WoodMarvels Blog

Building a Birchbark Canoe: The Algonquin Wabanaki Tciman

Want to build your very own Birchbark Canoe? Well, this is THE book for you! Learn how to build a Birchbark Canoe through one detailed chapter after the next full of tips, techniques and incredibly clear step-by-step instructions. Not only that, this book about building your very own Birchbark Canoe also delves into the history behind this historic item.

How to Build Wooden Boats: With 16 Small-Boat Designs

With 16 different boat designs, from wooden sailboats to hydroplanes, you cannot go wrong with this book. The wooden boats in this book range from simple to complex but no matter your level of craftsmanship. You are bound to learn something useful from the detailed instructions that cover everything from building materials to finishing techniques. The methods of construction illustrated in this book are traditional, meaning none of them use plywood or synthetic bedding compounds.

Building Small Boats

Featuring hundreds of drawings and photographs to help you every step of the way, this book about building wooden small boats is among the best in this genre. The lessons you will learn about building your own wooden boat are timeless, the methods traditional and within everybodies reach with a little practice. If you have a keen interest in building your own boat using a bit of hard work and sourcing local materials, this is the book for you!

Cold-Molded and Strip-Planked Wood Boatbuilding

In order to create a lightweight and watertight hull, the technique of cold-molded bonding is used in which layers of wood veneers and thin planks are bonded together. Strip-planking is the same except very thin strips of wood are used but the results are the same depending on the intended application. This is a great book to teach you the ins and outs of both methods along with plenty of information relating to tools, techniques and even methods of repairing them should you experience an accident. The author has an enormous amount of experience that is shared freely in this book including mold building and even backbone setup methods to make your construction of a wooden boat as headache free as possible.

Kayakcraft: Fine Woodstrip Kayak Construction

If you ever wanted to build your own kayak, this is THE book for you, learn how to built your very own kayak using detailed instructions. In addition, there are ideas on modifications to get the best kayak built for your needs.

How to Restore Your Wooden Runabout

Has your wooden runabout had better days? Time to get out the tools and this book to begin the restoration process! With this book, you will learn how, with both detailed instructions and photographs, rebuilt your wooden runabout for many additional years of enjoyment. This book also covers information relating to engines, instrumentation, upholstery and electronics.

The Boatbuilder’s Apprentice

This book answers many of the questions that boatbuilders have about every aspect of wooden boatbuilding from tools, coatings and construction methods to adhesives, efficient work processes and even type of woods to use for certain applications. Get this book if you are serious about boatbuilding!

Clinker Plywood Boatbuilding Manual

This is an detailed manual outlining the methods from start to finish relating to open boat boatbuilding using glued clinker and lapstrake construction methods. This book is best for those who have some working knowledge of boatbuilding as the methods shown aren’t the simplest nor intuitive but otherwise, get it

Wooden Boats: In Pursuit of the Perfect Craft at an American Boatyard

This book is about the small boatyard managed by Nat Benjamin and Ross Gannon on Martha’s Vineyard which specializes in hand-made boats for the rich and famous. Here they recount stories about the boatbuilding process, the philosophy of their operation and their thoughts on how they became such a great success in the custom boatbuilding industry.

Pete Culler on Wooden Boats

As a legendary boatbuilder, Captain R. D.“Pete” Culler played an active role in the revitalization of the custom wooden boat industry in the 1970s. This book includes the contents of the following books; Boats, Oars, and Rowing and Skiffs & Schooners, along with written articles from The Mariner’s Catalogs and a few of his unique designs. John Burke has been a professional boatbuilder, a correspondent to WoodenBoat If you are interested in building an amazing wooden boat, this book is a must.

Glass Plates & Wooden Boats: The Yachting Photography of Willard B. Jackson at Marblehead, 1898-1937

Do you like beautiful photographs of early and majestic wooden boats? If your answer is yes, then this book is what you need on your coffee table. Not only is there amazing photography but also background information about yachting along with inspirational pictures that will surely impress.

Strip Built Canoe: How to build a beautiful, lightweight, cedar strip canoe

Build your very own cedar strip canoe using the illustrations, detailed instructions and insight provided by Mr. Folsom’s book. The author goes into great depth to make sure that, with enough time, you can produce a fantastic looking and functional cedar strip canoe that can be enjoyed for a long time out in nature.

How to Build Glued Lapstrake Wooden Boats

This book gives you step by step guidance as to how to build your very own glued lapstrake wooden boat. There are extensive drawings and illustrations to along the way towards completing your wooden boat in addition to useful tips throughout the entire process. Learn how to build jigs, tools required and common problems that arise including how to fix them! This is a fantastic wood boat building book that will allow you to learn hands-on how to develop the confidence to tackle future projects with ease.

Fifty Wooden Boats: A Catalog of Building Plans, Vol.1

This book contains 50 different wooden boat designs from a 7′ 7" pram to a 41′ 3" schooner, if you have an interest in building your own wooden boat, this is really a great reference to help you decide on your next subject. These type of projects aren’t cheap and require a lot of time but if you have plenty of both, along with some inspiration, then you will benefit greatly from the wood boat designs found in this book. Learn how to build nautical grade joints, types of woods and glues to use in addition to proper wood type selection. Building a boat that can stand the test of time in a water environment is very different then building a bird house for use in the backyard.

You can purchase the third volume at: Forty Wooden Boats: A Third Catalog of Building Plans

Featherweight Boatbuilding: A Woodenboat Book

This is a good book if you want to learn the process behind building your very own cedar strip canoe. The book has extensive instructions, detailed illustrations and informative text that will help guide you through the wooden boat building process.