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Brightwork: The Art of Finishing Wood by Rebecca Wittman.

I picked this book up while browsing in Barnes & Nobles and I'm impressed. It is a brightwork how-to book, but the quality of the writing and the stunning photos will distract you from the fact that it really is about boat work.



Link to Amazon page

Funny you mention that book today: Just this weekend I was re-reading it after finding it on the shelf of a local library. I'd forgotten what fun her writing is.

I ordered the book online and was a little disappointed there weren't mroe step-by-step and case study photos, but the photos that she does include are inspirational in their own right. I was also happy to see an author give her/his opinions on specific products for once.

As a funny side note, I met a young woman in autumn who had just moved to NY from Seattle where she lived aboard a 24' John Hannah Gulfweed and put herself through school by doing brightwork. She gave an awful snicker when I mentioned Rebecca Whitman. "Oh yeah, I've heard of her...she's the varnish media whore that the rest of us yacht finishers can't stand...". Didn't know what to say to that!
Now, just imagine the varnish wars waged in salty Puget Sound pubs on dollar draft night.