This reference work describes and illustrates 200 types of inshore craft which once fished and traded, under oar and sail, around the coasts of the British Isles. The types are arranged by coastal area and each is described in terms of its shape and design, fitness for location and purpose, build, evolution and geographical distribution, while maps of all their areas show physical and economic features. The book features illustrations and photographs based on the Coastal Craft Collection at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. In addition to the description, each of the ten contributors has written an introduction to their specific areas, outlining the physical environment, fisheries and other uses of the sea that have influenced boat design.