As a fellow marine historian with similar interests, I was very pleased to see this new book and buy a copy. The book gives an excellent treatment of the history and development of Great Lakes sail. I particularly enjoyed the detailed treatment of vessel construction practices and tools, which I hadn't seen elsewhere in as much detail. The book was also well researched and footnoted. It gives an excellent overview of all the different historical periods in which Lake vessels were constructed and the different purposes for which they were built. The book does have a decidedly Canadian emphasis, but does not neglect US sail by any means. This is also not a comprehensive volume, being just under 300 pages of well spaced text. The reader will not find lists of vessels or details of technical changes in vessel construction. Rather, this book approaches the subject from a more accessible perspective and will be enjoyable to the layperson and casual enthusiast as well as the serious marine historian. Mr. Bamford is to be commended on an excellent book which should take its rightful place alongside classic works by Cuthbertson, Inches and Barry.