The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual

Book Description

"This book will save you money and grief before you can say woven roving."--Sailing

"A comprehensive and accurate work that should benefit almost any owner of a fiberglass boat."--SAIL

"This book will prove a valuable addition to the library of any boat builder or owner who is seriously interested in doing his own repairs, as well as intercepting minor problems before they become major projects."--Boatbuilder

Are there hairline cracks in your boat's deck or topsides gelcoat? Have her color and luster faded over the years? Does she have deck leaks? Has she been holed? Is her hull oilcanning in a sea? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, this book is for you. This is the definitive guide for fiberglass boat repair and beautification, covering not just cosmetic dings and scratches, but also major repairs of structural damage to hull and decks. It will show you how to:

replace deteriorated gelcoat, or repair the flaws in an existing gelcoat and recoat it with polyurethane or marine alkyd enamel paint;
strengthen a weak and overly flexible hull or deck;
tab in loose hull liners and joinerwork;
make templates from the good side of a hull to reshape large shattered or missing areas on the other side;
repair or replace water-saturated deck cores;
repair keels, rudders, and centerboards;
rebed and refasten underwater and on-deck hardware;
rebed, refasten, and strengthen hull-to-deck joints;
fix broken hatches, and make new ones when necessary;
treat the symptoms and causes of overstressed hulls.

That beautiful craft swinging at anchor or nestled dockside, her topsides reflecting water and sky like a polished mirror, could be yours. Here's how.

Customer Reviews:

dated.......2005-06-23

This is a very old book as far as fiberglass boats go.Must later prcedures,and products not included. There is some usefull info in the book

I think there are better books out there . . ........2001-02-05

This is a good book. It is complete, to be sure. For the expert fiberglass repair person, I cannot speak, but it is certainly difficult to read for an amateur. Generally, a bit much to swallow. I think that other books have similar information more elegantly stated. The fault is not with the content, but the presentation.

Also Valuable When Buying A Used Boat!.......2000-02-06

Of the many boatbuilding and repair manuals I have seen, I would consider this to be the best reference for fiberglass boat repair. The pictures on the dust-jacket alone indicate that a serious treatise is contained within. It would appear that no matter how bad it looks, there is no problem beyond the scope of the competent fiberglass repairman. (Caution - some of the color photos of repairs-in-progress between pages 118 and 119 are not for the faint-hearted!)

Mr. Vaitses has been at this for a long time and with experience in the world of wooden boats (all boats have wood in them somewhere) as well as having been a player in the fiberglass revolution, is able to offer a well-rounded perspective. His honest, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving is refreshing.

Besides the obvious background info and how-to descriptions, this book can be an invaluable asset when examining a used boat. Mr. Vaitses is currently working as a marine surveyor (a person who inspects and evaluates the condition of boats for prospective buyers). All used boats need some kind of work and the challenge then becomes evaluating the nature and scope of needed repairs, e.g. distinguishing structural and safety issues from cosmetics and determining whether one can affect the repairs oneself vs. how much it will cost to have someone else do it.

Book Description

Why is stitch-and-glue boatbuilding so popular?

Any number of construction methods will produce a beautiful boat. But for the backyard builder with limited experience and a tight budget, the choice is not so complicated. Traditional plank-on-frame and cold-molded construction require complicated lofting and building molds--to say nothing of expensive tooling and lots of time. Stitch-and-glue construction, on the other hand, can produce the same results with a substantial savings in time and money. The process is quicker, easier, uses fewer parts, and produces a boat that is much easier to maintain--without the building molds and with only the simplest lofting. For tools, you need little more than a circular saw, a sander/polisher/grinder, a block plane, a framing square, a level, and a tape measure.

Sam Devlin has elevated stitch-and-glue boatbuilding to an artform, and his graceful designs have attracted the attention of backyard builders across the country. Here is all you need to know to build the boat of your dreams, whether it's a 7-foot dinghy or a 40-foot power cruiser. Devlin's Boatbuilding: How to Build Any Boat the Stitch-and-Glue Way shares the wisdom of his 16 years of experience designing, building, and helping others build his fleet of small sail- and powerboats.

