Find yourself at home on the waters in a houseboat you built yourself with the help of this handy and detailed guide, simple tools, widely available materials, and hands-on effort. Beginning with a basic variety of water-worthy knots and hitch-ties,famed 19th and 20th century frontiersmanDaniel Carter Beard goes on to walk you through selecting the best (and cheapest!) natural materials for boat building and step-by-step instructions for an impressive variety of watercraft—he even suggests using a retired street car as a cabin for a "palatial houseboat."Though originally geared toward "the American boy," Beard relays his advice in highly descriptive passagesaccompanied by informative illustrations and diagrams, ensuring that this crafty DIY knowledge couldserve its purpose for intrepidfolks of any age or gender for ahundred years or more!