Confessions of a Boatbuilder

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Summary: Provides into the professional life of a skilled designer
Review: Confessions Of A Boatbuilder is the autobiography of Nova Scotia boatbuilder James (Doug) Rosborough, whose nautical design endeavors have included the construction over 150 sea-worthy vessels in the 1940s and 1950s, -- most of them schooners. Of special interest are the personal insights Rosoborugh provides into the professional life of a skilled designer who was able to build seaworthy craft until the wooden boat-building industry petered out as a result of changing economics and the introduction of such boat-building materials as fiberglass and aluminum. Confessions Of A Boatbuilder is a unique and highly recommended contribution to personal, academic, and community library Nautical History collections.

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Summary: Marvelous Reading
Review: Rosborough isn't a name that means anything to those outside the world of wooden boats, but to the initiated he's a legend. I picked up this well-written autobiography opn a whim and read it stright through. It's a fascinating story, well told, by a man who started out as an engineer working for the phone company with a love of sailing who, almost by accident, found himself first a restorer of boats, and then a designer and builder. Entirely self taught, Rosborough built hundreds of boats still admired for their design and quality of construction. Required reading for the wooden boat obsessed and interesting for mere merely curious as well.

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Summary: Wooden ship insight
Review: This book is a great look into the world of a man's passion for wooden boats and ships. His obvious love of the traditional world of wooden vessels makes for great reading. Mr. Rosborough is brutally honest throughout, including describing his own less-than-glorious moments. His narrative is fast paced and rivetting. As the third owner of one of his boats, it's also fascinating to read of the first owner, and a little about the vessel, MEGAN D. A must read for those interested in traditional wooden boatbuilding, and those who share a passion for traditional boats.