Boating Books

I would rate this book as a "must-have" for anyone cruising the Tennessee River. We've also used it to help transit the TennTom Waterway from the Tennessee River down to Mobile, and it was quite helpful there as well, although somewhat dated. When the TennTom portion of the book was written the waterway was quite new, and with the passage of 10-15 years some of the recommended anchorages have shoaled and become unusable for boats of anything but very shallow draft. Still, this guide helped us find more than one excellent anchorage that we likely would have missed otherwise.

Narrative cruising guide...but if you're really going to cruise it, use in conjunction with more detailed maps from:

US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, MOBILE CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ATTN: LO-SR
PO BOX 2288
MOBILE, AL 36628

My husband and I used this book to navigate the various anchorages around Desolation Sound and Discovery Islands this last summer. The decriptions, drawings, and photos of each area only cover a page to two pages but are very complete. The drawings illustrate the various areas one can anchor -- which was really helpful. We travel with a dog so we always looked for spots that gave us easy access to the shore for doggy visits. I would recommend this book to any traveler to this area!

I teach sailing and cruising skills, and the arrival of this terrific cruising guide is welcome. Beautiful photos and great graphic diagrams of harbors and every possible anchorage.

Should be on every charter boat, but often is not, so if you are chartering inquire.

What is a great little book! The author has spent an extensive amount of time touring various the world in what is by today's standards a tiny little boat. In the manner of a field guide she makes a great number of sensible suggestions for the best ways to camp, sail, prepare, provision and generally live in a 16 footer. It's a lovely book to dip in and out of - I've had it in my briefcase for the last three weeks and find myself often reading a chapter over coffee. Well written and thoughtfully put together, it's a triumph for minimalism in these overly 'geared up' times.

Dinghy Cruising is a great book. The book gives ideas on how to select a dinghy (small open sailboat) and rig it for cruising. The book goes into basics of boat selection, boat tents, camping gear, seamanship and selecting where to cruise.

It opens up new vistas for small sailboat owners. According to Margaret Dye (and a BUNCH of enthusiasts at the Dinghy Cruising Association and the Open Boat discussion group) - you don't need a large self-contained expensive sailboat to cruise. You can explore in a small open sailboat of 12 to 18 feet or so. You can sleep on the floorboards under a boom tent in your little boat, or camp ashore. You can even cook in a little boat.

After reading the book and getting a few ideas, I am planning on extending the range of sailing opportunities by taking overnight and weekend trips in my little (15'6") sailboat. As dinghys are small and light, you can trailer them to your favorite lake, coast or river - and do some great exploring.

I'll be exploring the Georgia lakes. Hope to see you there!

With incredibly detailed, hand drawn sketches of each anchorage, the Dreamspeaker's Guide is helpful and beautiful. Unlike other guides I've seen, this guide details each harbor/anchorage with what to look for and what to look out for. It gives you the confidence of having talked to someone who has been there, and yet allows you to enjoy the excitement of your first visit. The artwork of Lawrence Yeadon-Jones is outstanding making this as pleasureable to look at as it is informative. I strongly recommend this book for anyone cruising the Gulf Islands or dreaming of doing so.

After cruising and teaching for 10 years in this area, the arrival of this terrific cruising guide is welcome. Great graphic presentation of harbor diagrams, and every possible anchorage.

Add a "Cruising Guide to Puget Sound" for the US San Juan Islands and Puget Sound, and a BBA Chart Kit, and you are set!

Kayak rolling is a difficult technique to learn, because it involves several steps, all carefully coordinated under conditions that invite panic. Despite the difficulty of teaching and learning the technique, I taught myself to roll with this book. Derek Hutchinson's descriptions are clear and informative. He gives descriptions of a wide variety of techniques; though many are of historical, rather than practical, interest, they're all worth a good read. He includes a number of first-person accounts, some of which are funny and some of which are cautionary. This book is one treasure in my paddling library!

I learned to Eskimo roll, Pawlata style, from John Dowd's Sea Kayaking book, which covered Eskimo rolling in ~10 pages. In Pawlata rolls, you hold the paddle with one hand on the end of the paddle and the other on the shaft. My kayaking best friend helped me learn the Screw Roll, wherein you roll with your hands on the paddleshaft in the same place you have them while paddling. This came in very handy when I capsized once while goofing off and once while deflecting overhanging branches. Of course, learning to slide the paddle helps obtain the best leverage if you don't have total confidence in your screw roll. I bought this book to learn other kinds of rolls, including the hand roll.

