Fix It and Sail: Everything You Need to Know to Buy and Restore a Small Sailboat on a Shoestring
  Find a small cruising sailboat and restore it to pristine condition on a budget that won't sink your budget.
Small, trailererable cruising sailboats are more popular than ever as mooring spaces dwindle and marina dockage and winter storage costs soar. Fix It and Sail helps you discover boatloads of fun far less than a single ski weekend or golf club membership. Veteran sailor and journalist Brian Gilbert shows you how to select and inspect a boat, then restore it from keel to rigging.
Gilbert's clear, step-by-step instructions guide you through every phase of the restoration process from repairing keels, hulls, ports, and cabins to painting, wiring, and sealing. You'll learn how to evaluate, repair and replace hardware, upholstery, canvaswork, and more. Profusely illustrated appendices give you a vivid picture of the costs, tasks, and labor involved in an actual restoration project.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments | Preface
- Why restore a small boat? Economics, practical considerations, and having it your way
- Resources and choices for the small boat sailor: Books, websites, magazines, and a look at a few boats
- Getting ready: Safety, tooling, and setting up shop
- Getting started: Restoration strategies, cleaning, and more
- Boat joinery and woodworking: Materials, techniques, and procedures
- Marine metalwork: Cost-effective solutions for the small sailboat
- Canvaswork and upholstery: Sewing basics for small boats
- The rig: Inspection, repair, and replacement
- Outboard motors: A cost-eefective power plant
- Sea trials and commissioning: Finishing it all up
Appendixes | Index
About the Author
Brian Gilbert, a lifelong sailor, lived aboard a Catalina 27 before selling it to earn a master's degree and start a family. Although his passion for sailing and his budget were seemingly at odds, Gilbert then bought and restored a MacGregor 222—the inspiration for Fix It and Sail. He is a blacksmith and a writer, and his boating articles have appeared in Good Old Boat, Small Craft Advisor, and DIY Boat Owner magazines.
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