It's all here, from choosing a design and setting up shop to painting the finished hull and launching. There is also a gallery of Devlin's designs and a detailed appendix listing sources for tools and other materials.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, but no use to the first-time boat builder.......2007-06-21

Samual Devlin is clearly a god to many in the boat-building community, but this book is simply pitched too high for most beginners, and that's a shame given that it's marketed to those very beginners. The book's major flaw (or it's greatest strength, perhaps) is in its author's refusal to accept anything but the best tools or materials. So for instance he says "There can be no compromise: the plywood *must* be marine grade". I think it's fair to say that most people building stitch-and-glue boats are doing so for economic reasons, so why insist on hard-to-get highly expensive marine plywood?

You'll rapidly put this book down unless you're highly familiar with the arcane vocabulary of advanced boat-building which Devlin uses at every turn, and sadly, that's what I've done for now.

I *am* liking the simpler book by Jim Michalak - Boatbuilding for Beginners (and Beyond).

Stitch and Glue excellence.......2007-05-24

Devlins created a boat building book from vast experience that is easy to follow and understand. He delves into the build process and materials used with great detail and an enthusiasm that will surely rub off.
I need to build another boat!!

stich-and-glue boatbuilding system.......2007-01-19

If you have the time, money, tools and proper construction area you can build some fantastic boats that don't require all of the ribbing and lofting of conventional boatbuilding.
I found a few basic techniques in this book that I can apply to the building of small boats also.

Easy Boat Building Concepts thoroughly explained.......2006-11-04

I have read this book several times. He has a clear and logical way of presenting the stages of construction. His web site is informative and his video is equally as instructive. In terms of a complete "How to" series, I only wish other disciplines were as good.

In addition to the quality of his construction, I am particularly fond of his designs. Most other stitch and glue plans lack the elegance of Sam's designs.

Not just for boat building!.......2006-10-07

I bought this book because I wanted to prepare myself for building a boat in 2007, next year. In reading through it, I learned that what is covered is not just how to build a boat, but really more about how to finish a boat.

You may not understand this, but it's true, I'll explain.

Currently I am building a coffee shop from scratch, really, from scratch, I've gutted the place, I've put up new walls, I've built counters, I built a coffee roaster, I fixed / heavily modified an espresso machine, basically, I've done every part of it and I'm in to year two and my doors are still yet to be opened to the public (so far, it's just a speak-easy). It's been the hardest project to date for me and I've often considered ways of getting out of it, (mainly through the ending of my existance), but have continued all the same.

When I read; "...sometimes you have to hate it to finish it." and all the other advice he gives in the book on how to complete the project, it really gave me a sense of not only being able to bring my shop to completion, but gave me a greater sense of how to go about finishing any project that you really believe in, but run into trouble completing.

I also bought this book for information on shaping plywood, because I plan to make some bent-ply furniture - and the information contained in this book does greatly help on the subject of forming plywood.

Very well written and a joy to read.

Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building

Average customer rating:

Super "How-to" on Stripwood Canoe Building
Excellent book for the beginning builder
Most comprehensive book on strip building
Reveiw Illustrated guie to canoe buildilg
An excellent addition to the canoe building literature.

Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building
Susan Van Leuven
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Building a Strip Canoe
Canoecraft: An Illustrated Guide to Fine Woodstrip Construction
Featherweight Boatbuilding: A Woodenboat Book
Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own
Strip Built Canoe: How to build a beautiful, lightweight, cedar strip canoe

ASIN: 0764305379

Book Description

Now anyone can make their own, custom-built canoe guaranteed to draw raves on land and water alike. The Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building is a comprehensive, detailed guide to the process of contructing a high-quality wood strip canoe, written especially for the novice boat builder. Sheathed strip boat construction is becoming increasingly popular among both amateur and professional builders. This is a method of producing a light weight, strong, beautiful boat of the sleekest design using materials, tools, and techniques available to the recreational builder. This book offers complete coverage of the procedures and techniques of mold set-up, assembly of the wood strip hull, epoxy resin, and fiberglass application, finishing, and more. All phases of construction are extensively illustrated with color photos and line drawings. For each stage of the building process, a range of alternative methods is presented, enabling the builder to select those which will yield a craft customized to his or her own needs. Source lists for canoe plans, building materials, and tools are included. This book is dedicated to helping the backyard boat builder achieve professional quality results in creating a fine canoe to use and be proud of for years., 490 color photos, 67 line drawings, 11" x 8 1/2"

Customer Reviews:

Super "How-to" on Stripwood Canoe Building.......2007-08-28

This book will give you the confidence to tackle your first stripwood boat project, guaranteed. Susan takes you methodically through each and every step of the process of building a stripwood canoe. She presents alternate methodologies of construction and woodworking that are tempered by knowledge and experience. I have two references at my side while building my Whitehall Pulling Boat - this book and Susan's latest work on building stripwood row boats. Other than the plans for my boat and the occasional advice of experts at The Newfound Woodworks where I got my plans, these books are all you need.

