Re: usablility of the Bolger plans?

> How user friendly are the plans from PB?

They vary. As noted, if it was a plan meant for amateurs from the beginning, there is lots of detail, and usually a numbered key with additional info for each piece, and suggesting the order of assembly. Beveled pieces usually have an indication of the angle of cut. Very user friendly.

However, on plans drawn specifically for a client, or as an experiment, and not necessarily meant for a beginning builder, Mr. Bolger tried to match the plans to the builder's skills and preference. For example, designing a lobster boat for a lobster boat builder, there would not be much detail at all.

Now and then, a boat became popular despite some rather sketchy plans. The plans for the Folding Schooner are more difficult to deal with than the plans for Teal or the Elegant Punt.

Mr. Bolger was very skilled at the drawing board, and the drawings are very clear and legible. In general, he kept the written info off the drawings, very unlike William Garden, for example, who covered his drawings with written instructions.

The plans I have for my Bobcat include 3 pages of typed notes.  Also, the plans are drawn out in detail.  You can see the Bobcat plans as presented inBoats with an Open Mind.  Portions of that book are available online in Google Books; the Bobcat plans are viewable here:

how user friendly are the plans from PB? Are they a just #s that you have to grid out like most cedar strip plans? Do they offer hints and such for decks, bracing etc?

thank you
Mike