A Collection of Recommended Nautical Books
A Collection of Recommended Nautical Books
| This book review is provided by Thom Pillipson. This book,
although it may be hard to find (out of print), should be in anyone's library who is
planning on living aboard or just dreaming of doing so. Capt. Matt Title: The
Cruising Life Review: If you're looking for an insiders view of what it is like to live aboard a sailboat, Ross Norgrove offers excellent insight. Written in a style that's easy to read (with information that most authors would overlook as simply mundane) Ross covers the minutia with humor and grace. Every book that Ross Norgrove has written should be REQUIRED READING for anyone who has ever considered 'The Cruising Life'. ----------------- |
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Thanks to Jeff Bronsing for suggesting this week's book. He is
right, not only should every boater have a copy for exciting reading ; ) but it is
required equipment onboard all vessels 12 meters (39.4 ft) or more in length. Navigation Rules: International-Inland Review: You have a excellent library but this one book should be tops on your list for every boater! Besides, it is required to be on board when operating on navigable waters, under certain circumstances. |
| This week's book review is provided by Dave Calhoun. Cruising the San Juan Islands is the most up-to-date and complete cruising guide available for these beautiful islands in North Western Washington State. It includes the latest NOAA charts, navigation tips and aerial photos as well as must-see places and favorite areas for gunkholing. The author is Bruce Calhoun (Dave's Dad) and the book is published by Weatherly Press. You can order "Cruising the San Juan Islands" from Amazon.com. |
 You can order this book from amazon.com |
For Cruising Guides to the South East
 You can order this book from amazon.com. |
Thanks to Marty Kusy for this book review: How
to Cope With Storms This is a excellent book on how to recognize a storm approach well in advance. How to prepare for safe navigation in storms and to handle the boat if caught in a storm. It contains many good diagrams to show what to do. I first got it from the local library but have put it on my christmas list. Thanks, Marty! |
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 Boat Docking - Close Quarters Maneuvering for Small
CraftBy Charles T. Low Check out our review of this excellent new book. It's a great resource for both new and experienced boaters. Highly Recommended! |
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Inspecting the Aging Sailboat
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| The Outboard Boater's Handbook : Advanced Seamanship
and Practical Skills by David R. Getchell , Sr. (Editor) Owners of larger boats have their bibles, but, until now, outboard boaters have been neglected. This comprehensive manual shows you how to go places and do things you never thought possible in a small outboard motorboat. Covers all the popular types - and some alternative craft - as well as methods that might change your entire boating outlook. Topics include
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Chapman Piloting : Seamanship &
Small Boat Handling (62nd Edition) by Elbert S. Maloney, Charles Frederic Chapman Published by Hearst Books Reviewed by: Dr. Steve Batson The consummate compendium on boating and seamanship is "Chapman Piloting," the 62nd edition published in 1996 by Hearst Marine Books. This comprehensive resource is recommended by both the U.S. Power Squadron and the USCG Auxiliary as a reference. "Chapman Piloting" covers all the basic topics of boating and
seamanship (weather, handling, docking, anchoring, knots, etc.), a broad review of related
information, and the etiquette of proper boating, including flag display and dockside
behavior. |
| I would recommend this somewhat expensive publication to
any sailor, new or experienced, who is interested in pursuing the details of boating and
seamanship. It makes a complete library almost by itself. |
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Building Classic Small Craft : Complete Plans and Instructions for
47 Boats by John Gardner Want to build the boat of your dreams? This commemorative edition contains John Gardner's best examples of classic wooden small craft and has instructions that enable any amateur builder with a little talent and ambition to build a beautiful boat. This edition contains the text of Building Classic Small Craft and More Building Classic Small Craft, Volume 1. Includes all the plans, measurements, and directions you need to build any of 47 small boats - oar, sail or motor. |
| The Practical Mariner's Book of Knowledge : 420 Sea-Tested Rules of
Thumb for Almost Every Boating Situation by John Vigor The 420 rules of thumb that fill this book comprise the essence of centuries of seafaring experience. This concise, alphabetically organized, reference for sailors and powerboaters consists of facts and figures for such diverse topics as hull thickness, estimating distances, predicting weather, rope size and strength, and boat resale value. There may be no substitute for a lifetime of experience, but this book is the next best thing. |
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The Onboard Medical Handbook : First Aid and Emergency Medicine Afloat by Paul G. Gill The only boater's medical guide written by a board-certified emergency medical specialist. Dr. Gill's book lists the essentials of a complete shipboard medicine chest and includes an easy-to-find emergency section covering shock and choking to jellyfish stings and near-drowning, with step-by-step procedures to follow. In addition to regular medical topics, the book also discusses:
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| When a Loose Cannon Flogs a Dead Horse There's the Devil to Pay :
