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World Cruising Routes

3 stars (Not for the armchair cruiser) - I would someday like to cruise around the world, and I bought this book in the hopes of learning more about the possible routes so that I could make some preliminary plans. I'm sure it will come in handy in a few years, but for now, it's overwhelming. I think this information would be best presented as an interactive CD-ROM. Click on a starting point, click on several destinations, and the software tells you when you should start the trip, how long it would take, whether you need to alter the route, etc. If someone knows of such a program, please pass along the info. 5 stars ( World Cruising Routes ) - An absolute necessity for any small yacht going to sea. It is logically compiled and written. Jimmy Cornell has written a book that is exactly what every sailor needs...guidance in getting from port a to port b efficiently, safely, and with the best possible winds and weather. 3 stars (Great Map) - If you are looking for an excellent road map of the oceans and plan on traveling soon this is a good read. If you are looking for adventure in a book, great descriptions of countries, islands visited this is not what you want to buy. I would not consider this a great travel guide. ...
International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Sports & Recreation & Sailing :: Yachting :: Travel - General :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Sailing - General :: Sailing :: Reference - Cruise Guides :: Navigat :: World Cruising Routes

 

Sailing Screen Saver

If you'd rather be sailing, let the " Sailing Screen Saver " take you there. Ocean lovers and sailors alike will enjoy the 29 well-shot photos of several types of sailing vessels adrift in a tropical seas. You can almost feel the saltwater breeze on your face...
Gary Felton Photgrapher :: sailing :: screen :: saver :: gary :: felton :: photgrapher :: desktop :: enhancements :: screensavers :: sailingscreensaver :: Sailing Screen Saver

 

The Complete Sailor- Learning the Art of Sailing

5 stars (Clear and concise- and attractive) - The best introduction to sailing I've found. The illustrations- cartoons, really- are attractive, and clearly show exactly what you want to know without excessive detail or abstract diagrams. Along with instruction from a friend, this is the book that taught me how to sail my little Potter 15. Recommended for all beginning sailors, and those who are intersted in learning more about sailing. 5 stars (wonderful sailing book) - As I said, I own many sailing books, but this is my favorite. It teaches while still catching the essence, the soul of sailing. (so many sailing books of this type are so dry). 5 stars (Better than Sailing For Dummies for dummies like me.) - I wish I had gotten this before I bought Sailing For Dummies. Sailing For Dummies somehow left me with a lot of unanswered basic questions about sailing. Complete Sailor answered those questions. Complete Sailor also has more illustrations that provide a clearer understanding of just what the heck the author's talking about. ...
International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Sports & Recreation & Boating :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Sailing - General :: Sailing :: Sailboats :: Physical Education :: Equipment and supplies :: Boating :: The Complete Sailor- Learning the Art of Sailing

 

Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair

5 stars (Excellent coverage of fiberglass repairs) - Covers all the areas I needed. Soft & rotten cores, broken fiberglass, chipping, etc. I liked it so much I just ordered his book on refinishing. 1 stars ( Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair ) - Good book with understandable illustrations and practical suggestions. 5 stars (Lots of details in a small package) - This is an excellent book for someone who knows nothing about fiberglass boat repair. It starts off with a brief discussion of the three major sealant types (polysulfide, polyurethane and silicone) and when to use each. Other sections cover the different types of resin, epoxy choices, etc. etc. Excellent information when trying to decide which of the gazillion products to purchase in the boating catalogs. Major sections include Leaks (finding and fixing, installing deck hardware), Restoring the Gloss (polishing and scratch repair), Deck Repairs (stress cracks, voids, nonskid surfaces, and teak decks), Laminate Repair (fiberglass layup, types of resins, epoxy), Core Problems (wet core, stiffening), Hull Repairs (gouges, blisters, impact damage), Keel and Rudder Damage (centerboard pivots, weeping keels, etc.) This little book is not afraid to tackle big projects--the Core Problems section for example shows the repair of a huge 2-foot diameter section of rotted core. The book makes it sound easy, but I'd rather not think about that much work. The section on gelcoat--what it is, how it is manufactured, and how to keep it looking good as long as possible--is by itself worth the price of the book. ...
International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Sports & Recreation & Boating :: Sports & Recreation :: Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering :: Sailing - General :: Sailboats :: Sail Powered Craft M :: Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair

