Lapstrake Canoes: Everything You Need to Know to Build a Light, Strong, Beautiful Boat »

David Nichols has been designing and building boats for the last 15 years. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, he has written for boating magazines, including WoodenBoat and Boatbuilder, as well as writing and producing boatbuilding videos. He is the author of The Working Guide to Traditional Small-Boat Sails.

A lavishly illustrated guide to building a lapstrake canoe—with free fold-out plans included.

Introduction     7
Getting Started     9
The Stuff Boats Are Made Of     12
The Glue That Binds     16
Reading the Plans     20
Lofting Station #2     23
Cutting Out the Station Molds and Bulkheads     29
Lofting the Stems     32
Scarfing     34
Setting Up the Strongback     45
Putting the Molds on the Strongback     53
Putting the Stems on the Strongback     57
Putting on the Bottom and Cutting the Bevel     61
Hanging the Garboards     67
Putting on the Fiberglass Tape and Cloth     79
Beveling the Garboards and Hanging the Mid-Planks     83
Cutting the Gains and Gluing Up the Mid-Planks     89
Putting on the Sheer Planks     94
The Work Before Turn-Over     100
Setting the Sheer     105
Fillet and Tape     109
Deck Beams and Sheer Clamps     113
False Stems     116
Finishing Out the Hatches     120
Epoxy the Decks     123
Epoxy the Outwales and Inwales     127
Finishing Out the Boat     133
When Things Go Wrong     141
Changing the Plans     143
Making Some Accessories: Downwind Sail and Paddle     145
Suppliers     155
The Plans     156