I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone wanting to build a canoe, kayak or other small boat. It's similar in its objective to the book "Building Your Kevlar Canoe: A Foolproof Method and Three Foolproof Designs" (another book that I also like) except this book provides an alternative and I think simpler way to make the mold on which the kevlar or other composites are laid up. This book also describes many more neat options and features to incorporate into the boat you build.
The author describes his building technique mainly through the construction of a decked canoe with a unique shape because as the author states, "it is the most difficult of the hull designs. . . . Any other canoe you choose to build [with a more conventional hull design] is likely to be much simpler and easier to build." In other words, if the reader understands how the build principles apply to this hull, it is straightforward to apply these principles to other designs. The build sequence is detailed, step by step, and easy to follow. The author even provides a detailed chapter on building a model (conventional hull design) to practice and get comfortable with the building approach on a small scale. The book is well structured, there are lots of photos, and the writing is clear and easy to understand.
While the text focuses on one build, the author frequently explains how the approach can be applied to other designs. All the designs are amazingly lightweight.
I liked how the author handled several aspects of the building process: the two relatively fast ways to build or obtain a mold, incorporating cheek plates into the mold, using dacron as a mold surface, how to handle laminating the stems and then reinforcing the stems later for lots of strength, detailed lamination schedule, making lightweight bulkheads, making lightweight thwarts, deck construction alternatives, lightweight ribs, seats, cargo carrying accessories, flotation, rod holders, clever foot rests, etc. etc. Plans for three additional designs are included in the back along with plans for making a lightweight paddle.
Having built several small boats under 20 foot, I can say that if you read and understand the book, you can build any of the three (four if you include the model) designs provided in the book or another design that you might have from another source.
Interestingly, this book is about building composite craft in which the mold, not the craft, is built using a skin on frame technique. The finished boat itself is not a skin on frame craft just as the high end kevlar canoe that you might buy or rent from an outfitter is not a skin on frame craft. After fabrication on the mold as detailed in the book, the composite hull is removed and fit out in conventional way with gunwhales, ribs, bulkheads, flotation, etc. The idea of using skin on frame techniques to make the mold is clever.
It is true that the book focuses most of its detail on building one boat. But, what a great way to describe the building approach in enough detail so the reader can understand and apply the techniques to other designs. In fact, the author includes offsets for three other full size designs, and there is discussion throughout on how some ideas are applied to other craft. Even the classic book on building lapstrake boats by Tom Hill only focuses on two craft.
If you are interested in building a lightweight composite canoe, kayak or other small craft, or want to learn more about composite boat construction for the home builder, this is a good read with a lot of information.
