Praise for Wooden Boats by Michael Ruhlman

“[Ruhlman] manages to tell the story of the Martha’s Vineyard boatyard, Gannon and Benjamin Marine Railway . . . with eloquence. Although Ruhlman comes to the project with little boating experience . . . he shows he not only understands and values the process intrinsically, but also that he is a writer with the talent to bring the reader along with him on the job . . . we begin to understand the extraordinary blend of creativity, engineering, and craftsmanship called for in the building of traditional vessels in modern times.”

—WoodenBoat

 

“With the same storytelling skills he brought to The Making of a Chef and The Soul of a Chef, Ruhlman captures the spirit of the craftsmen who work at a demanding trade and produce an artwork of great utility and beauty. This narrative will be savored by armchair sailors, admirers of painstaking craftsmen, and those who nurture a passion for the sea and all pertaining to it.”

—Richmond Times-Dispatch

 

“That passion [for wooden boats] is evident in every word of Ruhlman’s account. A love of wooden boats will attract many readers to this book, but those who know little about wooden boats will find a readable entrée into this romantic world.”

—Cape Cod Times

 

“[Ruhlman’s] ability to simply tell the boat-builders’ story, making connections between boats and life, gives this sharply observed book its pleasures.”

—Publishers Weekly