This volume presents multiple idiographic, archaeological studies of vernacular watercraft from North America and the Caribbean. Rather than attempt to synthesize all vernacular types, this volume focuses on ship construction data recovered through archaeological investigations that has been used to make inferences about culture. This collection of case studies, including many examples from cultural resource management and graduate student theses, presents a thematic exploration of cultural adaptation as expressed through ship construction.

Amanda M. Evans is the Senior Marine Archaeologist for Tesla Offshore LLC. She is an elected officer and serves on the Board of Directors for the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology and is on the Board of Directors for the Register of Professional Archaeologists. Amanda received her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University.

Foreward.  Mark Staniforth.- Chapter 1. Amanda M. Evans (Tesla Offshore, LLC) and Sheli O. Smith (PAST Foundation), Vernacular Watercraft: In Concept and In Practice.- Chapter 2. Amanda M. Evans (Tesla Offshore, LLC), Improvise, Adapt, Overcome: Vernacular Boats as Environmental Adaptations.- Chapter 3.  Roger Smith, Ph.D. (Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research),The Caymanian Catboat.- Chapter 4. Samuel Turner, Ph.D. (Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program),The Bergantín, a Little Known Craft from the Early Spanish Period in the New World.- Chapter 5. Della Scott-Ireton, Ph.D. (Florida Public Archaeology Network) and Christopher Horrell, Ph.D. (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement),Expressions of a Dying Tradition: Vernacular Watercraft in Apalachicola, Florida..- Chapter 6. Chuck Meide (Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program),Some Assembly Required: The Analysis and Reassembly of the Larkin Boat, a Vernacular Watercraft Recovered from Gregory Mill Creek in Liberty County, Florida.- Chapter 7. Melanie Damour (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management),Born on the Bayou: Louisianas Vernacular Constructed Watercraft.- Chapter 8.  Bradley A. Rodgers, Ph.D. (East Carolina University), and Nathan Richards, Ph.D. (East Carolina University),The Watercraft of Castle Island, Washington, North Carolina.- Chapter 9. David C. Switzer (Plymouth State College),The Shallop of Harts Cove.- Chapter 10.  Brad Loewen, Ph.D. (University of Montreal),Cultural Transmissions of the Biscayne Shallop in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1560-1750.- Chapter 11.  Charles Dagneau (Parcs Canada),The Batteau plat of New France: Its Origin, Construction and Design.- Chapter 12.  Bradley A. Rodgers, Ph.D. (East Carolina University),Vernacular Craft of the North American Great Lakes.- Chapter 13.  Steve J. Dasovich, Ph.D. (Lindenwood University),The Support System for Riverine Trade in the United States.- Chapter 14. John Foster (California State Parks), Deborah Marx (California State Parks, NOAA), Sheli O. Smith (California State Parks, PAST Foundation), and Charles Beeker (Indiana University),The Mini Fleet of Emerald Bay; Recreational Vernacular Watercraft<.- Chapter 15.  Charles Moore (Golder Associates Ltd.),Getting a Handle on the Georgia Strait Handliner, a Vernacular Boat from British Columbia.