Excellent book for the beginning builder.......2004-12-15

I used this book extensively along with my regular plans book when building my Cosine Wherry. The well done illustrations and explanations helped answer many a question on "how" or "why" do do a particular building task. A highly recommended book.

Most comprehensive book on strip building.......2001-02-03

I have just completed Mac McCarthy's Wee Lassie using this book. The amount of detail in the book answered all my questions and some of the techniques (like reinforcing the deck with thin marine plywood) was better than using carlins and stripping the deck onto the carlins. I had no trouble building the boat. I built the boat with no staples or nails. Her stapleless building technique was straight forward and easy to do. The most difficult part was beveling the inside stems. I would not bevel the entire stem at once, but bevel as I stripped. The only part of McCarthy's book worth having are the mold patterns for the canoes. This book is the one you need to actually build the canoe.

Reveiw Illustrated guie to canoe buildilg.......2000-01-18

Very good color pictures, but not always helpful. Gives a lot of different approaches and methods but leaves the choice to the reader, It is obvious, and sometimes stated, that she has no experience with some of even the more basic ones.

An excellent addition to the canoe building literature........1999-08-08

This book has two great features. One is the fantastic color photographs showing the process of building a wood strip canoe. The second is that the author answers questions and gives details of construction that most other authors on the subject gloss over or ignore. The only negatives are the poor quality binding and the tiny size of the print.

Spurr's Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat (Spurrs Guide)

Average customer rating:

Outstanding all around sail book
Don't Go Offshore Without It

Spurr's Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat (Spurrs Guide)
Dan Spurr
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Consumer Guides | Reference | Subjects | Books

Boating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Nature Writing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Optimize Your Cruising Sailboat : 101 Ways to Make Your Sailboat Better
Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual
Nigel Calder's Cruising Handbook: A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors
Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere
Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat: A Guide to Essential Features, Handling, and Gear

ASIN: 0071455361

Book Description

Is your boat ready to go cruising?

Just about every sailboat—used and new—can make a good cruiser, but only if the hull-deck structure, rig, and systems meet certain standards. Spurr’s Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat tells you what those standards are, and gives you all the help you need to refurbish and upgrade every structure, surface, fitting, and system on your boat—stem to stern, project by project.

This all-in-one guide leads you step by step to a seaworthy, crew-friendly boat with top-notch cruising performance. Not only will you learn what to look for when you buy a new or used boat, you'll also learn how to reinforce your boat’s hull and structural components, redesign and replace rigging, upgrade electrical systems, and much more. Special features include:

A detailed survey of 70 used and new fiberglass sailboats best suited to offshore sailing
Gear and equipment recommendations by brand name
Construction details and other essential features of a strong, safe cruising boat
How to make critical repairs to the deck, hull, bulkheads, blisters, and portlights

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding all around sail book.......2007-07-31

Dan is the expert in boat know-how. This guide is great for all sailors as it includes project ideas and tips from simple to complex things that are on your boat.

I have read just about every one of Dan's book and this is the BEST. I have many sailor friends whom also live and die by this book.

A MUST HAVE

Don't Go Offshore Without It.......2006-04-20

Some books that you read just come across with the ring of truth. This one does. I think that this is best explained by referring to one short example. On page 60 he reports that he noticed rust stains on the rudder of his boat. Upon finding out that the rudder had a mild steel web in the middle he decided to rebuild it. After all, you really don't want the rudder coming apart half way across the ocean.

He spends the next couple of pages showing what he did in rebuilding the rudder. After it was finished a friend came by and showed him a rudder that was much easier to make from scratch rather than go through this whole process.

This says to me that first he knows what he is doing in repairing the rudder, and second that he is not ashamed to admit that sometimes he can still learn things.

This kind of attitude is carried throughout the book. Instead of a lot of publicity photographs supplied by manufacturers, he has taken most of the pictures himself. It is clear from the variety of the pictures, that he has 'been there, done that.'

