Shawn Payment complained that putting together a stack was a pain, but as you can see we finally broke him. Natural stacks that happen organically require even less effort you know…
Shawn’s notes below:
“Ultrasimple Boatbuilding - Atkin. Gavin’s Mouseboats led me down the rabbit hole, so to speak.
Build the New Instant Boats - Payson. Could it really be this easy?
The Sharpie Book - Parker. So this boat building thing has been going on for a while then?
Boats with an Open Mind - Bolger. What was he thinking, exactly. Hey, wait…
The Lo-Tech Navigator - Crowley. Fun tools for sailing fools.
The Strip-Built Sea Kayak - Schade. For those who graduate beyond ply-panels and on to pretty curves.
April Fool & The Stormy Voyage of Father’s Day - Vihlen. How did he not die?
The Biggest Boat I Could Afford - Hughes. The “Bible” for those who want too much but who learn to settle for less. “
Steve Borgstrom sent this stack to be read by the glow of the oil lamp. He writes:
“Anything by Maurice Griffiths is worth reading
Princess — one man (joe Richards) and his lifelong affair with a Friendship sloop
South Sea Vagabonds — John Wray decides to build himself a boat and go sailing, a better tale than Pidgeon, which of course is a classic too
Penelope Down East — engineless cruising off the coast Maine
Saga of Direction — yes, that Direction, the one made famous by Rockwell Kent in N by E (also a great read)”
Steve Lindeman says he’s so enjoyed the Book Stacks that he could hold out no longer. His stack is a good one—looks like it came right off our shelves!
He writes:
“I picked out a few of my favorites. I have enjoyed all of these books over the years and keep coming back to them.
Larry Brown’s Sailing America really captured my imagination and got me started in small boat sailing. It still inspires me to hook up my boat and try a new lake, river or bay.
The Complete Sailor is my favorite all-round book on the art of sailing. It covers everything in an easy to understand and enjoyable way.
Wake of the Green Storm is a must read adventure book.”
George Brindle’s stacks has some hard-to-find hardbacks and some newer gems. He writes:
“My dad loved boat books. Although he never owned a boat, he read book after book, keeping several hundred which came to us when he passed on in ‘96. We sold most off but kept still some classics that I added to later.
I got the interest in boats from him, owning or building many small craft: currently 2 canoes, CLC and Pygmy kayaks, a Devlin Candlefish 16 Sunshine, a Cosine Wherry Besame and now building the second of two paddle boards. And other boats prior too. I did teach adult lear-to-sail for a while but now I’m more into rowing.
The books. I see I’m focused on design if the count is any indication. I’ve sailed the West Coast and Gulf Islands and so I’m drawn to what I think are traditional boats but living on the edge of the Canadian prairies, my boats are those that I can use and enjoy here. Bill Garden’s designs get constantly dreamed about. So do Devlin’s and Gartside’s.
My favourite stories are The Year of the Boat by L. Cheek, Sloop by D Robb and many of the adventures documented by Uffa Fox. The oldest of my Fox books is over 75 years and the acid paper is starting to breakdown. Modern paper is thankfully better but I do worry about the ability of humans to maintain their archive of history. Unfortunately the digital archive makes me worry the most. Its hard to find software that even opens things created 25 years ago. I hope Substack is better for Small Craft Advisor going forward but I do treasure every paper copy I have. I’m rambling.
The wood technical manuals are valuable adds to my shop. So are the canoe building books. I can’t say enough good things about Moores and Brooks.
Sven Donaldson and Saunders are essentials for learning.
Herreshoff and Chappelle are must haves for any collection.” •SCA•
Chappelle and Herreshoff are two that I have gone back to over the years and will continue to do so. Too bad most of their books are out of print, I'll hang on to mine until I leave the mooring for the last time.
I am of course always so pleased to see Michael's and my book Beachcruising and Coastal Camping on a book shelf. So far so good on continuing to be in print and appreciated small boat voyagers....