The Sailmaker's Apprentice: A Guide for the Self-Reliant Sailor

With this book, anyone can learn to design, make, repair, improve, and maintain sails. Emphasizing the handwork that distinguishes the highest-quality, most durable sails, Marino tells you how to select a rig, introduces you to sail shape and theory, and then shows you step by step, with the help of 700 detailed illustrations, how to sew patches, hand sew rings, fix tears or frayed edges, and stitch seams, not to mention how to make your own sails, canvas sailcovers, and sailbags from scratch. His bias is toward sturdy sails for daysailing and cruising, built of low-tech materials you can repair with a few simple tools. But this book is more than a comprehensive apprenticeship; it is also an illustrated tour of the world's rig and sail types, both contemporary and historical - a visual feast for the sailor as well as an indispensable guide for the mariner.