 Dynamite Payson's "Instant Boatbuilding" aims to guide readers in constructing 15 boats designed by Phil Bolger. It offers plans and instructions for a range of boat types, including skiffs, pirogues, and dinghies, and features Payson's well-regarded, practical advice. However, potential buyers should be aware that only a limited number of the 15 projects include fully detailed plans.
The remaining projects feature only scaled-down images, a potential drawback considering the book's title. Despite this, the book provides valuable introductory content on boatbuilding basics, tools, and materials. The instruction is clear and easy to understand, making it a useful starting point for beginners.
However, more experienced boatbuilders, or those seeking in-depth knowledge, will likely need to consult additional resources. While not a comprehensive manual, "Instant Boatbuilding" offers a foundation for aspiring boatbuilders. The main body of the book is supplemented with several appendixes providing additional information, and glossary explaining the most frequently used terms.
 It is rare to find individuals who own boats or wish to possess them solely for enjoyment who do not select them – after all practical factors are considered – based on personal preference. A beautiful object brings eternal joy. In this regard, it is irrelevant whether a yacht is faster than another, whether it has won a single cup or a multitude of them.
From my experience sailing and collaborating with sailors, the appreciation of graceful design and structure in any vessel often leads to extensive and diverse discussions. Inevitably, comparisons arise, with lengthy lists of boat names long forgotten, the performance metrics of certain ocean greyhounds in conditions that only a fortunate few have ever encountered or would even desire to. Ships, yachts, and boats are frequently referred to using feminine pronouns.
The phrase “She rolled like a pig” is a common maritime expression for any vessel that misbehaves in a following sea. Similarly, “she” often receives more care, attention, and affection from her male owner than a girlfriend, fiancée, or wife, and to understand the reasons behind this, one would need to delve deep into the history of maritime traditions…
 According to one of the most popular reviews for the subject book, the most interesting thing about it is the fact that it will take only a couple of hours for the attentive reader to assemble his or her own Uqbar boat and get her prepared to be glued – of course, provided that all instructions given by the author, have been duly followed.
Actually, one can get armed with a pencil and drill plus just some very basic tools, to be able to start making a boat. Apart from the valuable instructions and practical tips, the publication is full of the informative images and explanations of the various construction methods to the beginner boatbuilder’s benefit.
Another interesting thing is that the author managed to prove the effectiveness of the stitch-and-glue technique when applied to the construction of this particular boat type, and the Uqbar is definitely among the popular ones. These boats have been in wide use by the people for a long time, either as the yacht tenders or even primary craft.
All the basic steps have been details and made easy to follow even for the newcomers, so one can start reading the book in the morning and commence his own boat building project same evening. Make a try and you will succeed.
 This volume would be recommended to the people with deep interest in designing yachts and boats. It should not actually be looked at as the technical manual or textbook. The publication rather contains the nautical autobiography written by the very experienced and professional designer of the yachts.
It is a sort of easy reading for the people whose life is somehow connected with the design of the ships, boats, and yachts. They will definitely appreciate the content of this volume since it provides not only the technical details and information that can be found in the other similar titles, but also the personal experience shared by the author, and this is something very difficult to find. The practical experience of the author covers different kinds of cruising boats.
He also addresses the main reasons for selecting the particular boat design and gives numerous valuable suggestions and tips that would be interesting to both the beginner and the professional ship and boat designer. Moreover, there are so many informative sketches and photographs which, together with the other technical information, will make this title a perfect choice for all those following the traditional design of the yachts.
 This volume will be greatly appreciated by all lovers of boatbuilding, particularly those looking at fiberglass as one of the most perspective materials for the boat construction. The content of the publication features impressive coverage of the efficient hull construction methods used today; however, the other methods have also been paid attention.
The text part is full of detailed and clear explanations provided by the author willing to share his experience in the field of the boatbuilding, taking readers step by step through all stages of boat hull construction and repair. Moreover, it is supplemented with nearly two hundred drawings for better understanding of the subject.
The topics covered by the author include, but are not limited to the materials used for the construction, tools and instruments, associated costs, supplies, and so many others. Note that the author has also addressed the cost issue, which is traditionally omitted in most of the books of this kind.
The readers will even be duly guided through the calculation process to be able to conduct proper estimation of time and expenses needed for the project, and be prepared for same with no any last minute surprise.
 Here is the very practical handbook designed specifically to be used as the boatshop assistant and written by the professional to meet all needs of the boat builders. The content of the volume covers the entire process of constructing wooden boats, from row-boats to the huge commercial and war ships.
The idea of the author was to help boat builders facing difficulties and various delays that usually result from the insufficient practical information. The book provides readers with the detailed info and tips supplemented with the numerous pictures addressing all stages of the building process. Such information will be of great use to the people engaged in planning the boat building process, with due consideration given to the sequence of the operations.
The nine sections of the book cover the plans and lofting, set up and construction of the flat-bottom, V-shaped-bottom, and round-bottom hulls, different construction methods, joining, spar making, plumping, installation works, finishing, as well as the tools normally used for construction. The approach used by the author make the understanding of the material easy even for the absolute beginners and this is one of the advantages.
 This is one of the most complete and thorough volumes of those devoted to the outrigger canoes that have gained so much of popularity and spread everywhere in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans. The idea of the author was to provide readers with the detailed plans and instructions that would be used when building the sailing canoes.
The designs presented in this volume are quite lightweight and one can easily build them following the instructions step by step. Due to the clarity of the explanations given by the author, the volume gained so much of popularity all around the world. Some brief history of this type of boat has been provided for a start, and then the basic technical characteristics are discussed.
The motors commonly installed on such boats have also been addressed in detail, providing readers with the easily understandable instructions and tips. Apart from that, some essential boat building information has been providing acquainting the readers with the mostly used construction materials and techniques for both new construction and repair works. The canoe rigging and tuning have been paid particular attention, and same applies to the basic sailing tips. Finally, there is a nice glossary of terminology.
 Have a look into this second, thoroughly revised and updated edition of the popular Small Steel Craft publication by Ian Nicolson. The publication is covering all important aspects of the small craft construction and building, as well as the repair and rebuilding. The author provides clear and easy-to-understand explanations of the design features considered unique to the craft made of steel materials.
Note that both the steel and different alloys have been addressed, together with their properties and application. The readers will get to know what and how shall be done in order to avoid too complicated methods of work that would consume too much of valuable time. There are also numerous tips on the optimization of the construction process, such as minimizing the number of different sizes of the steel plates and parts.
The chapters of the volume cover the entire process of small steel craft building, with the due attention paid to every single part of the craft, from the keel to the superstructure, shipboard machinery and equipment, and up to and including the fittings. The maintenance of the steel hulls is also explained together with the painting and preservation instructions.
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