Lapstrake Canoes by David L. Nichols

A lavishly illustrated guide to building a clinker style canoe with building plans for three boats.

Everything that you need to know to build a light, strong, beautiful boat from scratch.

Lapstrake (clinker style) boats are built by partially overlapping successive thin planks down the length of the boat to make a gorgeous shape that is lightweight, very strong and stable. David Nichols makes “advanced” boat building accessible to all ages and skill levels. He has written this book so that any handy person with focus can build him or herself a stunning canoe.

The book is thoroughly illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings through out, taking the reader step-by-step through every part of the process. The photographs alone could teach you how to build a canoe. In addition David Nichols has written instructions that are clear and deliberate, breaking down each job into a series of simple tasks, telling where to watch out for common errors, imparting skills and good humour at every turn. He also includes free plans for three of his own designs, ranging from 12 feet to 16 feet, plus plans for making your own paddle and making a downwind sail.

This book is an astonishing wealth of information and experience at your fingertips.

160 pages.

Please note that this is intended for people building a boat from scratch rather than from a kit.