: Hi. I would appreciate your opinions as to what "how to" book is
: best for a SoF novice builder. I need a stable boat so I'm hoping to build
: something halfways between a Greenland and a non folding Klepper.
: Any advice greatly appreciated.

Hi Martin

I'm in the process, right now, of building a boat using Mark Starr's method as described in his book " Building a Greenland Kayak ".
I am also building one using Robert Morris' book " Building Skin on Frame Boats ", both being for my Grandchildren. ( 12' and 13' respectively )
Upon completing these two, I will take the plus and minus' of these two styles and build another boat for myself.

I built a boat using the Putz book, as a few others here have. I built a double, and have since given it away, without much use in it. The others here built singles and some have built many, using canvas, nylon and plywood skins and all, I believe, are very satisfied with their boats.

If you are looking at getting by cheap, without a lot of extra materials, Morris' book is probably the best of these three. Mark Starr's method, although I like it very well, uses forms for pre-bending the ribs ( which I think is a bonus ), whereas Morris' book calls for free-style bending. Other than that, they are very similar in the free-style building method. ( no strongback or forms, other than a couple of sticks to spread the frames and a couple of forms at the ends to hold them together ) They can be built entirely on two saw-horses. The Putz boat is built on a workbench or strongback with plywood forms and all this is left behind after construction is complete.

I have yet to read Chris Cunningham's book, so I can't comment on it, but I have seen Chris' boats and seen him using them. They are very nice and work well in his capable hands.

As was mentioned, all these books are very good, and all have some little differences in technique. All but Putz' book give you instruction on how to build the boat to fit YOU! His book gives you one set of deminsions and unless you are skilled in makeing modifications, you get a One Size Fits All boat. Which doesn't neccessarily ring true.

Using the Anthropometric ( measuring via Body Parts ) you will get a boat built just for you and if you want extra stable, it tells you how to pad those measurements to do so.

My Recommendation is buy which-ever of these books you would like to Start with and along with folks on this bulletin board, you will get all the info you need to build a great boat. And of course, there will be more.... as You build, you will surely find things that you would be more comfortable trying, or be worried about trying, so that's what fhe folks here can help with.

Hope this helps some....

Rehd