Boating Books

I liked this book. It was fairly informative and gave some great tips. I like the different viewpoints of the two authors. I did think that some of the historical information tended to drag on a little and you can definitely pick up on the political views of the author but it was still a good read... It really reinforced my desire to go cruising!

Who among us has not dreamed about an idyllic life sailing in paradise: sun, snorkeling, azure blue waters, and tropical refreshments in hand? After sailing for years including frequent charters in the Caribbean, Jerry Mashew and Anne MacClintock set sail from Connecticut to Grenada on a 10-month adventure.

Chronicling a sabbatical cruise is not new; Joshua Slocum first published his story more than 100 years ago. Before that there was Homer's Odyssey. What sets the authors' story apart? Why take the time to read it?

For those contemplating a similar voyage, Seasoned by Salt presents a realistic portrayal of life at sea and anchor. Cruising is more than gorgeous sunsets viewed from a cockpit with an "umbrella drink" in hand. It is also about the people and cultures visited, broken boats, seasick crew, and unsettled weather. Other works often gloss over these unpleasantries. Anne and Jerry do not hide the raw truth about cruising on a small sailboat. It can be tough unpleasant work.

As their story unfolds, Anne and Jerry bring forth their experiences and place them in an historical context. Beyond the crescent beaches, swaying palm tree, and mangroves there is an unsettling history. As Mashew presents this history we get to understand and know him, his beliefs, and biases.

From time to time, Mashew's wife MacClintlock provides a counterpoint to his narrative. While Jerry's approach is often academic (he is a Yale Law Professor), Anne approaches the cruise from an artist's perspective, focusing on the emotional experience of cruising. Together a more complete picture of the lifestyle unfolds.

Will Seasoned by Salt convince you to go cruising? No, but reading it is time well spent if you are curious or contemplating a similar adventure.

Dave Lochner
Nauticalreads

This is a good read. The adventure is unpacked by the author, Jerry Mashaw in a very engaging way with a lot of information about the varous places they encounter along the way down the east coast of the US and into the Caribbean. A good deal of history and insight into the sorted history of the slave trade and economic struggles that are the reality of much of the caribbean. The story is further enhanced by Jerry's partner and crew, Anne MacClintoc with journal enteries interspersed throughout.

The authors capture the anticipation, excitement, and even fear very well and draw you into their world. I truly felt like I shared their adventure. I considered this along the lines of Ann Vanderhoof's "Embarrassement of Mangos' Anchor Canada, a division of Random House Publishers - which is a must read if you're into sailing adventures!

The old adage, cruising is fixing your boat in exotic places, certainly applies here. The book is very well written, and the interplay of hearing two sides (husband and wife) about the same events adds depth. After reading the book, I think that flying to Grenada, chartering a boat for a month (ooh the hated charterer) and exploring that area was the highlight of their journey, would be better than all the time and discomfort they experiences getting from Connecticut to the Carribean.
I tended to skip the social commentary. Can't change what happened, can only address how to help improve what is there now.

Part escapist adventure and part historical journey to the Caribbean, Seasoned by Salt tells the tale of a couple who took a year off from their careers to sail the Caribbean. It's a well written yarn, and Mashaw does an excellent job of blending the history of the islands into the contemporary account of his voyage in a way that puts current events into historical perspective. A great added bonus are Anne MacClintock's Passage Notes. She provides a more personal view of the journey, and an occasional counter-point to Mashaw's narrative. - Joe

I think the book is pretty good. The pictures are detailed and colorful, then it gives the basic lowdown on all the fish, and I really like that it gives you at least an idea of edibility. I also liked that they included a section for freshwater fish. I kind of wish it could have talked more about typical methods to catch the different fish, but I guess the book can't have everything..Overall a great book.

nice pictures,
great descriptions

This book is an awesome guide for those who fish these waters. I just got back from a week of fishing in the Bahamas and the book was invaluable. My partner and I were able to make quick assessments on the food quality of the variety of fish we caught. We threw back the ones that were dangerous or bad for a meal. The upshot is we fed a lot of happy folks while avoiding the perils of ciguatera. Can not recommend this book enough....wish there was one just like it for California.

This book is truly the only one of its kind for identifying sports fish in Florida waters, and provides great information. The one problem I had with the book was the same as everyone else, which is the poor quality of the binding and construction of the book. Otherwise, I recommend it to every Florida fisherman.

Don't know what the problem is others are having with their editions, mine's held up just fine. Of course, I leave mine on board when I dive in to spearfish, and I tend to avoid submerging it when I stay on to drop a line in the water, but even when some water has hit it, it's stayed fine. No problem. That's going on quite some time too.

