This book is about fixing up old boats made of wood. For many people, a boat isn't a boat unless it's made of wood. The psychological and philosophical reasons for needing to own a boat made from honest trees instead of the material that L. Francis Herreshoff characterized as "frozen snot" needn't concern us. But in this day and age, hard-nosed economics and the ubiquitous bottom line certainly should. FACT: You can buy a repairable wooden boat and renovate and remodel it for a lot less money than you can buy and renovate a plastic or metal of similar size and condition. Jim Trefethen has renovated dozens of good old wooden boats, and in this book he's sharing his collected wisdom, craftsmanship, and penury with you. It will supply you with the basic skills you'll need to successfully renovate an old wooden boat--any old wooden boat, from a 16-foot canoe to a 50-foot cruiser, and everything in between--provided the boat actually is repairable (and you'll learn how to determine that, too). After you've read Wooden Boat Renovation, we hope you come away knowing what is possible and how to accomplish it. Then we hope you actually do it.

Describes the advantages of wooden boats, tells how to select a boat worth restoring, and covers work schedule, budget, tools, woods, hull repairs, decks, internal spaces, and finishes.

Mudlark, build in 1953, is a modified version of the iconic Meadow Lark, a shallow-draft leeboard sharpie ketch designed by L Francis Herreshoff. But she is about to sink. Ian Scott decides to save her, and to do the work himself. This is the story of why and how he devoted many years to the restoration of Mudlark, and of what he learned in the process about wooden boats, the timbers they are made of, the designers and craftsmen who make and repair them, the tools they use and, not least, about himself. It is also the story of his imaginary conversation with Mudlark's ghosts: the designer, the naval architect who modified the sail plan, the commissioning owner and the builder. All are long dead, but their work lives on in Mudlark.

Now MBI Publishing Company’s two top-selling boating titles—written by one of the world’s top authorities on the subject of antique wooden boat restoration—are available in one volume. In this comprehensive restoration guide for owners and enthusiasts of wooden powerboats of all makes and models built from the early 1920s through the 1960s, author Don Dannenberg covers all major woodworking aspects of restoration: surveying, disassembly, repair, reconstruction, and varnishing. But when it comes to restoring a classic wooden powerboat, getting the frame, planking, and deck right is just one part of the story. Danenberg also walks enthusiasts through the topics of hardware, running gear, electrical wiring, plumbing, instruments, upholstery, trailers, and maintenance. Fully illustrated with step-by-step color photos and written in an entertaining style in which the author stresses sound reconstruction techniques over preservation of original components, this comprehensive volume also includes resource listings, glossaries, and School of Hard Knocks sidebars.

"The Art of Wooden Boat Repair: A Boatwright's Secret Tricks of the Trade" brings to you the experience and insights gained by Allen Cody Taube through 40 years of boat building, owning and sailing wooden schooners, marine surveying and wooden boat repair. Taube outlines and details wooden boat repairs in a clear and informal style, taking time and care to answer the many legitimate questions a boat carpenter or boat owner might ask. Beginning with the directive that developing a good positive attitude, organization, and making good templates are most important to your success, the author moves on to discuss such practical details as selecting and using the correct tools and woods, survey a wooden boat; framing; building a steam box; replacing sawn and laminated frames; replacing and repairing carvel planking; caulking; refastening; making templates for floor timbers; battling ship worms, and replacing and repairing stems, keels, keel bolts, through-hulls, masts and rigging, and decks. More than 100 illustrations supplement the excellent text. With this clearly written book that takes the mystery out of wooden boat repair and shares previously horded tricks of the trade, you'll feel confident and have the information you need to work, repair and maintain on your own wooden boat.

How-to guidance for retiring on a boat—for aging captains and landlubbers Have you ever thought you might want to retire on a boat? Of course you have or you wouldn’t have picked up this book! Whatever form your yearning for aquatic retirement takes, Jim Trefethen can help you realize the dream. After sailing together for over 40 years, the Jim and his wife have learned the secrets of living a content and productive life. Here Jim shares those secrets, including: ● Making sure you really want to do it: then make sure you are sure. ● How to upsize your ambitions while downsizing your life, in ways that will enhance your retirement ● How to get all your shore-side affairs in order, then to make some important adjustments in your attitude, confidence, and self esteem ● Easy-to-understand pointers and suggestions for deciding which type of retired cruising is best for you ● A ten-step plan to buying a boat with as little drama as possible ● How to modify your new/old floating retirement home to make it safer, more comfortable, and more elderly friendly