Boatbuilding and maintenance Books

Book SynopsisThis manual takes both novice and experienced boatowner through minor to major repairs of electrical systems, engines, electronics, steering systems, generators, pumps, cookers, spars and rigging. When it was first published in 1990, the Boatowner''s Mechanical & Electrical Manual broke new ground. It was hailed as the first truly DIY manual for boatowners and has sold in its thousands ever since. There have been significant changes in boat systems since then, particularly electrical systems, and this fourth edition has been fully updated to reflect these developments and expand its predecessor''s worldwide popularity.''Probably the best technical reference and troubleshooting book in the world'' Yachting Monthly ''It deserves to come standard with every boat'' Yachting World Trade Review'A reference library book that'll solve or at least set you on the right track to solving almost any boat related problem' * Boat Mart *'A serious builder or owner, or a marine proffesional, will find it invaluable" * Sailing Magazine (March 2010) *

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Book SynopsisA fully revised and expanded edition of the only resource you''ll need for choosing, owning and maintaining a narrowboat. The UK has over 2000 miles of navigable canals and rivers which are home to an estimated 35,000 licensed boats. Although canal boats can look much the same to the novice, there are some very important differences to be aware of. If you''re new to boating you have some important choices to make.This comprehensive book examines the options available to different types of boaters. From those who choose to live aboard their boats and constant cruisers to fair-weather cruisers, hire boating and share boat syndicates each will need a different type of boat if they are to fully enjoy their time afloat. Packed with case studies and advice from real boaters with years of experience to share, this second edition has been thoroughly updated throughout and includes new information on liveaboard costs and considerations, eco-friendly boating options, sTrade ReviewThe Narrowboat Guide ... delivers a real depth of details – we learn which licence allows you to travel where on the network, what types of fuel suit your stove, the pros and cons of different stern glands and what you can reasonably expect to pay for and get on various types of mooring … What sets this book head and shoulders above other guides I’ve read is the attempt to give estimated costings, not just for the survey and the boat but for all aspects of life aboard and maintenance … If I were to single out one aspect of this book for specific praise it would be the use of text boxes offering diverse empirical accounts from boat owners, brokers and builders. -- Kathryn Smyth * Towpath Talk *Table of ContentsHow to buy a boat Trying it out: hire-boat holidays Boat features and fixtures Cost of owning a narrowboat Moorings The art of boating: out and about The art of boating: the great indoors Boat maintenance Liveaboard life Pets aboard Boat safety Resources

