The Arts of the Sailor

The Arts of the ~~Cabinet Maker~~ Sailor

A good read is hard to come by, a good " how-to book" even harder. Well, I figure I should tell people should I chance upon one. Some time ago I finished reading a book. It wasn't about butchering wood, but I think sometimes we need to take a break between projects. I felt compelled to write a review on google books, though I know my review hardly do the book any justice. Anyway, below is a cut and paste job of a review I wrote some time ago.

"...If you are into sailing small crafts, or are simply interested in an age old craft of the marlinspike, this book is a must-read.
HGS brings you back to the days of canvas sail, often with a sense of humor. This book is probably written in the 1950s, but many of the lost arts can be applied to other uses. It is clearly illustrated. It does not pretend to be anything or try to be profound; In fact, the often complicated and obsolete stuff is weeded out, leaving the amateur sailor just enough to be basically equipped in terms of skill. Hervey is not your rigid old seadog, and he always suggests alternatives that will work just as well. What draws the curious reader is perhaps the way he instructs; not as a master, but emphatically as a struggling amateur.
In this book, you will learn what it takes to sail a small craft competently, and avoid years of fumbling in the dark, for the mistakes were already made for the reader to learn from. You will also learn to make essential (the best through trial and error) projects with minimum tools and conviction.
As Hervey so aptly sums up the competent seadogs of old with an adage:
" every finger a marlinspike, his blood of stockholm tar..."
And I agree we should buy 2 books, one to be read at home, the other on board for handy reference.. or should I say, distilled wisdom?
And yes, the book is beautifully illustrated in black line drawings with retro-style shading.
If you are reading this review, I cannot imagine why you have not purchased the book, probably less than $10 including shipping. ..."

FYI , Hervey Garrett Smith has another book on boat carpentry, incidentally, of the same title.

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