Best boat joinery book for numpties ?

[Boo2]

Understand that I am asking this for a friend of a friend : I don't personally know any numpties

I <ctrl-b> <ctrl-b> my friend's friend is thinking of doing some boat joinery this winter including converting some pilot berths to lockers, converting a hanging locker into a new chain locker as well as adding a sink in the heads.

I did woodwork at school but was never any great shakes at it and that was a long time ago so I really want a book oriented at showing the average person how to do that sort of thing it in great detail with lots of tips etc. A book oriented to people already in the know is not much use as I'll need all technical terms explaining etc.

I found the following condidates on Amazon but don't want to spring for them if they are not going to suit so wondered if anyone here owns/has read/can recommend any of them based on my needs ?

• The Restoration Handbook
  
• Fitting Out Your Boat: Fibreglass or Wood
  
• Boat Joinery and Cabinet Making Simplified
  
• Boat Interior Construction: A Bestselling Guide to DIY Interior Boatbuilding

Many thanks,

Boo2

 

[nimbusgb]

'Boat interior construction' and 'Boat Joinery and Cabinetmaking' both mediocre at best.

I bought both when I took on Cariad. left both at home on the bookshelf.

I'd try to find something with tips on making patterns, material selection, tools and a specialist book on jointing techniques. Something with a collection of 'insider tips' like how to use an angle guage properly or how to make a pattern for a bulkhead would go a long way. How to hide fixings and such like.

I learned more from years of reading tips in practical boating magazines than I did from any of those books.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Fred Binghams book is worth it. He does however sort of run out of things at the end and describes how to build Trifle, one of his dinghy designs and finally how to make "marine household furniture" They were the last things on my mind whilst wanting to learn more on cabinet making. He does start with chapters on tool selection and making jigs.
Don Caseys This Old Boat has it's moments, and describes building fridge and freezers. Boat Interior Construction also has lots of helpful photos. They are worth the money, some of the "fitting out books" for proffessionals run to hundreds of pounds.

 

[Poignard]

'The Finely Fitted Yacht' by Ferenc Mate

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Bookshops that sell old technical books. There are many volumes out there sold in the 40s, 50s and 60s when DIY was a way of life for Men.

I have found good books that tell Men how to make all sorts of joints, the tools to use and how to use them. Entirely relevant to boat building.

Worth a good look through a second hand bookshop. The other thing to obtain is a catalogue of mouldings.

Armed with Man skills I found "Boat Interior Construction: A Bestselling Guide to DIY Interior Boatbuilding" a good book for moulding work, gluing and construction tips. I would recommend it.

Moulding is the key for Men who want to hide their mistakes.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Ship Joinery by S.G.Duckworth
Joinery and carpentry vol V1 also covers ship joinery .
Why get your friend a book for numpties when he can look at the real thing .

 

[Captain Coochie]

Theres one on ebay now ..


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JOINERY-AND-CARPENTRY-VOLUME-6-VINTAGE-COLLECTABLE-BOOK-/260882695302?pt=Antiquarian_Books_UK&hash=item3cbdd20486

 

[Poignard]

.... I really want a book oriented at showing the average person how to do that sort of thing it in great detail with lots of tips etc. A book oriented to people already in the know is not much use as I'll need all technical terms explaining etc.

'Boatowner's Weekend Woodworking' by Garth Graves would be a good start. Well illustrated and easy to understand. A very practical book

 

[doug748]

I have looked at a few but not seen a book I could recommend. Your local library should be the first port of call, books of general woody nature will give the basics.

I have some tips:
Do not use nails, ever
Learn a bit about working with veneers
Get yourself a quality plug cutter and router bit to match (you can use it in a fast drill)
Buy some expensive water resistant PVA
Design:
Look at production boats. The effect is simple, the sort of simplicity that is difficult to do.
Look at a home finished boat, all too often you will note a contrived effect, contrasting woods, fussy mouldings and fancy joints, virtuosity for its own sake.
Give yourself a practical test:
Make your significant other a tea try out of 5/8 in plywood with lipped sides. Figure out how to fix the lipping, if you use screws, hide the fixings with your plugs. Figure out how you could make the lipping work as a handle at each end. Do not buy handles or stick them on. It should look clean, spare and be exquisitely made. It should not look as if it came out of a 1953 copy of Practical Woodworker and Bee Keeper.

When the missus says: "Blimey, I didn't kmow you had it in you. Its brilliant, looks really..er..modern" Then you know you have cracked it.

If you put contrasting plugs in, for an extra special effect - start again at the top.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

..... Look at production boats. The effect is simple, the sort of simplicity that is difficult to do. .....

Or easy to do because they use kilometres of mouldings for that clean finish and simple assembly by just butt joining.

 

[Quandary]

Keep it simple, make templates for everything, practice first as Doug advises. Remember that most joinery handbooks are written by enthusiasts who are motivated to display skills you may not have, avoid fancy lippings or contrasting veneers, popular to display skill in a book but dated on a modern boat.
A good workspace, a proper bench which supports your work firmly and that you can get around, sharp tools, particularly saws, planes and chisels, measure and mark everything twice. Loads and loads of patience, if you do not look forward to doing it better to take your templates to a workshop, though somewhere in nearly ever family there is a skilled joiner.

 

[alahol2]

There are some surprisingly good videos on youtube, mainly American, showing how to markup joints, cut etc. Also how to sharpen and use different tools. Using a router etc etc. Just google 'youtube woodworking' for a taster.

 

[Conachair]

Quite pricey but this is up there with boatowners mechanical as a must have onboard. Imho. Not all wood but a good chapter in there.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Old-Bo...7942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320482877&sr=8-1