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Book Synopsis‘The passages he addresses directly to Phoebe are as tender as the father-daughter letters in Karl Ove Knausgaard’s Seasons Quartet’ Times Literary Supplement ‘This book tells the inspiring story of how even the least skilled of us can make something wonderful if we invest enough time and love’ The Daily Mail 'Both the book, and place, are magical' The Sunday Telegraph 'When Jonathan Gornall decided to build a boat for his daughter, he had no experience and no practical skills. What followed was a very real labour of love.' The ScotsmanOne man learns the ancient skills of boat-building to connect with fatherhood.How to Build a Boat is the story of a thoroughly unskilled modern man who, inspired by his love of the sea and what it has taught him about life, sets out to build a traditionalTrade Review‘Refreshingly down-to-earth…one can’t help admiring the combination of craftsmanship and ambition’ * Times Literary Supplement *'This book tells the inspiring story of how even the least skilled of us can make something wonderful if we invest enough time and love.' * Daily Mail *'Both the book, and place, are magical.' * Sunday Telegraph *'When Jonathan Gornall decided to build a boat for his daughter, he had no experience and no practical skills. What followed was a very real labour of love.' * The Scotsman *'In an age of instant everything, this is a charming book about handcrafting something that does not arrive in a cardboard box and snap together. It is a story about taming impatience, facing fears, and softening skepticism. With love as a motivation, each of us may undertake things that seem impossible.' -- Tori Murden McClure, author of A Pearl in the Storm, President of Spalding University, and the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean'There are few sailing books that a sailor could recommend to anyone, but How to Build a Boat is one of them, a first-person narrative about boatbuilding and fatherhood...moving, funny and perceptive...it is Gornall's biggest achievement to turn a detailed description of building a timber dinghy into a real page-turner.' * Classic Boat *'The inspiring story of how even the least skilled of us can make something wonderful if we invest enough time and love.' * Irish Daily Mail *'Beautifully documents the year [journalist Jonathan Gornall] spent building a wooden boat for his young daughter…Owning almost no tools and having no woodworking skills, Gornall, living on England’s eastern coast, gave himself a crash course…[His] prose is amusing, personal, and informative…[He] acknowledges he has ‘created a vessel of a father’s love, a gift to inspire his daughter.’ The very same can be said of his book, a testament to hard work and a soft heart.' * Publishers Weekly *'An utterly captivating, richly poetic account of building a traditional wooden boat for the first time – and a paean to the awesome responsibility and reward of fatherhood.' -- Matthew P. Murphy, Editor * WoodenBoat magazine *'This rich, beautifully crafted book is funny, heart-warming and stuffed to the gunwales with fascinating information. Jonathan Gornall’s quest to build a sailing boat navigates the crosscurrents of his life story – the challenges of fatherhood, his difficult relationship with his mother, his lifelong love of the sea. It’s a compelling narrative that sweeps us along as Gornall battles his demons while simultaneously tackling the tough physical challenges of building a vessel from scratch.' -- Benedict Tufnell, Editor * Row360 magazine *'Being a parent, a sailor and an occasional DIYer, I know that boat building, like fatherhood, is not for the faint of heart. Packed with details, both historical and personal, How to Build a Boat wonderfully captures the tensions, the tightrope walk between reward and dismay. In the end, I wanted to cheer: the boat floats and a daughter's adventures can begin.' -- Mark Pillsbury, Editor * Cruising World *'Engrossing...Gornall's prose is buoyant and watertight and his book shipshape.' * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisWhen owning a narrow boat, or any engine-powered vessel, it is vital to ensure that the engine is kept in good working order. Narrow Boat Engine Maintenance and Repair is a practical guide to help keep your engine operational, and your boat moving. It also provides instruction on how to identify faults and, where possible, how to fix them. With its focus on diesel engine operation, and the systems found on most vessels, this is a useful resource for any boat owner. It provides practical guidance to undertake everyday maintenance on your diesel engine; it demonstrates how to complete a service and locate and resolve common faults; explains the theory required to understand each of the boat's main systems and shares the practical skills and techniques that engineers spend many years learning. Highly illustrated with 264 colour step-by-step photographs and 60 technical diagrams.

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Book SynopsisIt doesn't take a university education in naval architecture to understand the components of a boat. But it is important to have that basic knowledge before undertaking repair and maintenance work. A poor repair job can create weaknesses that could place the boat and her crew in danger. ''The Essential Boat Maintenance Guide'' is the ideal reference to ensure that such problems don't arise. It details the various repair and maintenance jobs that crop up with every boat after every summer season, and describes how these jobs must be tackled so the boat is as sound and seaworthy as the day she was built. Covering the make-up of both sail and motor boats, this book is packed with detailed instructions, tips and hints that reduce the cost and effort of maintenance work. It is a must for every boat owner who wants to keep their boat well maintained and in shipshape condition.

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Book SynopsisWith its unparalleled level of visual information - paint schemes, models, line drawings and photographs - this book is simply the best reference for any modelmaker setting out to build one of these famous cruisers.