 

Sailing for Dummies

2 stars (Not the best for THIS dummy.) - The authors have maybe a bit too much expertise and experience to effectively write for "dummies" like myself. Somehow after reading this, I had just as many questions as before. Part of the problem is this book is way too comprehensive, covering such topics as sail-boarding. I would rather have had more in depth explainations of the basics and more diagrams/illustrations. 5 stars (Well-organized and incredibly useful) - Hard to beat this book if you're just getting your hands on the mainmast for the first time. A wealth of info on every topic you'll need to know, presented in pictures and entertaining quotes and headlines. There are sections that deal with all the tricky details of actually getting the boat out of the dock and into the open sea, as well as a crucial section on what to do if, well, your sailing experience doesn't exactly go as planned. Pay attention to what the Islers say here-- you'll protect yourself from the most common (and often dangerous) mistakes beginners make if you've barely dipped your feet into water, and you'll improve your skills to a surprising extent even if you're more advanced. 5 stars ( Sailing for Dummies ) - This is an excellent sailing textbook - as the cover states it's "A Reference for the Rest of Us!" That is, it can be used as a beginner's book and then kept for use as a reference manual. I have read and re-read this book several times and each time I re-read it, something I didn't understand or fully comprehend "jumps out at me" and I become a better sailor because of the information contained within and imparted by this book. Also, some people know their subject but are unable to teach others what they know. Both JJ and Peter not only know their subject, sailing, but are also very adept at transferring that knowledge to their readers, sailors and wannabe sailors! ...
For Dummies :: Sports & Recreation & Sailing :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering :: Sailing - General :: Sailing :: Peter Isler :: J J Isler :: Sailing for Dummies

 

Under the Black Flag- The Romance and the Reality of Life among the Pirates

5 stars (Fascinating Overview on the Life & Times of Pirates of Old ) - Most people think of pirates as romantic anti-heroes. I sure do, having been fascinated by pirates since I was a little girl. In the nonfiction book UNDER THE BLACK FLAG, author David Cordingly debunks the pirate myth to tell us what real 17th and 18th century pirates were like: uneducated, drunken seamen who were very young and very violent. Writing in a clear, easy-to-read style, Cordingly explores pirate life (mostly within the Caribbean), from historical raids to shipwrecks, pirate loot, and executions. There's even a chapter about female pirates. I found this entire book fascinating, and read it as quickly as I would read a fiction novel. Moreover, I often stopped to read aloud certain passages to family members, just because the passages were so interesting and full of historical significance. For instance, I had no idea that pirates sacked Panama or that an earthquake completely destroyed Port Royal in Jamaica, a big-time pirate hang-out. The most popular passages, however, were the descriptions of exceptionally nasty (yet curiously inventive) means of torture carried out by sadistic pirate captains on their poor victims. You have to read it to believe it! Anyway, UNDER THE BLACK FLAG is quite an eye-opening experience. It's history and adventure and fascinating biographies all rolled into one. Highly recommended! 4 stars (very interesting) - Good book, would buy it as a gift for a young person or a casual reader. Not to academic, but not to kiddie either. Lots of interesting info on the real deal of pirates. Worth the money. 3 stars (Interesting Subject But Poorly Organized) - My favorite part of the book was the afterword, which quickly summarized the book's main theme - the difference between the reality of pirate life and the romantic mythology created by books, plays and movies. There are many other interesting topices covered. For example, the difference between b...
Harvest Books :: History & General :: Science :: Sailing - Narratives :: Pirates :: Maritime History :: History- World :: History - General History :: Earth Sciences - Geography :: Bo :: Under the Black Flag- The Romance and the Reality of Life among the Pirates