I also liked his comments on what he calls 'Good Old Boats.' Most of us can't afford the prices of new boats, and his comments about some of the older boats he considers suitable for offshore sailing.

All in all, don't plan a long trip without reading this book first.

Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats: A Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers and Owners

Average customer rating:

Must have Book for those looking to buy a boat
Do it yourself or learning the ropes
I feel prepared
BASIC FIBERGLASS BOAT SURVEYING
Essential Information

Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats: A Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers and Owners
Henry C. Mustin
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Boating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Inspecting the Aging Sailboat (The International Marine Sailboat Library)
Used Boat Notebook: From the Pages of Sailing Magazine, Reviews of 40 Used Boats Plus a Detailed Look at Ten Great Used Boats to Sail Around the World
Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat: A Guide to Essential Features, Handling, and Gear
Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere
Your First Sailboat : How to Find and Sail the Right Boat for You

ASIN: 0070442487

Book Description

Mustin's part-by-part look at hull, deck, rig, and machinery is both a minicourse for transforming used-boat shopping from a game of craps to a science, and the first step in a holistic boat maintenance program. His discussion of the significance of cracks found in aging hulls and decks is the most thorough in print. He is not shy in assessing the lack of regulation of professional surveyors, nor does he shrink from pointing a finger at shoddy building practices.

Having a used boat surveyed is a critical prelude to buying it. Yet a professional survey is expensive--several hundred dollars. Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats will enable you to conduct your own surveys while narrowing the field, then monitor a professional surveyor's performance when selecting your target boat.

Customer Reviews:

Must have Book for those looking to buy a boat.......2000-08-04

Read this book and you can evaluate boats and surveyors. This in turn will make you feel more comfortable when you hire a surveyor to meet an insurance requirement or to evaluate things you don't feel competent to do yourself.

This book does a great job explaining how glass is laid up, the different types of glass, mat, roving, etc, and where they should be used. Common problems found in fiberglass boats such as blistering are discussed with lots of surprising information.

I've found that my personal experiences confirmed many of the points made by the author. Like the myth that fresh water boats are better than salt water. Contrasted with fresh water boats are more likely to have blister problems than saltwater.

Today, many people come to me with questions about boats. As I write this review, I realize that many of the answers I give out come out of information I found in this book.

I don't believe you have to have a survey on a boat to make an intelligent purchase decision. In part, because some of the surveyors are only interested in your money, and do not look boats over thoroughly. A properly educated individual can do most or all of his, or her, own survey.

Some surveyors are very good, and some are very bad. How can you tell if someone is good or not?

To become a surveyor some certifying organizations only require a couple of sample copies of surveys done and that you have a few books on your bookshelf. What a joke!

I personally know of a real case, which happened in 1999, where an old survey was pulled up, the date changed and it was reused without any a new survey being actually done. This is a good reason to choose your own surveyor and not the one recommended by the seller.

Going aloft and checking the rigging on a boat is not easy. Is it not surprising that important steps like these get skipped.

Some surveyor's haven't read this book--so how good can they be? Contrast this with someone who has taken a 8 week course on surveying, holds a USCG license, and grew up on boats. This is the kind of person you want for a surveyor.

It is up to you to be knowledgeable enough to make your own decisions-including choosing a surveyor if you feel you need one. This book will help you do that.

Educate yourself. Being able to look a boat over to evaluate it for purchase is an important skill. This book is a good starting point. It is cheap insurance and worth the price.

Do it yourself or learning the ropes.......2000-05-10

I used this and another, more detailed book, to complete my own survey on an inexpensive boat with a measure of confidence. I felt that I could gauge the safety and useability of all the major systems of the boat within reason..is it safe, does it work properly, etc.

I didn't always understand the why behind some analyses, but the average person can easily use the book to a) perform a basic survey on an inexpensive boat, or b) winnow the acceptable from the unaccptable before paying a professional to complete a thorough survey.

I feel prepared.......2000-01-26

Henry does it in one 3 1/2 hour setting - completely. I now feel confident in my search for 'Das Boot'. I drove a 27 foot Tartan for years, decided it was time for a 40 and didn't know how to proceed in my next move. Now I do. Well written, factual and even mentions, not-unfavorably, some names. I do not believe you could go wrong with this purchase, if, you are on the same quest as I. Retirement, with dive charters in the Caribbe... Buenas Suertes, y'all.

