Confessions of a Boatbuilder
By James Douglas Rosborough
272 pp. 105 b&w photos, 9 drawings, 7 boat plans. April 2001. Paperback. $16.50ISBN 1 57409 127 1
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In Confessions of a Boatbuilder, Rosborough writes about the construction of small wooden vessels in earlier times. From his modest beginnings in the 1940s building eight-foot punt rowboats, Rosborough's nautical design efforts grew to include three boatyards, the construction of over 150 vessels (most of them schooners), and a host of distinguished clients.
Rosborough pioneered numerous designs ranging in length from 30 to 65 feet. He reveals the unexpected trials and triumphs involved in the design, construction, and operation of these beautiful vessels, as well as the character of a self-determined boatbuilder who perceived one of the last windows of opportunity before the wooden boatbuilding industry bottomed out.
Confessions of a Boatbuilder movingly recaptures the lore and romance of the last days of wooden boats and the craftsmen who built them; a time of adventure and adversity that shaped the destiny of both builders and sailors, and fostered the development of today's seagoing vessels.
Includes seven line plans of major designs by Rosborough.
“unique and highly recommended…” —Midwest Book Review
“…an engrossing autobiography…marvelously candid…” —Charleston Daily News
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About the Author:
James Douglas Rosborough is one of the best known builders of classic boats. Many of his designs for wooden sailing boats have become world famous. He lives in Nova Scotia.