks before using this book. The book contains all you need to know, albiet that you have to spend time reading the words repeatedly because there aren't enough sketches to show what is intended. There are lots of photos, but they don't convey the same amount of info as a sketch with dimensions. But, if you keep re-reading the book to figure our how to make the jigs, you'll end up with a piece of art, that you can kayak in.

If you want to build a greenland kayak then this is all you need. Instructions are clear and not wordy. It also has sections on making paddles and paddling clothing. The style shown in this book has slight deviations from the original greenland technique but he specifically states all the changes. I built a kayak from this book with my only help being a second pair of hands, and i am only 15. The boat was exactly to his designs and it is fast, fairly stable, and responsive.