First published in 1918, the course was conceived by Van Gaasbeek at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in response to the desperate need for new ships on the eve of the United States' entry into World War I. Van Gaasbeek developed the program "to assist the great army of house carpenters and other woodworkers in transferring from their usual occupations to the wooden boat and ship building industries." He saw the book "as a response to the demand caused by shortage of skilled labor in these industries."

The book charts a course of basic rules and techniques that apply to both boat and ship building "for whateveer the size or type of the vessel, the general principles of construction remain very much the same in all cases."

The opening chapters explain the initial operations required for vessel construction, large and small, "as they were performed on the job and explaining them in a way that the average mechanic can understand." Chapters V through VIII show typical ship construction and give a reader "an idea of the methods of handling and fastening heavy timbers." The author finishes up with a chapter on basic tools and a glossary of terms specific to wooden ship building.

This new edition includes all of Van Gaasbeek's original photographs, drawings and tables, including the offset tables for building "The Standard American Wooden Steamship," a wooden cargo vessel which Van Gaasbeek helped develop through the Emergency Fleet Corporation which was built for war-time use by the United States Shipping Board whose photographs of the process are used extensively in the book.

The new paperback edition will be available online in June 2007 from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other online sellers, or by special order through your local bookseller.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

The Mould Loft: Sheer Plan—Half-Breadth Plan—Body Plan—Table of Offsets—Model for Taking Off Offsets—Mould Loft Work—Laying Off—Laying Out the Sheer Plan—Laying Out the Half-Breadth Plan—Laying Out the Body Plan 

CHAPTER II

Stem and Stern Construction: The Stem—Lower Stem—Apron—Deadwood—Stern Post—Stern Post Knee—Shaft Log—Stern Deadwood—Horn Timber—Transom—Stem and Stern Moulds—Picking Up the Lines—Cutting Out the Stock—Rabbeting—Stopwaters—Keel

CHAPTER III

Futtocks and Frames: Futtock Moulds—Picking Up the Lines—Surmarks—Steam Box—Steam Bending—Bending Form—Diagonal Lines—Beveling Frames—Beveling Board—Frame Construction—Cross Spalls—Floor Timbers—Raising Frames—Ribbands—Harpings—Fairing Up—Projection of Diagonals—Filling-in Pieces—Keelson

CHAPTER IV

Outside Planking: Principal Strakes—To Find the Width of Strakes—Sheer Strake—Binding Strake—Spiling—Garboard Strake—Lower Strakes—Sealing—Beveling for Planking—Caulking—Finishing

CHAPTER V

Ship Construction: Materials and Processes—Drawings and Plans—Specifications—Sheer Plan—Half-Breadth Plan—Body Plan—Tables of Offsets—Midship Construction Section—Scantlings or Dimensions—Lofting the Ship—Moulds—Frames—Mill Floor Carriages—Ways

CHAPTER VI

Machines and Labor-Saving Devices: Sawing and Handling Large Timbers—Bevel and Edging Machines—Surfacing Knees—Faying the Knees—Working Rudder Stock—Setting Up the Keel—Assembling Platform—Fitting and Fastening Frames

CHAPTER VII

Raising the Frames: Work of the Riggers—Cant Frames—Bolting the Frames—Keelsons—Fairing-up Work—Iron Strapping

CHAPTER VIII

Planking and Finishing: Layout of the Ship—Preparations for Planking—Material—Steam Box—Clamps and Wedges—Bottom, Bilge and Side Planking—Caulking—Cementing Seams and Painting—Shipfitting—Shaping the Masts—Shipyards and Ways

CHAPTER IX

Hand Tools: Complete List of Tools Used in Wooden Boat and Ship Building—Adze—Broad Axe—Caulking Irons—Caulking Mallet—Ship Auger Bits

CHAPTER X

Wooden Boat and Ship Terminology

Index