Seafaring Words in Everyday Speech by Olivia A. Isil Paperback Published by Intl Marine Pub Ever wondered about the origin of big-wig, flogging a dead horse, mind your P's and Q's, or three sheets to the wind? These commonly used colloquialisms all have nautical backgrounds and entertaining histories. This collection of more than 250 of these fascinating words and phrases also includes yarns, legends, superstitions, weather lore, poetry, rhymes, songs, and more. |
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What Now Skipper? by Des Sleightholme Reviewed by: Capt. Matt Seldom in sailing does everything go as you have so meticulously
planned. Although you have practiced docking and undocking over and over again, you are
never quite prepared for that occasion with wind and current at a 90 degree angle from
each other and the slip you are attempting to enter is at an angle that makes it
impossible to use either to your advantage. And…no matter how many crew overboard
drills you practice, you probably have not practiced one in which the first mate is in the
water, the skipper is unconscious in the cockpit with blood flowing from his head and the
most inexperienced crew member is left to make the rescue with no headsail and an engine
that is stalled by a line in the water. |
| This small but informative book poses forty challenges to test your
knowledge and ingenuity. Each challenge is an easy to read, and many times quite amusing,
short scenario (two to three pages) which sets up the challenge. You are then asked what
you would do in the situation. Later, the authors, also the experts, make their
recommendations. Many times they are very close in their methods to the solution of the
problem, but, there are times when they take completely different approaches to solving
the problem. That is where the fun lies. There is no one solution to every situation you
may find yourself in, however, if you know several ways to handle the situation you will
be better prepared when the situation arises. -------------------------------------------------- |
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 Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual : How to Maintain, Repair, and
Improve Your Boat's Essential Systemsby Nigel Calder Published by Intl Marine Pub Publication date: October 1, 1995 Reviewed by: James Schifferns This is, without a doubt, the absolute best book for those wanting to maintain, repair, and improve a boat's systems. It was recommended to me by a sales clerk at West Marine Products. Calder is the "guru" of boat electronics. You can order this book
right now from amazon.com |
| The Annapolis Book of Seamanship Author: John Rousmanier Published by Simon & Schuster Capt. Matt says: "If Chapman's is the power boater's bible, this book is the sailor's bible." Based on the U.S. Naval Academy's courses in navigation, piloting, and seamanship, the
first edition of this work became the bible for sailing schools and pleasure sailors
across America. Its new revised edition is packed with invaluable information and is an
indispensable resource for any sailor. Drawings and charts. |
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| Sailors' Secrets : Advice from the Masters by Mike Badham, Robby Robinson More than 1,000 tips, suggestions and evaluations from hundreds of the world's top sailing experts. Includes advice on:
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 You can order this book from amazon.com |
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| Primarily aimed at sailors, there are some very good tips for all boaters,
such as in this excerpt: " . . . try plain old Ajax powder, which contains oxalic acid. It not only "washes the dirt right down the drain," it brightens teak. You may wonder why you've been paying six times the price all these years for some fancy-smancy cleaner with a boat on the label." |
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Our Visitors Recommend:
 Two Years Before the
MastAuthor: Richard Henry Dana Reviewed by: Michael O'Neill Johnston Surely the most enjoyable way to learn about sailing in the 1830's and early California history. Dana writes with a charming style about his two years in tall ships. You can taste the salt air and feel the sting of the captains lash. You can order this book through amazon.com right now. |
| Richard Bolitho- Midshipman Author: Alexander Kent To order Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger |
Recommended by: Thomas J.Glidden Not just one book, but several! All chronicle the life of Richard Bolitho. From midshipman to rear admiral, these stories bring you aboard sloops, brigs, three deckers. Depicting all duties of function and rank during Britain's war with Spain, Troubles with the Colonies, and the animosity with France. |
| The Way of a Ship Author: Alan Villiers Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons 1953 Recommended by: Michael O'Neill Johnston The definitive narrative style book on square rigged ships that sailed Cape Horn. Out of print but not out of style. Note: According to amazon.com this book is not "officially" out of print - you just can't find it anywhere. (?) Try a used book store or borrow it from a friend. |
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Complete Book of Anchoring and MooringAuthor: Earl R. Hinz Publisher: Cornell Maritime Press, Centreville, MD Reviewed by Dr. Steve Batson "The Complete Book of Anchoring and Mooring" (2nd edition) is an excellent technical reference on anchoring and mooring for all recreational and work boats in the range 12 to 80 feet. An award-winning author, Hinz is also an engineer and inventor of design improvements in ground tackle. Part I covers the technology of ground tackle and Part II covers the art of anchoring. Part III reviews the mechanics of mooring. The book also includes an extensive appendix and bibliography for further reading. A new boat owner or the potential owner of a new boat (bigger and better?) will greatly benefit from just reading the recommendations Hinz puts forth. For those content with a concrete block attached to a clothes line, this book may be too advanced. Otherwise, all good boaters will find this reference invaluable as a thorough review of the subject of anchoring. You can order this book from amazon.com right now. |
