Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Visually stunning, 31 Mar 2005
This is one of those books that makes your jaw drop when you first see it - the graphics are all computer generated which may not be to everyone's taste but makes for a bright, interesting and striking look.The subject matter has been comprehensively covered and although I haven't yet tried to build anything from the book, I expect that the instructions would be fine. My only comment would be that if you are used to lots of construction photos (such as in the Woodenboat series) then you might find it wanting. In summary - a book that is a joy to behold, and a useful addition to the workshop bookshelf.
|
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A virtual world of sailing canoes, 24 April 2007
Even though mr Bradshaw is an excellent writer, and his illustrations lavish (all done with the help of computers), this is more an inspirational boat, than a how-to book.
By trade he's a sail designer, and gosh are there many pretty renderings of sails in this book, but not a single photo, so you don't know if they'll work or not, in the real life, outside the virtual world of computers.
Quite faithfully, he sums up the different types of classic sailing canoe rigs. All are, but one, very retro - not even the classic Klepper rig is in there, being just too modern, I guess (introduced in the 1930's, constantly, but slowly developing for over 50 years). And Kleppers are folding kayaks, at least theoretically different from wood, plastic and aluminium canoes?! But strip-glued canoes, aren't they very modern? And those are in this elegant book!
The sail that is very modern is his own design, of course, what else?! What's traditional, or antique, about that?!
All his metal fittings and screws are brass, so you better have access to a metal workshop, but he uses aluminium clews (arguing that they are better somehow than the same manufacturers plastic ones)!
If you want to build a sailing canoe, that is not being designed to be used, but put on display, by all means, follow his lead!
His chapter on steering I did like, even if he doesn't call a Norwegian tiller a Norwegian tiller (to him it's a steer-stick). sadly, there is nothing about how to make adjustable pedals, which often is essential (designed my first at an early age - still in use I think)!
So while the book gets 5 points for looks and inspiration, I'd give it far less for utility and nothing for safety - a chapter on basic safety (including the need for vessel and personal flotation aids) is essential in any boat book, as is an alphabetical directory, not just a content list.
|
|
|
|
by Graham Warren
