Metal Boats

By Ken Scott

Metal boats are easy to customize and can withstand abuse that would destroy hulls made of any other material. Find out what it takes to build and outfit your own steel or aluminum yacht for much less than the cost of a custom fiberglass or wooden boat.

Scott's abundantly illustrated guide explains how to use welding equipment, how to keep electrolysis and corrosion at bay, clever ways to improve boat safety and comfort, how to decide which tasks you can tackle and which are best hired out, and more.

Whether you're an ambitious amateur or an accomplished metalworker, Metal Boats will show you how to make your dream boat a reality.

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“Abundantly photo-illustrtated.” —Cruising World

“…a concise guide to building or buying aluminum and steel craft. Scott dispassionately explains how to compensate for the metal's liabilities while taking advantage of its notable assets. Scott takes the reader logically from the basics about material qualities and how to prevent problems like electrolysis, through the entire building process. He deciphers some drawings and goes step-by-step through building the hull, installing machinery, insulation interior, then provides sources for designs and designers.” —Cruising World

See what else the press has to say: Reviews

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Contents:

• Foreword
• The Improbable Dream
• All Shapes and Sizes
• Materials
• Electrolysis, Corrosion, and Painting
• Welding
• Lines
• Having the Hull Built
• Construction Details
• Hull Construction
• Steering Gear
• Engines
• Finishing the Interior
• Other Construction Methods
• Boat Designs
• Naval Architects and Designers
• Useful Weights and Measures
• Useful Formulas
• Sheet Metal Sizes and Weights
• Weights of Metal Parts
• Index

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About the Author:
A marine engineer with 26 years of service in the Canadian navy, Ken Scott is the proud owner of SCOT-FREE II, a 36-foot steel sloop designed by Bruce Roberts. Scott had the hull custom built and then spent three years fitting it out himself. During that time, he learned firsthand about the advantages of metal as a boatbuilding material, as well as the problems many amateur builders encounter. Since launching his boat, he has cruised more than 11,000 miles in the Pacific, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.