3 stars (Great read, but a bit thin in critical areas) - This is a very entertainingly written book, essential for anyone restoring a wooden boat - worth it as a fun read alone. Good general introductory information about wooden boat types and construction, very good information about planning and initiating projects, tools, and repairing holes in a wooden hull. Sadly, the book is a bit thin in some critical areas: the section on hull refinishing is insubstantial, unclear, and confusing. Also his information on the use of expoxies and their derivatives for hull strengthening is a bit dated - you need to look further to get the best info here, and this is a critical area. (I also take issue with his promotion of fiberglassing wooden hulls, but this is more in the area of a personal disagreement than a problem with the book.) Of course, with any ambitious project you'll have a stable of books, and be sure to add this one. Or get it for sure if you're an armchair boat refurbisher. But if your primary interest is refinishing the hull, look elsewhere. 5 stars (Great Read) - I found the book both entertaining and very useful. The author adds humor as well as knowledge which means you read for the enjoyment as well as the practical skills you will obtain. The author covers every aspect from searching for a boat , restoring , repairing and the all important how to get a good fininsh on your final product. Would recommend this book to anyone considering doing restoration work on a wooden boat regardless of size. Just completed my last restoration project using this book and very satisfied with the results. 3 stars (Decent info - but proceed with caution.) - The previous reviews touch on the good points of this book, so I won't bother to repeat these. Suffice to say, there's plenty of good info to be had from this book. I would however express one word of caution. It has to do with the author's tendancy to push the reader toward approaches and methods t... International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Sports & Recreation & Boating :: Woodwork - General :: Woodwork :: Wooden boats :: Sports & Recreation :: Small Craft Maintenance And Repair :: Ships & Shipbuildi :: Wooden Boat Renovation- New Life for Old Boats Using Modern Methods