BASIC FIBERGLASS BOAT SURVEYING.......2000-01-05

Mr. Mustin explains fiberglass boat construction in very detailed laymans terms. His real world experience dealing with the problems of fiberglass boats and his discuss of what is a real problem and what is something you can live with/expect was informative. The last chapters on the trade of surveying boats for a living were excellent.

Essential Information.......1999-03-29

Mustin gives a lot of good information in doing your own survey for that boat you have your eye on. I would never recommend not having a professional survey, but this book guides you through a lot of information with good pictures and sketches. Read this book before you go boat searching to eliminate the dogs. Then use this book to hire a really good surveyor and be able to talk intelligently to him. Good luck. Would I buy again. Yes

Modern Boat Maintenance: The Complete Fiberglass Boat Manual

Average customer rating:

If you own a boat...

Modern Boat Maintenance: The Complete Fiberglass Boat Manual

Manufacturer: Sheridan House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Boating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual
Runabout Renovation: How to Find and Fix Up an Old Fiberglass Speedboat
Quick and Easy Boat Maintenance: 1,001 Time-Saving Tips
Fiberglass Repair: Polyester And Epoxy
Boat Maintenance: The Essential Guide Guide to Cleaning, Painting, and Cosmetics

ASIN: 0924486716

Book Description

If you own a fiberglass sailboat or powerboat, this is the book to turn to when dealing with questions of maintenance, improvement or repair. Here you will find clear explanations and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions covering the fiberglass hull,

Customer Reviews:

If you own a boat..........1999-12-21

If you own a boat then you understand that B.O.A.T is an acronym for Bring Out Another Thousand (dollars). Anyone who owns a boat, unless that boat is new, and has not yet been used will be forced to deal to boat maintainence issues. This book will help you to do some if this maintainence yourself so you don't have to spend a fortune to keep your boat running.

If you have a powerboat, a rowboat, or a sailboat then I recommend this book. This also makes a great gift for any boat owner.

One thing that I really like about this book is that there are lots of pictures and diagrams to help you understand what they are talking about. When you are doing work on a boat, sometimes one picture can be worth a thousand words.

It is obvious that the people writing this book really know what they are doing. This was not written by amatuers.

So if you have major repairs to deal with, or you just want to understand how your boat was built, this is the book for you.

Heart of Glass : Fiberglass Boats and the Men Who Built Them
Average customer rating:

Interesting book marred by incorrect historical facts

Great for those who love taking "dock walks"

A great read for anyone interested in business management

Heart of Glass : Fiberglass Boats and the Men Who Built Them
Daniel Spurr
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Company Profiles | Biography & History | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Ships | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Boating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sailing | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Worthy of the Sea: K. Aage Nielsen and His Legacy of Yacht Design

Fiberglass & Composite Materials

Inspecting the Aging Sailboat (The International Marine Sailboat Library)

Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair (International Marine Sailboat Library)

Advanced Marine Electrics and Electronics Troubleshooting

ASIN: 0071435468

Book Description

Nine out of ten sailors today own sturdy, often beautiful, fiberglass craft. Fiberglass brought boating to the non-rich, but the history of that revolution has never been told. Daniel Spurr rectifies this omission with his affectionate account of the fiberglass boat, from its earliest incarnation in World War II to the present. Spurr profiles landmark designs that set the standards in the used-boat market and introduces the vivid personalities who invented the world of boating we know today.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting book marred by incorrect historical facts.......2007-08-16

I was excited when I found a book devoted to the recent history of fiberglass boats. My enthusiasm was diminished by some of the incorrect historical information conveyed in the first hand accounts the author relies on. For example, on page 9 of the hard bound addition he quotes John Wills, "About 1942 . . . I was chief engineer and janitor for Western Plastics . . . That same year a small group from Cal Tech (headed by Dr. Wernher Von Braun, the rocketeer) called me to look at a jet assist take off device".

In 1942 Dr. Wernher Von Braun was in Peenemuende Germany testing V-2 rockets for use against the Allied forces. He wasn't heading up any groups at "Cal Tech".

Such an obvious mistake should have been caught by the author, or at least his publisher's proofreader and never have made it into the published edition.

