The Wooden Boat Care and Repair Bible

A comprehensive maintenance and repair manual covering everything you need to know to care for and restore your wooden boat properly.

Classic wooden yachts and dinghies evoke the craftsmanship and elegance of a golden age of boatbuilding, and preserving them is a labour of love. But with beauty comes complexity. Wooden boats demand careful attention and present unique challenges, from rot and rust to cracked caulking and worn fittings. This manual by master boat builder Uwe Baykowski, who brings over 50 years of hands-on experience, is a trusted guide for owners who want to take repairs into their own hands.

Packed with clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and photographs, the book covers everything from hull caulking and deck plug replacement to repairing wooden frames, renewing teak decks and replacing corroded screws. It also helps you detect hidden damage, assess keel bolts, and gain the confidence to tackle more complicated jobs before deciding when professional help is needed. Whether you're restoring a sea-going yacht, an open keelboat or a small dinghy, this manual offers seasonal care advice, product recommendations and troubleshooting tips. It’s the indispensable companion for anyone passionate about preserving the character and seaworthiness of their wooden boat.