This comprehensive guide to metal boats covers sailboats and powerboats, both in aluminum and steel. While it will be of interest to anyone who owns a metal boat, it is a must for those who are planning to buy a metal boat, complete a boat from a bare hull, or build a completely new steel or aluminum boat themselves. Many experts agree that steel is the best hull construction material for a cruising sailboat or powerboat. And this construction method allows you to custom-build a boat for a reasonable price, one much lower than the cost of today's mass-produced fiberglass boats. In addition, much of the material in the book is of value to the builders and owners of non-metal boats since it explains how to deal with electrolysis, painting, compatibility of metals, and other such problems. Diagrams, boat plans, and photos illustrate this useful text.