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Book SynopsisMost outboard motors will be troublesome at some point in their lives, but armed with the right knowledge a skipper needn''t worry.The Reeds Outboard Motor Troubleshooting Handbook is a compact, pocket-sized guide to finding solutions to all of the most common outboard problems, and many of the less common ones too. The perfect format for quick reference on board, this book will help skippers fix troublesome outboards themselves, or enable the skipper to do an emergency patch-up for a more serious problem until they can get back to port.Each topic addresses a particular problem, and gives clear step by step instructions with helpful colour photographs and diagrams showing exactly what to do. Straightforward and accessible, the Reeds Outboard Motor Troubleshooting Handbook should be an essential part of any skipper''s DIY toolkit - and perfect for slipping in the pocket.Trade ReviewThese no-nonsense mini books do exactly what they promise; providing easy to follow quick-fix suggestions for all manner of everyday engine problems. Informative, and sure to quickly become indispensable. * All at Sea *These handbooks should be an essential part of your DIY toolkit * Hardy Owner Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe Boatyard Book is a practical, comprehensive reference manual that provides sensible, accessible advice for boatowners on planning and carrying out annual maintenance, repairs, upgrades and refits of sailing yachts and motorboats, up to 20 metres in length. Beginning with all the information owners will need to care for their boat, including how to budget and plan tasks to be done through the year, The Boatyard Book goes on to help them choose the best boatyard for their needs, then provides essential how-to reference material and ideas for a comprehensive range of projects large and small to be carried out ashore. There''s advice and tips from highly respected boatyard owners, specialists and surveyors, as well as from the author''s own 25 years'' experience of boat ownership, all fully illustrated with step-by-step photos and illustrations. Topics covered include:- laying up - hull and deck care - mast and rigging - sail care Trade ReviewThis well-presented volume is a guide to making the best use of boatyard time and facilities by careful planning and good organisation...his examples and explanations helped reduce the fear factor and should improve my conversations with professionals – or even my ability to have a go. * Yachting Monthly *Very readable… provides comprehensive schedules/logs detailing maintenance and ship’s inventory. * Cruising *Table of Contents1. Introduction Who is this book for? Part One 2. Boat care Boat ownership Boat care fundamentals Your boat’s history Keeping records Doing regular checks Research and advice Calling in the professionals Owners’ associations What does maintenance work involve? Repairing and refurbishing Refit The rewards of boat ownership 3. Planning, costs and budgeting Choosing a boatyard Boat survey Maintenance log Costs and budgeting 4. Laying up Lift out After lift out 5. Tools and spares Tools Spares Sealants, adhesives and adhesive sealants 6. Health and safety Protective clothing Dust creation Antifouling Shot/sandblasting Engine work and servicing Part Two 7. Hull Composite hulls Osmosis Steel and aluminium hulls Wooden hulls Antifouling Keel maintenance and repair Rudders and steering systems 8. Deck and superstructure Inspection Teak decks Winches Leaking decks 9. Mast and rigging Rig care Owner rig check Wooden masts and booms Running rigging 10. Sails Materials and construction Ultraviolet exposure Inspection Cleaning Storage Repairs 11. Engine and propulsion Know your engine How diesel engines work Electric motors and hybrid systems Outboard motors Diesel engine winterisation Other engine maintenance ashore Stern gear Overhauling an engine 12. Electrics Basic electrics Electrics inspection checklist Batteries Avoiding and identifying electrical problems Common electrical problems Rewiring a small yacht 13. Interior Cleaning Interior inspection and checks Plumbing Gas system Varnishing Interior painting 14. Fitting out and launching Essentials Other jobs Launch day Glossary Further reading Photo credits and Acknowledgements Index Specifications and Inventory

