The Complete Guide to Metal Boats, Third Edition

There are plenty of advantages to owning a metal boat over one made from other materials. Metal boats are more durable and able to withstand hazards like rocks, ice, and coral. An aluminum boat is lighter than its wood or fiberglass counterpart, making them faster and more fuel-efficient. And they're easier to repair and clean.

In fact, just about the only drawback to metal boats is that they aren't mass-produced, meaning that the only way to get a new one is to either shell out big bucks to have one custom-made or build your own. Just the thought of trying to build a boat could potentially be enough to discourage a potential skipper... until now.

Author Bruce Roberts-Goodson draws on more than three decades of experience designing and building metal boats to bring you this user-friendly guide to constructing your very own watercraft from the initial concept to the very first launch. You'll discover:

• How to build or refurbish all parts of your boat - from the hull, to the deck, and everything in between
• How to maintain your metal boat
• How to work from plans or precut kits
• Sample designs for powerboats and sailboats

Metal boats can deal with hazards that would rip apart a fiberglass or wooden hull, but the only way to get one is to buy used or have it built. Bruce Roberts-Goodson has been designing and building metal boats for more than three decades; in The Complete Guide to Metal Boats he tells you all you need to know to build the boat of your dreams.
Bruce Roberts-Goodson is one of the world's foremost small-craft designers. For more than 35 years, he has run his own yacht design firm, with offices in the United States, Austria, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. He has sold more than 65,000 sets of boat plans.