 

The American Practical Navigator- -Bowditch-

5 stars (A 'must' reference for any serious boater) - The 2002 bicentennial edition of Bowditch's American Practical Navigator is a weighty tome prepared and published by the national Imagery and Mapping Agency in Maryland. Packed with international and foreign nautical charts, details on Logan navigation, discussions of navigation regulations and ocean chemistry and properties, and logarithm charts, The American Practical Navigator is a 'must' reference for any serious boater, and for libraries where boaters congregate. 1 stars (No vessel should be without one.) - More than 30 years ago a salty old sea dog who had made his way from the Faeroes to the South China Sea and back, told me, "Son, no vessel should ever be without a Bowditch. There's more in this book than you can ever use." For the past 30 years I have borrowed and begged and thumbed through other's copies of Bowditch, but until I took the time to peruse my own copy, I never realized how much this one volume actually contained. Primarily nautical, the wealth of material covered has much wider applications than sailing and navigation: weather observation, cloud types, winds, conversion tables, logarithms, sight reductions. Whether you are a professional mariner, a weekend sailboater, or a landlubber, the old sea dog's words ring true; "There's more in this book than you can ever use." 5 stars (King of navigation) - Although it appears intimidating, it's actually quite readable. It happens also to be the very pinnacle of all marine navigation guides; all others refer to it and every navigator/pilot should own a copy. But (a) it's enormous in both physical volume and weight and (b) it does get updated. What to do? ... A search on "nga bowditch" will provide you with the current pdf version, chapter by chapter on the web. ...
Paradise Cay Publications :: Transportation :: Sailing - Navigation :: History- American :: History :: Americas (North Central South West Indies) :: National Imagery and Mapping Agency :: Nat :: The American Practical Navigator- -Bowditch-

 

Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere

4 stars (Great Information but Needing a 2nd Edition) - The edition of the book that I have was published in 1999. It was a very helpful book to guide me in my selection of my first sailboat. The general principles that John Vigor advocates will be valid indefinately. I found his "In Comparison" ratings and his "Known Weaknesses" sections valuable. His ratings of comparative seaworthiness, speed, and comfort help anyone selecting a small cruising sailboat. John has made a great contribution with this book. That being said, it would be nice to get a new edition. In particular, it would be valuable to get John's views on other potential bluewater sailboats easily cruised and handled by two people. What are his views on other boats in 28' to 32' size? I suggest the 1999 upper price limit of $50K should be increased. How about a limit of $100K? John's opinions on selected other potential boats from Beneteau, C&C, Catalina, Ericson, Island Packet, and Tartan would make it worth while to buy a new edition. 3 stars (Screen the Reviewers, Please......) - I've read Vigor's book, I've bought an Albin Vega within the past 3 weeks, I'm no circumnavigator (and never will be), but now have my boat of choice for the duration. I at least know if I do want to go offshore, my boat, properly prepared, can do it. The rater that speaks of Vigor's head being 'up his stern' should lighten up or, at least, give some reasoning for his unsubstantiated comments. Obviously, if your heading offshore you probably won't just read Vigor's book (or choose a Cal 20 or Catalina 27) but the book sure narrows the choices to make. And, of course, Vigor's choices aren't the only ones. As many raters said, 'a good starting point' and, contrary to captain 'up his stern' and his innuendo's, there's not a boat in Vigor's 20 choices that are inherently 'bad'. Sorry to Capt. A. Spears and his review which was, nevertheless, helpful; Tanya A. sailed around the world in a Contessa 26 not a Bay...
Paradise Cay Publications :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering :: Sailing - General :: Sail Boating :: John Vigor :: :: Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere

 

