'Motor Yacht Building' by John Bain
Reveiw by Chris Jardine
first published in Classic Boat Magazine June, July, Aug 1994


In a seductively and poetically written introduction, yacht designer John Bain extols
the virtues and joys of the sea, seducing the reader with his portrayal of, 'the peculiar
charm of motor cruising' which, in the early 1930s when this book was written, was
ever growing in popularity. 
Navigating through the pages the reader is left with no doubt that John Bain was indeed
a master of his chosen profession, as he describes in bountiful detail the materials utilised
in motor yacht construction. Seven pages alone are dedicated to the varieties of timber
available, describing each one's individual qualities, from it's specific gravity and use in boat
building, to the best time of year to fell a tree! Fastenings, fittings, brass screws, rigging wire,
manila rope, and chain cable, have their attributes analysed in well researched tabular form.
A '10 gauge' 0.189in diameter brass screw apparently 'loses it's head' when loaded to 365Lbs.
- something every wooden boat enthusiast should know!
The chapter on 'designing' is an in-depth insight into the development of the Silver class types
and the lavish attention to detail that went into designing a motor yacht. A sample 'Yacht
Specification sheet' illustrates how every item was described with intricacy to the client, from
the types of woods, deck fittings and paints, to the number of lavatory brushes on the essential
equipment list!
Explaining with great lucidity the construction of a yacht, you are guided through each stage,
from the laying up and making of templates, to her final launching and sea trials. 
Motor Yacht Building was published by J A Silver Ltd. as promotional literature, so it is hardly
surprising that the different Silver class types, and several individual boats are described with
some detail. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, drawings and nostalgic contemporory
advertisements, it is indeed a rare find.