30-Odd Boats

Naval architect Phil Bolger lets his imagination soar once again in this, his fourth book of boat designs. The Bolger flair appears in every one of these 39 designs - from an 11 ½-foot sailing pirogue to a 26 ½-foot steam launch to a 115-foot full-rigged ship. In between are simple daysailers, cruising sharpies, fast powerboats, and lovely traditional sailing craft. His talent and eccentricities are self-evident - and only he can describe how own output in such an analytical yet entertaining fashion. The plans are reproduced large enough to allow close scrutiny, and there are designs for building in steel, aluminum, and wood (including cold-molding). Bolger tells you the origin of each design - sometimes a straightforward commission, sometimes a request for a solution to a specific problem, sometimes a contest that piqued his interest. And his solutions never fail to be unique. He also documents a few of his failures by sharing the lessons he learned. Interspersed among the relevant design comments (on leeboards, yulohs, bow steering, dipping lugs, sailboards) are philosophical arguments for and against various causes: taxation, equal rights, planned obsolescence, etymology, low-cost housing. The Bolger mind never rests. If you're already a Bolger fan, you now have a new prize for your collection; if you haven't met him via his earlier books, you have in your hands a great opportunity.