Some Skills Worth Aquiring

One of the subjects that I should have included in my book on outrigger sailing canoes was knot tying, especially since the canoe is tied together with string.  The bowline, the reef knot, the sheet bend, multiple half hitches and a figure eight knot will get you by, but there are many others that serve useful specialized purposes.  Bob Holtzman just published his new Field Guide to Knots with eighty knots included.  Knowing the right knot for the job could save your life and I'm not kidding.

Making short pieces of timber or plywood into long pieces is a basic skill in wooden boat building, but one which can strike fear into the heart of a novice.  Do yourself a favor and learn from a master. 
Scarfing Basics by Russell Brown.