A Unit of Water, A Unit of Time: Joel White's Last Boat

Reading this books just makes me want to quit my day job, move to Maine and build wooden boats. I have spent some time in my youth working in a Maine boatyard, and this book perfectly captures the character of that experience. But for now I guess I'll just need to be transported through the writing in this wonderful book. I've been a fan of Joel White's designs for years this book has built my appreciation for the man as... Read Full Review

As someone who has spent time scraping and painting the bottom of a large sailing boat, this book brought back all the sights and sounds of a boatyard. I could smell the dust and paint fumes, feel the smoothness of varnished rails, and sense the excitment when each boat was hoisted into the water. This book should interest all aspiring boat builders, and prepare them for the painstaking work of boat design, construction... Read Full Review

I read this book while I was vacationing in Maine. It made me have an understanding and appreciation of what goes on in those boat yards along the coast. It also made me wish I knew Joel White and some of the other boatbuilders. I found the end of this book very touching. The author portrays White's illness, but doesn't make it seem maudlin or sentimental. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in boats or the people... Read Full Review

Douglas Whynott has a knack for relating the details -- in this case, of the workings of a boatyard and its people -- and letting them amass into whatever bigger picture they may. And the bigger picture is a true one, I am confident; it is most certainly true to the workings and essence of this part of the world and of the vessels being constructed during the key year and of the past. I can only believe the images of... Read Full Review

I picked up "A Unit of Water, A Unit of Time" hoping to find a great combination of literature and boating, and was not disappointed. Using a yard that builds wood boats as his setting, Whynott has produced real literature of his own. In doing so, he has woven a literary legend, E. B. White, father of the boat yard owner, into his story in a fashion that shows real respect for the elder White and avoids exploiting his... Read Full Review