This Old Boat

5 stars (Absolutely a MUST for your boat -- you need this book.) - You're familiar of course with the numerous lists of necessary books to have aboard your boat. Boat Owner's comes to mind by Nigel Calder as one. HOWEVER, I believe you will find more useful information within the 408 pages. Also, it's book size (won't be a pain to store aboard) will be welcome. The boring stuff (he tells you how to prioritize) -- some may need to hear/see safety first, and structure/bilge pumps et al. I could understand the reasoning but it wasn't real useful to me. His organizational check-lists will help folks actually plan chronology and FINISH the jobs. The best part though was the step by step, well-illustrated how-to's. Everything I could want/need to know was covered, including how to read my electric meter, how much insulation the refrigerator needs, how much heat loss to expect in various sized boxes, how to plan for power needs, and a logic as to what we really need/can use/and WILL WORK aboard. It's not a be-all/end-all book but it's very very good and well worth space aboard. You'll still need your shop books (for your engine, head, pumps, etc.) but with this gem you'll understand the why as well as the how to do repairs. Even canvas repair is covered. Don't tell anyone, but it's not genius material. You can do it yourself and save big bucks. Mostly though, it's a book of instructions for repairs/improvements and "gosh, that'd be nice" type of things. If you don't know already, you'll learn step-by-step how to Fiberglas, how to make sails, how to fix wiring, WHEN TO HIRE EXPERTS, and more. Even at retail price $35, it's well worth it, though of course I'd suggest saving $$ and buying used. 2 stars (Not complete) - I found that the book lacked certain basic information. for example: when restoring an old boat, one must typically contend with transporting the boat (perhaps mention of trailer, and cradle designs), or de-masting and storage, removing the multi-layer...
International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Sports & Recreation & Boating :: Transportation :: Sports & Recreation :: Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering :: Sailing - General :: Boating - General :: Don Cas :: This Old Boat

 

The Practical Mariner-s Book of Knowledge- 420 Sea-Tested Rules of Thumb for Almost Every Boating Si

5 stars (best advice i've had in along time) - having already read this book , I found it was filled with wisdom from the introduction to the very end , being on the water a lot for a living myself this book pointed out some of the more obvious rules of thumb that apply too mariners. And some very good ones i'd never heard of , but as it states in the book " good advice is so very hard to come by when it comes to rules of the ocean , and the black box theory is some thing i will do my utmost to adhere to as it is all very true done with the witty sence of humor that would appeal to more than most fisherman allthe way to seasoned sailors its a very handy book , A must for all serious Boaties ! ...
International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: History & General :: Transportation :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Sailing - Navigation :: General :: Boats and boating :: Boating And Sailing :: Boating - Gener :: The Practical Mariner-s Book of Knowledge- 420 Sea-Tested Rules of Thumb for Almost Every Boating Si

 

Ashley Book of Knots

4 stars (excellent book) - as reference books go, this is one of the best for knots. any knot imaginable is here and a clear concise way to tie it. great book for any purpose. 4 stars (Knots for beginners?) - I found this book to be both educational and entertaining. As a beginning I found the diagrams hard to follow and sometimes lacking. As a novice in knots tying and having the responsibilty of teaching young adults, this book was great for the history and use of knots but lacking in the illustrations needed for me to learn how to tie the knots. 5 stars (Should be a staple in every reference library) - Go to your nearest hardware store, and look at all the fasteners. There are U-bolts, swages, eye-hooks, and on, too many to count. Well, not too long ago, the metal in a bolt would have been a prohibitive cost. Instead, the jobs of all those fasteners were filled by knots. There is a branch of mathematics called "knot theory". It deals with one-dimensional fibers crossing in 3-space, and no other dimensionality has quite the same properties. A strand, wrapped around another and holding it, is a remarkable thing. Daily jobs in older eras touch abstract math in this book. It's a remarkable encyclopedia of practical, beautiful, and profound ways of pulling things together. Ashley shows bows, buttons, nooses, braids, knots, bights, and seemingly endless other ways to make simple strings into tools, toys, and decorations. You will come away from this book with respect. All those different people - fishermen, sailors, weavers, surgeons, and shipping clerks - all of them had their own needs and only strings to meet those needs with. They did their jobs, and did them well, using the techniques remembered in this book. What's more, mathematicians use this book as a fundamental reference. Just about any twist in space was named here, so Ashley has become the catalog. When a mathematician refers to "Ashley #128", the structure has been specified completely. This is his...
Doubleday :: CRAFTS&HOBBIES :: Sports & Recreation & Sailing :: Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering :: Sailing - General :: Knots and splices :: General :: Do-It-Yourself :: Craf :: Ashley Book of Knots