That said, this is an outstanding resource. You simply cannot do wrong by getting ANY book Vic has done. I have grown up with his books, and still have his Pacific, Gulf, Fresh Water and Bait, Rigs and Tackle books in my library. They are absolutely invaluable and provide the best source of downright no-nonsense information I've ever found, this side of my father and grandfather.

Do yourselves a favor and get this without hesitation. It gets no better than these.

I specifically purchased this book for the information on Yanmar diesels. I was not disappointed, but later found a factory type manual that was much better and also a source for Yanmar parts. I think I will closely compare both manuals to see if I will resell this or not. I would still give this three stars.

Great book for the average mechanic fixing of diagnosing his/her boats mechanical malfunctions. Look up symptoms and it gives you all problems which could cause them. Saved a bundle of money by being able to fix the problem myself with the help of this book.

This book turned out to be everything it promised. I own a 44' Ocean Alexander yacht with twin diesel motors as well as a 8KW diesel generator.
After reading the book, for the first time I felt very comfortable in the engine room and knew what I was looking at and for.
It's easy reading and written at a level anyone should be able to understand.
I highly recommend it.

excellent and thorough - a real compliment to the spec sheet and manual provided with the engine. Good maintenance tips that were not included in the original manual.

I bought Compton's book based on an ad in [...], a rather heavy duty marine diesel oriented web site. I already had Nigel Calder's marine diesel book and was somehow expecting more, but got less.

Calder's book is more detailed and thorough. If you have Calder's, then you don't need Compton's. So, my advice is to get Calder's marine diesel book instead.

Growing up I had heard stories about this storm from my late grandfather, Hugh McLeod, captain of the "Matoa" one of the grounded and destroyed ships. In fact I have the baromoter from the Matoa and it still works perfectly.

This book really put my grandfather's stories in context of the overall storm. While I knew there were many ships sunk and lives lost (although not on his ship), I knew nothing about them. While a casual reader might find the jumping around from day to day and ship to ship a little confusing, for me it really filled in the blanks.

Ironically, four years to the day before this storm, my grandfather's two brothers died when the Marquette & Bessemer #2 went down in Lake Erie.

I loved this book and could not put it down. Not only did Brown provide a human interest story of the people involved but he provided insight into the state of weather prediction of the time. The book was full of interesting information. I could go on but you simply have to read it. I disagree with the reader who suggested he needed a central focus. The storm was the central focus.

This is a great book for someone with an interest in the Great Lakes, meteorology or ship wrecks. It is a detailed chronological account of a monster storm that hasn't been matched in the Great Lakes for nearly a hundred years. It paints a pretty good picture of what it would have been like to have been on a ship during the storm. There are indexed pictures of each of the major ships involved, but I wish there were weather maps to show what was going on - it's hard to follow fronts and cells in your head when the story jumps around between the lakes.

Residents of the Great Lakes region and boaters of all regions will find this book fascinating. The Great Lakes are one of North America's greatest treasures. Their beauty comes not just from their size but from their amazing diversity. From the rocky shores of Lake Superior to Michigan's majestic dunes, to the locks on the St Laurence Seaway these fresh water seas are an endless source of amazing sites and destinations.

From their creation to the present day, the constantly changing weather of the Midwest can change these bodies of water from nearly glass smooth to a source of death and destruction within hours. This is never truer than in the month of November. If you wish a greater understanding of the lakes and their weather this book is for you.

Just as one takes the grocer, and the steel in their car for granted; the lakes are often overlooked by many Americas. Although their commercial use has declined in recent years, these vital waterways provide America with her grain, steel and other bulk commodities. If you enjoy tales of common men facing the uncommon, the stories of the men that made a living on the lakes and survived the Great Storm of 1913 should not be overlooked.

Brown's presentation of the "Big Blow" is the best compilation of information currently available. The central "character" is the storm, and while jumping from one ship to another might seem confusing, that is exactly what the storm was. While Barcus' "Freshwater Fury" is very good, Brown excels in that he not only shows the problems modern historians have in trying to understand the meager records of the day, but also has consulted trained meteorologists in an attempt to give the whole picture. While he does apply some speculation, in most cases he presents it as such.

While this is the best, it's not perfect. A comparison of many authors who have published works on this storm reveals many glaring contradictions, even though all are recognized historians. Brown does better than the others in acknowledging conflicting accounts, and given that many reports and records of the time were designed for sensationalism or covering mistakes, one must expect some variety in the conclusions of the authors. My own preference would be to have all the sources footnoted and compared, but that would have made a tome that few would be able to handle. Because Brown makes a couple of minor errors it still leaves one wondering where the line is between historical fact and reasonable speculation.

I read this book before purchasing it for my library. I think it's worth having there.

This is another fine reference book from Nigel Calder! I think that this book along with a good factory type manual would be all you needed to maintain your diesel engine. I have yet to purchase a book that Calder has authored that was not worth the money.