The book also teaches sculling support strokes which kayakers, myself included, should learn to avoid panicking after a botched roll, to buy time for thinking about the next roll attempt. Avoid deadly hypothermia--dress for the water temperature, learn when not to go out, don't go alone, learn to brace, learn to Eskimo roll, learn to wet exit and re-enter, take all precautions--then practice frequently.
The price above seems high.

Outstanding book. I have read it several times over. Although it is a bit dated technology wise(materials), the dynamics and mechanics involved in the physics behind the sport have remianed unchanged. The author explains how different desings(template, tails, bottoms, rails, ect.) affect the boards performance characteristics. I really enjoy reading the book. In fact, it was my companion in arms when I shaped my own surfboard recently and applied all the lamination. The board came out perfect, and I attribute most of the sucess to this book.

I found the information good. Specifically I liked the review of design options for a surfboard and their relation to performace. It was what I was looking for.

I haven't read the entire thing yet, but mainly the book cites specific historical examples of characteristics of sea survival (or the lack there of), and then goes on to explain the latest data that is available. So far very interesting, and definately a must have for naval buffs.

I've read alot of wilderness, rescue, survival and outdoor medicine books in my life and have found only a select few that I keep coming back to, and this is one of them. The one of the best water survival books I have ever come across. The book is full of useful information actually backed by the research with a rundown of real accounts and what the people did right or wrong. At the end of each chapter it contains a list of the main points you don't want to forget. If you live near water (any water), enjoy watersports or plan on finally taking the family sailboat to some hidden location, don't leave without reading this book !

Boating Writers International announces that Mary Jane Haye, author of "Eye on the Sea: Reflections on the Boating Life" (Breakaway Books) has been awarded First Prize in their contest for the best book on recreational boating published in the years 1998 and 1999. One judge said of the book: With "Eye on the Sea" author Mary Jane Hayes focuses on the boating life with the microscope of the soul. The book acknowledges the disappointments. It faces down its retributions. Then, credibly and in superb prose, it testifies by personal example to the blessings that boating gives its people." Boating Writers International is made up of writers, photographers and broadcasters who work in the marine industry representing media from local and national newspapers, regional and international magazines and radio and television. The award was announced at the Miami International Boat Show on February 18th and carries with it a cash prize.

Once you start reading this book, you can't put it down. It's lyrically beautiful writing, full of images that delight the soul. You actually are aboard her vessel with Hayes and her husband, experiencing everything they do. And it's not all pleasant, as she relates in her chapter, "On an August Gale." You, too, see those monstrous waves and wild winds, not to mention the green/black sky. But I particularly liked her chapter on salty dogs. Anyone who has seen these canines with ears flapping in the wind will laugh. This is a great gift book, and not just for boaters.

The 4th updated edition of FIBREGLASS BOATS packs in anything such a boat owner would need to know; from maintenance and repairs to construction and reconstruction. Joins, sealants, stiffening, and replacing coatings are all surveyed in very specific, technical chapters you won't find in most competing boat owner's guides. From protection to longevity, chapters survey repair options and more. Any fibreglass boat owner simply must have this manual.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I brought this book because I wanted a boat and the two alternative are to build or to buy.
Virtually every aspect of building a fibreglass boat using polyester resin is covered, though the author is a little negative towards epoxy.
He also discusses how the fibreglass boats of 20-30 years ago were built, and the problems that they may develop as they get older.
He particularly covers the dreaded osmosis.
If you are planning to build or buy a fibreglass boat this book could save you money.

The story is fourth grader, Rosenbaum's entry in the Young Publish-a-Book contest. With that in mind, I'd give it 4 stars for creativity (animals helping each other on a boat), but must knock off a star for the somewhat lame start of the book.
The professional illustrations by Jean Pidgeon greatly enhance the story (add a star). The color and action in the pictures plus the expressive faces of the animals add a lot of appeal for youngsters.

Friends Afloat,written by Eliza Rosenbaum, helps young children grasp the concept of teamwork and friendship. The illustrations, composed by Jean Pidgeon, help the parents and children enjoy the book even more.