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Book SynopsisStress-Free Engine Maintenance is an accessible and practical guide to understanding what is going on with your boat's engine, how to look after it, spotting the signs when all is not well, and how to fix it. Learn how to change a filter and impeller, how to ensure the engine doesn't overheat, and much more.This visual and jargon-free book covers all the essentials for looking after your engine, in one place, including:- Basic principles of how an engine works- Fuel, cooling and air systems- Engine electrical systems- Gearboxes and drives- Checklists (e.g. before starting and once running)- Most common causes of breakdown- TroubleshootingLike the other titles in Duncan Wells' bestselling Stress-Free' series, the information is presented in an accessible, manageable way, with the use of diagrams, quick reference tables, box features, QR videos, clear explanations, top tips and checklists, making maintenance and basic repair of your engine straightforward, and with minimum stress.Trade Reviewdeservedly popular ... takes boatowners through all aspects of engine maintenance in a straightforward and jargon-free manner. * Practical Boat Owner *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Introduction and philosophy - Jonathan says 2. Principles of the engine - How does an engine work? - Types of engine - The fundamentals of a four-stroke engine - The fundamentals of a two-stroke engine - How does a four-stroke diesel engine work? - How does a four-stroke petrol engine work? - How to hand crank or turn over an engine - Turbos and superchargers - How a hybrid setup works 3. Gearboxes and drives - Shaft and propeller - Stern glands – Stuffing boxes, lip seals and face seals - Sail drive - Sterndrive - V drive - Pod systems - Other drives - Propeller pitch - Bow and stern thrusters - Modes of travel - Jonathan says 4. Fuel systems - How the fuel system works - Changing filters - Symptoms of fuel-system breakdowns - Fuel tanks and gauges - Jonathan says 5. Cooling systems - Raw-water system - Fresh-water and raw-water system - Common causes of overheating - Cooling system for an outboard engine - Exhaust systems - Jonathan says 6. Air systems - How does your engine access air? - Common causes of air system problems - Jonathan says 7. Lubrication system - Why lubricating is important - Camchains and cambelts - Gearbox lubrication - Look after your lubrication system - Changing an oil filter - Jonathan says 8. Electrical systems - The basic electrical system - Looking after the electrics - Common causes of electrical failure - 240-volt systems on board - Jonathan says - Engine instrumentation - Jonathan says 9. How to look after your engine - 1. Optimum temperature - 2. Optimum fuelling - 3. Cooling the engine down 10. Checks, servicing and winterisation - Everyday checks and checklists - Servicing - Winterising your boat 11. Cautionary tales - Jonathan says 12. How to troubleshoot a breakdown - Flow charts - Diagnosing common problems - Tips and secrets to reliability 13. Spares and tools - What spares to carry - Tools - Jonathan says Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisBoatbuilding has been a traditional skill in Cornwall for many hundreds of years. In the more sheltered waters of Carrick Roads, on the leeward side of the Lizard peninsula, this tradition has flourished almost since the dawn of time to the present day. Pasco's Boatyard at St Just in Roseland has been in the forefront of this tradition of boatbuilding, repairing, mooring and storing boats for well over a quarter of a millennium. So much so that it is part of the fabric of the south-west area of Cornwall. As a strong commercial fishing area, Carrick Roads has led the way in providing good quality seafood for the area and the wider nation as a whole. Then as the move to larger mechanised fishing methods gathered pace, the skills of the craftsmen at St Just were turned towards the ever growing leisure and sporting section of the sailing and boating community. Thanks to these skills and the enthusiasm of the craftsmen at Pasco's, this tradition looks set to continue for many decades to come.

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Book SynopsisPasco's Boatyard started in 1771. When it was sold to new owners Craig Brown and Chris De Glanville in 2013, one of their aims was to preserve the traditions of wooden boats in the St Just Creek, and to foster the shipwright skills required to build and maintain them. Under previous ownership, the thrust of the yard's activities had been towards mooring, wintering, and maintaining boats for their owners-it was now time to change. One of the first decisions of the new owners was to agree on a way of demonstrating those skills and traditions, so what better way than to design and build the first new Pasco's boat in over a decade? It would also demonstrate to the local community the yard's commitment to expanding maritime employment in the St Just area. There was no better man to lead the team than Bob Edwards, who was a well-established designer and builder of boats, as well as an enthusiastic owner of an earlier Pasco's P21 Motor Launch. A few discussions, and several nights of drawing plans and making calculations later, and the stage was set for the new P23 to become the next of the long line of Pasco's built boats. This book follows that build.

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Book SynopsisMetals have been used in boats for thousands of years, as components of the vessel's construction, as load-bearing parts of the rigging and steering systems, and for a wide variety of domestic and service duties. Due to misunderstandings of the properties of the metals used, and in some cases to questionable design and manufacture, there have been spectacular and sometimes tragic failures of boats' metalworking. These continue even today. This new book explains in layman's terms how a wide variety of metal alloys may best be selected, formed and manufactured to give optimum performance in the typical conditions of a sailing or powered vessel. Subjects as wide-ranging as anodes, batteries, hulls, skin fittings and rigging components are described in detail, enabling the boat owner to select the preferred material for his vessel.

