This is the MOST valuable of my 80 or 90 boatbuilding books, hands-down. It doesn't matter what construction material you are using, or what your level of expertise. At the very least, it is a fun, witty, and motivating book. Even if you come out of it with no more knowledge than when you started (I guarantee that will not happen), it will give you the necessary wisdom and motivation to stay the course. It was the first 'boat building' book I ever purchased, and it alone motivated me to stop dreaming about a boat, and to start building/rebuilding one. And it was to this book I turned whenever a project was frustrating (this is almost daily, for the uninitiated--and he explains this, too). It was also the book I used as a primary reference, and it served me very well in the rebuilding of two medium-sized boats. It has since served me equally well in the building of boats from plans, though you will need more than he offers for this (that does not mean instead of this, but in addition to his book, another will be necessary).

Whether you are going to build a boat from scratch, or you are going to refurbish an older boat (he makes a hard sell), this book MUST be read. If you have only one book on your shelf pertaining to the construction/reconstruction/maintenance, this should be it. You will never forget it, and you will recommend it to others as strongly as I am to you. Your boat will feel naked without it.

One can take two routes with
boats, buying new and paying a fortune, or going the inexpensive route
and doing the work yourself. There is something to be said for each.
I'm a sailor, I don't like working on boats. I had my fill as a child
working on my Dad's boat. Nevertheless, I'm presently engaged in
refitting an awesome older boat to modern standards. I love every bit
of it.

Casey's books are essential references for me. I've managed
to pick things up from magazines and working on other boats over the
years, but I still found these books not only insightful and powerful
motivators for me. One job that I have been reluctant to do, a deck
modification project has suddenly become do-able for me. Reading his
book made it clear to me that these jobs are not as hard as they first
seem to be. It is difficult to cut up a nice looking deck, but if you
plan the project right, you can transform your deck layout for
single-handed sailing, fix a de-lamination problem and a multitude of
deck leaks all at one time.

I strongly recommend this book and his
Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair.

Buy these books. Map out a strategy
and then focus on one project at a time. Good luck and smooth
sailing.

Conrad
Senior S/V ECHO