Starting from the premise that ""no object created by man is as satisfying to his body and soul as a proper sailing yacht,"" Arthur Beiser discusses hull design and construction, the rig, spars, rigging and sails, on deck, engines and related troubles, the accommodation. He then gives design details on seventeen representative sloops, ketches, cutters, cruiser-racers, yawls from the minimum sloop Coppelia to stylish sailing vessel Minots Light. Mr. Beiser writes a tight book.