 

Navigation Rules

5 stars ( Navigation Rules ) - Outstanding. A great help when you're returning to the boating world after many years. A good refresher. Would recommend anybody new or old to the world of boats to strongly consider this. 2 stars (Essential for Every Boat Owner, but only a starting point) - The official navigation rules are something that every boater should own. If your vessel is large enough or operating in international waters, you are legally required to have it aboard and understand its contents. Regardless of whether you have to have it aboard, if you go out on the water you have to understand what the rules are and what your obligations are to avoid collisions. Think you don't need it? Collisions are the most serious boating accident, and virtually every collision is later determined to be avoidable by later investigation, had the operators been closely following the Nav Rules. Here's the problem, though, if you rely on the Official Navigation Rules as your only reference: this edition of the rules is technical, and illustrated, but is often incomprehensible. The diagrams are schematic by necessity, but they are not useful if you're trying to decide what to do out in the real world. New boaters will be easily confused by the situations, since there's no perspective on what is a typical or atypical scenario. Experienced boaters will be perplexed by the eccentricities of the wording. It is not a tutorial on the rules, and as a reference is decipherable basically if you already know the rules. So what are you to do, if you have to know the Navigation Rules ? You have to own this book. And then you have to learn the rules. There are numerous other sources for the knowledge. You should have a basic seamanship reference, such as Chapman's or the Annapolis Seamanship book. You should probably also take a boating safety class at your local US Coast Guard Auxiliary or US Power Squadron, both of which cover the navigation rules. If you want to be sure about kno...
Paradise Cay Publications :: Transportation :: Sports & Recreation :: Sailing - Navigation :: Sailing - General :: U S Coast Guard :: :: Navigation Rules

 

Nigel Calder-s Cruising Handbook- A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors

5 stars (Great book) - Lot's of sailing info packed into one book. Covers many different aspects of sailing. 5 stars (Nigel Calder's Cruising Handbook) - Outstanding book on cruising. Written primarily for sailboats, the day-to-day cruising information provided applies to power boaters also. This is one book cruisers should have onboard for quick reference. Nigle is one of today's best marine authors giving clear descriptions of the many boating tasks. 5 stars (A very complete reference) - The strength of this book is its readability. Calder writes very well, and he organizes this book in a way that makes it something one can read from cover to cover. Reading his work actually makes you want to be sailing. His treatment of yacht design is a fantastic walk through the desireable characteristics of yachts for cruising. If you are buying a boat, read this book before you finalize your decision. Calder acknowledges that every boat is a compromise, and he clearly favors traditional design over modern lines (he repeatedly expresses his distaste for wing keels, for example). The book then progresses through different sailing and cruising skills and issues. His discussion of anchoring is one of the best I have seen, and he does an admirable job of explaining marine weather. The one thing to keep in mind about this book is that it is rather "blue sky". He describes the ultimate cruising yacht (which looks remarkably like his own) and tends to overcook some of the concerns with "lesser" designs. Not everyone can afford to have a brand new Pacific Seacraft 40 built for them from scratch, but this is the boat Calder essentially lists as the perfect cruising yacht. ...
International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Seamanship :: Cruising :: Sports & Recreation & Boating :: Travel :: Transportation :: Sports & Recreation :: Sailing - General :: Sailing :: Sailboats :: Navigation :: H :: Nigel Calder-s Cruising Handbook- A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors

 

The Annapolis Book of Seamanship - Third Edition- Completely Revised- Expanded and Updated

4 stars (A Classic in Need of a New Edition) - I have a copy of the "Annapolis Book of Seamanship," 3rd edition dated 1999. I have the highest regard for John Rousmaniere and the great contribution this book makes to sailing. There is information in this book that is hard to find. The text is extremely well written, useful, and informative. However, as I write this review in 2005, I suspect most of us would find some of the photos and illustrations have a dated look and feel. If you compare the third edition of "Annapolis" to the current edition of "Chapman's", you will see that "Annapolis" looks dated. The increased use of color and the increased use of higher resolution photos would help better illustrate the knowledge that the author is trying to communicate. Some updates of the text would be of value, for example as related to electronics. Despite the areas for updating in the third edition, "Annapolis" is well worth the price for any sailor's library. 5 stars (It's all you need but the boat and water!) - I purchased this book feeling that Chapman's was the bible of boating. I expected the Annapolis Book of Seamanship to be a sail boat owners version of the same, covering much of the same ground with a slant toward the sailor. I now know that this is only half true! John Rousmaniere, who I have since had the honor of meeting, presents a no nonsense look at sailing and seamanship. He takes this sailing business very seriously and doesn't fudge on anything. His own sailing experience has taught him that sailing can be dangerous and that the sea or any large body of water is to be dealt with respectfully, safely and with a base of knowledge and preparedness. John knows his stuff and is unquestionably one of the country's most knowledgeable seamen. His words are like gold to every sailor. 5 stars (A "Must Have" for all Sailors) - When I started sailing my 27 foot sloop, I knew very little about sailing. I bought this book and used it to teac...
Simon - Schuster :: Sports & Recreation & Sailing :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Seamanship :: Sailing - General :: Sailing :: Navigation :: Boating And Sailing :: Boating - General :: The Annapolis Book of Seamanship - Third Edition- Completely Revised- Expanded and Updated

 

Honey- Let-s Get a Boat A Cruising Adventure of America-s Great Loop

5 stars (Terrific Read...Even If You Don't Own a Boat) - Honey, Let's Get a Boat" by Ron and Eva Stob Here is a must read for not only boating enthusiasts but all those who ever imagined themselves pulling up stakes and setting out on a year or more adventure of travel. Ron and Eva Stob do a wonderful job of recounting their year-long journey on a forty-foot trawler, which began in Florida and circled up along the intercoastal waterway to New York and then up the Hudson River to Lakes George and Champlain to the Saint Lawrence River in Canada and on to the Great Lakes and Chicago and then down the river systems to the Gulf of Mexico and back to Florida. This route, known as "America's Great Loop," took them through waterways, locks, scenery, history, and cultures as varied as one could find anywhere. Even though the book is written in the first person by Ron as the narrator, I can assure you, on the basis of having had the good fortune of meeting this delightful couple, Eva had a big part in helping relate the experiences encountered throughout their year of traveling these waterways. The book is a great read from start to finish and includes an appendix, which is a guidebook to anyone contemplating a similar venture. From the interesting and humorous aspects of just how this couple took the leap of quitting their jobs and finding and purchasing the trawler to their final encounter with the tropical storm Gordon,( becoming Hurricane Gordon,) as they returned to Florida after their year of cruising, the reader will be fascinated by vivid descriptions of places and cultures, as well as the difficulties and near disasters. Ron's "tongue in cheek" satire and humor and his honest self-criticism enhance the imagery of the book and bring alive the characters and places. The book relates as much about the history and culture of the places visited along the way as it does the process of navigating the waterways. Even though I had been to a number of place...
Raven Cove Publishing :: Travelers :: Travel - General :: Sports :: Sailing - Narratives :: Personal Memoirs :: Ron Stob :: :: Honey- Let-s Get a Boat A Cruising Adventure of America-s Great Loop