Small Wooden Boats of the Atlantic

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

There is beauty in the humble but functional small wooden boats that dot
the Atlantic coast. To honor their centuries of service and draw
attention to their traditions, Barrett and Walker pay tribute to some 20
varieties of small wooden craft. Dories, trapboats, cape islanders,
surfboats, skiffs, riverboats, and many others are introduced via
descriptive text and glowing photos.

The text covers descriptions, construction methods, traditional uses,
and unusual features of each type of boat. We’re given a picture of a
way of life that centres on these unpretentious craft—a tradition now
confronting new technology and modern materials that could mean the
death of small wooden boats.

The book is rich, featuring nearly 100 color photos, many in full-page
format. In composition and technical competence they’re excellent. The
bright colors of so many of the boats make the photos vibrant. A few go
beyond merely recording and documenting boat types to make artistic
statements on the Maritime way of life.