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Book SynopsisThis volume includes some very famous ships with tales of adventure and new trade routes, also sadness, the launch and then the loss of the largest sailing ship ever built in a British shipyard - the five-masted auxiliary sailing barque, Kobenhavn. It recounts the days when shipbuilding should have flourished and into the tough times of the Great Depression. It remains a testimony to the skill and determination of the people who built the ships and those who served on them. The fortunes of the three main shipyards are followed through good times to eventual closure or assimilation by the man who would open up the shipyard that took his name. Henry Robb Ltd, shipbuilders and engineers, began without a yard in which to build ships, but eventually took over firstly the old S&H Morton Shipyard, now occupied by Hawthorns & Co. Ltd. That gave Robb control of the Victoria Shipyard, and a few years later he would take over the Cran & Somerville yard, before acquiring the plant and goodwill of the Ramage & Ferguson Shipyard - the cream of the Leith shipyards. This last yard would always have a ship on one of its slipways; at the peak they had nine slips, and were pioneers in the building of diesel-powered coasters. Always innovative and with some of the best craftsmen in the industry, the shipyard of Henry Robb quickly acquired the reputation as builders of special ships. Leith Shipyards 1918-1939 continues the chronological story begun in Volume I and provides a fascinating illustrated story that reveals the remarkable and ongoing story of shipbuilding for which Scotland and the UK were renowned.

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Book SynopsisA handy, splash-proof, on-the-water reference guide containing all the essential information for when you need it most about keeping your boat electrics running. Covers formulae, tools, anodes, protection, multimeters, soldering, AC power, testing, wiring, batteries, connections and power consumption.Table of ContentsFormulae; Multimeters; Testing; Batteries; Circuit Protection; Tools; Soldering & Wiring; Connections; Faults; Anodes; AC Power; Charging; Power Consumption

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Book SynopsisWhether she is to be rowed or sailed independently, or will be the tender to a larger vessel, nothing feels or looks quite like a traditional clinker-built dinghy, ‘done right’. And those two words are the key to a boat which will truly grace the water, charm all who use or see her, and maintain her value. In Details of Dinghy Building Will Stirling painstakingly describes and illustrates the many arcane yet vital tasks which can daunt the beginning boatbuilder. Will has been building clinker dinghies professionally for many years and has made, and learned how to avoid, all the mistakes which lie in wait for the unwary. Take advantage of his experience, and some ‘tricks of the trade’, and draw ­inspiration from the many mouthwatering photographs of finished boats which punctuate the book. If you’re building a boat, this textual guide and photographic reference will pay for itself many times over in the time, frustration and embarrassment it will save you. If you’re not, you’ll find it a fascinating verbal and visual window into a time-honoured traditional craft.

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Book SynopsisSimple Boat Maintenance concentrates on the 67 most common boat maintenance jobs. Each is rated for difficulty on a scale of 1-5 and is explained in simple steps with lots of photos and diagrams. No special tools are required and no skill is assumed. Take this book in one hand, a spanner in the other and set to work. Learn how to: solve most engine problems; look after the gas, water, fuel and electrical systems; service pumps, winches, windlasses & sterngear; repair cracks & holes in fibreglass; find & cure leaks.Trade Review“Quite simply the best book I’ve ever read on ‘how to’. Why? Because it could not be more simply laid out. Every problem is broken down into very short categories: Why it needs to be done; When it should be done; Tools needed; Where to find it. Then follows a step-by-step guide on the task.” (Yachting Monthly) “This is the best-illustrated book ever produced on maintenance. Using very clear graphics and photographs, common maintenance tasks are broken down into simple step-by-step instructions. Even those that claim to have two left thumbs would be able to use this guide.” (Peter Chennell, Sea Safety Manager, RNLI Offshore News)Table of ContentsIntroduction; Engines: Cooling system; Engines: Fuel system; Engines: Electricity; Engines: Servicing; Engines: Other topics; Fuel system; Water system; Gas system; Electrical system; Heads; Bilge & water pumps; Seacocks; Stern gear; Steering; Anodes; Antifouling; Fibreglass; Deck hardware; Leaks; Winches; Windlasses; Inflatables

