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Rating:  -
The content of "Buehler's Backyard Boatbuilding" provides a structured, step by step, method for the construction of a single-chine workboat. The construction methods tend to focus on less expensive materials and methods for builders with relatively little experience. It effectively outlines virtually all elements of construction, from laying a keel and casting a concrete ballast, to rigging and wiring. The book provides an extremely important reference material to any boat builder; even, to a lesser extent, those constructing round-bilge boats. With a multitude of pros, excellently identified in the other reviews posted here, I will address some of the shortcomings I encountered with the materials.
Mr. Buehler included an in-depth treatment of concrete cast ballasts, however, he did not introduce other techniques, namely lead casting, in any significant detail. For the majority of his designs and builders, concrete ballasts work just fine, however, this may not carry through for some builders, other non-Buehler designs, and those using this book as a reference material.
I noted a few examples of his boats posted for sale and noted, as pointed out in other posts, that the boats do not appear to sell for much more than the cost of their materials. While you should not expect a valuable yacht quality result, their design employs massive timbers and does produce an extremely sturdy vessel.
He addresses the lofting process in an incredibly simple and brief manner. It provides an excellent introduction to the process and, unlike most other treatments, won't scare a first time builder. Unfortunately, the description does leave out a lot of advanced techniques. For the projection of the transom, frame curves, and bearding lines, etc. turn to Howard Chapelle's more difficult treatment in "Boatbuilding", as Mr. Buehler suggests.
The single most significant shortcoming I find in Mr. Buehler's work involves the exclusion of smaller boats. He includes plans for a 28' and 35.5' cutter, a 43' schooner, a 42' marconi cutter, 34' basic powerboat, 30.333' powerboat, 50' 3 or 1 mast sailboat, and finally a 55.333' powerboat.
He provides excellent and complete, although small, plans for all of these vessels; an outstanding value. Unfortunately, many builders turn to Mr. Buehler's book for a simple and straightforward construction method because of amateur/intermediate experience. The large boat designs frequently run directly counter to this. While Mr. Buehler does an excellent job of encouraging builders, many newer builders cannot justify an expenditure of several thousands of dollars on something without near certain success. A simple remedy for this would include a simple 15-20' design, allowing builders to hone their skills and make their mistakes on something far less expensive.
This said, he does include a full set of building plans, complete enough for a first time builder, for the "Happy Camper of Pogo Pogo" a beautiful 16' schooner on his site. Unfortunately, a recent, massive increase in their price, from $195 to $395, will likely place them out of reach of many first time builders.
While I focused primarily on the few shortcomings in "Buehler's Backyard Boatbuilding", I believe that all, but the most advanced builders will find the information invaluable. The inability to find lower priced plans for a 15-20', chine, heavy displacement boat might force a newer boatbuilder to some of the instant, keel-less, light displacement boat designs promoted by Harold Payson and, in particular, Jim Michalak.
Rating:  -
This book is just what it says a book on building a boat at home yourself. If your interested in building a boat you need this book. He directs most of this book towards large boats 30 to 60 feet but you can apply alot of this to smaller craft. He explains how you can build cheap and substitue materials to save money.
Rating: -
This is fine reading and a must for all considering building your own boat. As we say in the Elevator Trade, "That man know more tricks than a two-dollar ho!", ho ho Merry Christmas. Book is full of useful info and the book list in back is also how I found Harold "Dynamite" Payson's book 'Boat Modeling'...for building small versions from any plans using real boat building techniques. Buehler is a winner.
Rating: -
As always, George Buehler is a pleasure to read. From reading his other works, I know George likes metals as well as wood -- but he clearly loves wood, and this book is reflects that. While I'm planning to build in metal, the book is full of insights and useful information for all boatbuilders. On top of that, it's full of the common sense stories on material selection that every boatbuilder or restorer needs -- at least those of us who have any budget limitations.
Rating: -
First of all, this book is very encouraging. It really makes you believe that you CAN make your own boat with very little bucks and some time. I also bought the author's other book, "The troller Yatch", were he makes clear that te cheapest, meaning less expensive, way of cruising is on a "survivealist type sailboat" as he calls it, so if you want to cruise in the smallest of budgets, this is your book. One thing that you have to have in mind is that since the publishing date, appropiate materials (wood) have become more difficult to find. The only thing I missed on the book is that he included the plans for his "Happy camper of pogo pogo" small sailboat design, or a smaller one as an introductory project. The "if you can build a doghouse, you can build a boat" is very true, so build a doghouse or something else, but work with wood a little bit, beacuse on the book it is assumed that you have basic carpentry skills, and maybe, as I, you don't (you will learn very quickly, so keep going). The smallest sailboat plan included is for a 28' (8.5 m) "Haggar", so take your measuring tape and see if you have enough space first. Anyway, the book makes wooden boatbuilding easy to understand, so after reading half of this book I started a 12' sailboat project that seemed out of my league before reading, again, the first half of this book.
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