John Leather – författare

This is a practical guide covering clinker and cold-moulded construction methods for boats up to 20 feet in length.

Considered to be the saltiest shore in England, the Blackwater provides the background for John Leather's story of Essex seafaring. It is an accurate study of men and craft that have sailed form the small communities beside this broad estuary and river. It is a varied story where fishermen, bargemen, boatbuilders, sailmakers, wildfowlers and often smugglers join the sailing smacks and bages, brigs, bumkins and gunpunts in this workaday watery world. The great yachts are there too, and the local seamen who became captains and crews when summer cruising and racing, even to crossing the Atlantic in quest of the elusive America's Cup. Sailors of the sail, these men were of humble origin but proud of their skills and craft. Their traditions, independent outlook and everyday enjoyments have lingered to the present in the Blackwater's unique flavour of sail and oar.

This is the internationally regarded definitive handbook for anyone designing, building, rigging or sailing gaff rigged craft. It provides a fascinating insight into the design, history, techniques and developments of a rig which has evolved through the centuries. John Leather outlines the practical aspects of the masts, spars, sails, running and standing rigging, and contrasts the development of the gaff rig in Britain, America, Scandinavia and France. 'Regarded internationally as the definitive book for anyone designing, building, rigging or sailing a gaff-rigged vessel.' Kelvin Hughes 'The book's longevity says it all.' Water Craft

This is the internationally regarded definitive handbook for anyone designing, building, rigging or sailing gaffrigged craft. It provides a fascinating insight into the design, history,techniques and developments of a rig which has evolved through thecenturies. John Leather outlines the practical aspects of the masts,spars, sails, running and standing rigging, and contrasts thedevelopment of the gaff rig in Britain, America, Scandinavia andFrance.''Regarded internationally as the definitive book for anyone designing, building, rigging or sailing a gaff-rigged vessel.'' Kelvin Hughes''The book''s longevity says it all.'' Water Craft