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Book SynopsisAnyone who owns a fibreglass boat (GRP or FRP, yacht or dinghy) knows that it can get damaged in the rough and tumble of everyday use. Sometimes the damage is serious enough to warrant a professional repair (which the insurance company will probably pay for). But at other times it is more minor, and you might want to repair it yourself. But how do you repair it, so you can’t see the repair – get that really professional-looking finish? If you’ve ever asked that question, then this is the book for you. Long-term boat repairer, Pete Vincent, shares the trade secrets of making a lasting, strong and invisible repair. Penni Vincent, who does not share Pete’s experience, got him to explain it to her and together they have created this book – written by an expert, but understandable by a novice. They take you through the equipment, tools and materials you need and then explain the 8 stages of a glass fibre repair job: from the vital initial preparation to the final polish. This is followed by a step-by-step guide to making different repairs including small nicks, scratches and scuffs, star-crazing and deeper areas requiring fibreglassing. They also cover repairing deck / hull joints, non-slip surfaces, moving fittings and leak testing and repair. Given that the first bit of advice is that you need to make the damage worse before repairing it, it is reassuring to be able to follow the steps that they outline, amply illustrated by many photographs and diagrams. Splash-proof and spiral bound – allowing you to lay it out flat beside your repair – this little book will be a valued companion as you set about repairing your boat.Trade Review“gives boat owners an idea about the basic principles of repairing GRP (fibreglass boats) making them sufficiently knowledgeable and confident to tackle small repairs as well as maintaining their boat in good condition.” (Afloat, October 2019)Table of ContentsIntroduction; What you need; Repair stages; Small Nicks; Scratches & scuffs; Non-slip surfaces; Star-crazing; Deck / hull joint; Deeper repairs; Moving fittings; Leak testing; Troubleshooting.

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Book SynopsisHow to select a boat, plan your project, finish the job, and actually head for the water.Over the past thirty to forty years boat builders, large and small, have produced tens of thousands of fiberglass boats. Many now sit abandoned, waiting for some tender care to get back on the water where they belong. Fiberglass unlike many other types of boatbuilding materials does not rot, rust, or break down over the years. Many people have realized this, of course, and have started what they think will be an easy project. They were wrong, and many well-intentioned renovations sit abandoned.Whatever the reason for wanting to take on the restoration of a project boat, proper planning and organization can make the difference between success and failure. Fiberglass Boat Restoration is about how to plan, organize and successfully complete a project boat restoration. It will explain why it is important to put your efforts and resources into some areas and not others. It contains valuable information about what to look for when considering the purchase of a project boat. Although the focus of the book is fiberglass, the information will be useful to anyone undertaking the building or restoration of any boat.Trade Review"I have been through several major restoration projects over the years and should I undertake another, I am going to invite Capt. Wayne to join me. He goes through the process from a real hands-on, eyes open perspective and explains just what you are getting into and, for the most part, what you can expect. Clear and concise, these eight chapters and the indispensable end-of-book resources section will keep things in focus for you." —Capt. Ken Kreisler, author, Powerboating: Your First Book For Your First Boat"A must-read for anyone considering a boat restoration>"—Ensignmagazine"I have been through several major restoration projects over the years and should I undertake another, I am going to invite Capt. Wayne to join me. He goes through the process from a real hands-on, eyes open perspective and explains just what you are getting into and, for the most part, what you can expect. Clear and concise, these eight chapters and the indispensable end-of-book resources section will keep things in focus for you." —Capt. Ken Kreisler, author, Powerboating: Your First Book For Your First Boat"A must-read for anyone considering a boat restoration>"—Ensignmagazine

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