Stem to Stern; or, building the boat

A group of youths associated with a lakeside industrial school engage in planning, constructing, rigging, and sailing a boat, blending practical instruction in shipbuilding—keel, stem, timbers, planking—and seamanship with episodic adventures on the water. The plot alternates mechanical lectures and hands-on work with outings, storms, collisions, rivalries, and rescues, as characters face financial strain and social friction while learning leadership, skill, and perseverance. Practical guidance and an ethical emphasis on respect for manual labor and steady study underpin the action, culminating in the boat's launch and the demonstrated value of intelligent practice and teamwork.