Great for those who love taking "dock walks".......2004-09-16

What a super book! It has everything the average sailor could want to know about fiberglass. I have no idea how Bob Perry (one of the editorial reviewers) could read this in one evening. It's just packed with information about most of the American (and some international) sailboat builders, their boats, and in most cases their demise. A lot of "experts" at my marina proudly profess knowledge about the histories of the different boats but, after reading this book, I've discovered that many of their stories are not accurate. I you love sailboats and wonder who built them, where they were built, how they were built, and when; then you should get this book. You'll certainly have a better understanding of boat brochures touting the virtues of features like S-glass, Airex cores, and the Scrimp process. And your next marina dock walk to check out other boats will be so much more interesting.

A great read for anyone interested in business management.......2002-02-01

This readable, well-researched, and often hilarious book will delight the dickens out of any boater, power or sail (great gift!!!). More broadly, anyone interested in business management -- what works, what doesn't work, and where technology fits in -- will find much to ponder in this book. Spurr chronicles the demise of dozens of failed boating companies; an all-too-frequent theme is the destruction that follows on a company's acquisition by a large corporation seeking to "diversify," which seems, inevitably, to result in bankruptcy. Of equal interest are the few stories of genuine and lasting success, typified by Catalina Yachts, founded by Frank Butler. Mr. Butler independently arrived at the conclusions reached, belatedly, by legions of high-priced consultants and business school professors: innovate to create new markets, build quality in, treat your employees as if they were part of your family, speak personally to customers, resist acquisition, and -- if possible -- remain privately held. There's also much to ponder for economists and business historians. Imagine what the automobile industry would be like if cars lasted for 50 years -- well within the lifespan of a properly maintained, well-built fiberglass yacht. Spurr remarks that the industry's greatest mistake, viewed cynically, was its failure to build obsolescence into its products. But another factor in the industry's overall decline is the recalcitrant character of fiberglass boat-building technology, which is notoriously resistant to assembly line methods; were you to visit the Beneteau, Catalina, or Hunter factories, you'd see labor-intensive, one-at-a-time boat building techniques that do not fundamentally differ from those of 50 years ago. Unable to lower production costs, companies have instead turned to volume as a way to force down supplier prices -- that's why you get three big, dominant manufacturers in this market -- but the result, overall, is that most new fiberglass yachts of reasonable length (30' and up) are too expensive for middle-class buyers. Fiberglass boats were invented by dreamers who wanted to bring boating to Everyman; Spurr suggests, soberingly, that the dream seems destined to die.

Upgrading and Refurbishing the Older Fiberglass Sailboat

Average customer rating:

Upgrading and Refurbishing the Older Fiberglass Sailboat
William D. Booth
Manufacturer: Cornell Maritime Pr/Tidewater Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Fiberglass Boat Survey
Arthur Edmunds
Manufacturer: Bristol Fashion Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Boating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Arthur Edmunds has created a tremendously informative book concerning fiberglass boats and their systems. Fiberglass Boat Survey, will guide you through the process of choosing a boat type for your intended use. This book then continues by detailing exactly what you should inspect on any boat before you make an offer of purchase. Granted, a professional surveyor's report will be required, at a later date, to secure financing and insurance, but this book will guide you through the same process the professional surveyor will use.

Book Description

Using the materials and methods in this ground-breaking book, amateurs and small-scale professionals can build a high-tech colored-laminate boat in less time than it once took just to loft the design for conventional construction. Computers have all but eliminated the onerous lofting stage. And a new manmade "wood" and special marine epoxy glues permit building virtually any hull shape in just days instead of weeks and years. Using Baltek's DuraKore, a precision manufactured balsa-and-hardwood sandwich, each half-hull for Dick Newick's famous 40-foot racing trimaran Ocean Surfer was completed by four people in just six hours. Written in close collaboration with and endorsed by the Baltek Corporation, this is the first book to detail the use of the revolutionary boatbuilding material that has taken the small-scale professional boatbuilding world by storm.

Customer Reviews:

Be sure!.......2001-02-04

I made the mistake of purchasing this book because I was curious about Baltek products and how to use them. I think you can get that kind of information for free elsewhere (on the web or from Baltek).

HOWEVER, if you will be building a boat out of that materal, and you are sure of it, it appeared to be a very thorough explanation of the subject, and is likely a reference such a builder would really need to make the most of this material.

Great book on a time-saving process........2000-01-16

This book fully explains the Baltek method of boat building. The method is a real time saver over standard cold-molded planking methods and it results in a stronger hull. The method allows for construction of all hull shapes using ordinary tools. Check this out if you are considering new methods for boatbuilding.`

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books