Very helpful guide to understanding a diesel engine and all that relates to it. I will maintain my engine much better now!
It should be read before installing a new engine.

I am using, to great benefit, this book to rehabilitat the Mazda diesel engine in my 1983 Ford Ranger pick up. Also, since I share a sail boat in Vallejo, Calif with a brother, that has a diesel, my self confidence level is increased.
Will

The book gives you the tech you need, in terms you can understand. Calder is very impressive in his ability to impart knowledge to the layman. Don't however, assume this is just fluff overview, because it truly is the down and dirty of how it works and how to maintain it.

This book provides the reader with a broad overview of most of the basic problems that can occur and offers simple solutions. I have recommended/loaned my copy of this book to several Diesel sailboat owners. The all remarked on how simple their repair was according to the book and how it save them $$.
I do find the book is a little lacking in coverage of large powerboat diesels, but the concepts seem applicable.

This outstanding narrative documents the Battle of Valcour island but it is much more. My 9 year old recently asked about Benedict Arnold and I replied with the standard dogma of "Arnold the traitor". This book has caused me to revise that narrow view. Benedict Arnold was one of the greatest military commanders of his day. Had he remained true to the Cause, history would have remembered Arnold in the same breath as George Washington. I was amazed by Arnold's heroic determination to defend and establish the American ideal - even as the Continental Congress seemed determined to let the dream slip away. Congrats to James L. Nelson for an outstanding book that is a must read for Revolutionary era fans!!

I met James Nelson two years ago at a book signing at Colonial Williamsburg. I purchased one of his books on that occasion and have since read everything he has written to date. He is a master weaver of stories and a master historian. His work is refreshing and spellbiinding. I heartily recommend Benedict Arnold's Navy. It offers an eye-opening look at the Revolutionary War era from both land and sea (or lake, as the case may be).

Anyone who wants to read classics on Arnolds exploits during this period should read Kenneth Roberts' Arundel and Rabble in Arms.

Unlike many other novels by James L. Nelson, "Benedict Arnold's Navy" is truly a history, not an historical novel. It seems well written but lacks the excitement of his other novels.

I had the pleasure of purchasing the book from the author while taking part in the 225th Yorktown Reenactment last year. I thought the these of the book was interesting and unique. As a result, i felt it should be worth adding to my collection. What i got, was much more than I could have ever hoped.

The book provides one of the best and detailed accounts of the initial taking of Fort Ticonderoga by Arnold and Allen. The book details the make up of the men that were present and not just centering on the leaders themselves.

The work goes into detail regarding the invasion of Canada in 1775, the portion on the western attack may be the best and most in debth coverage ever given. While the book is not the first to cover Arnold's march to Quebec, it may be one of the first to so detail the other half of the invasion and the fights that took place there.

In the end, the book does cover the retreat from Canada and the building of the Navies on the lake. The detailed descriptions of the ships involved was very well worth the read.

The great dramatic detail in the work gives you the feel of reading a novel, but for the notes detailing the sources betraying it as a non-fiction book. Of course, this simply means that a work of non-fiction can be every bit as exciting as a work of fiction...that is what sets Nelson a part.

If you are greatly interested in filling your shelf with an easy read that would give you plenty of information on a part of the war most histories forget (1776 outside of Washington v Howe) this is the book to do it. Buy the book, read the book and keep it. This will be the main source on the subject matter for years to come.

I loved this book. It both entertaining and informative. I would buy more books authored by Hal.

Sailors of all experience levels will learn from one man's experience cruising around the world. You'll also learn why some things work, and others don't.

Well writen. Clear and practical. Author share his great experience sailing around the world in a small sailboat and little money. Very good ideas and advises...as a bluewater sailor (30'sailboat) I found myself making changes in my boat that make my life easier out there.

Recently I've bought a book from Amazon com. "How To Sail Around The World" by Hal Ruth its an excellent book every thing you need to know about this topic is mentioned in details a lot of photos and sketches.
The book got 29 chapters each chapter have a heading such as:- To find a yacht suitable for the voyage in full details- The best self-steering to choose with digrams explains its operation and you could build one from the diagrams if you wish- Storm management- Navigation and pilot charts as well the place where to buy these charts and their referance numbers and many many more topics covered in the 29 chapters of this book.
The style and the way this book is written is marvellous once you start reading it you don't feel like to stop. In my view Its an excellent book highly recommended to buy.
David Dawud

I've read a number of Mr. Roth's books.His writing skill is excellent.His photography is superb.His knowledge of sailing is that of a true grandmaster.This book has tips for cruising sailers on any level of experience:what works and why; what didn't work for Him and His incredible partner & wife and why.No plans for an around the world cruise is needed to get this book and pick it up often. Much of the great info is valid for most any overlight sail, or any daysail on our great magestic oceans ,lakes or rivers.His humility is gratifying. He's been out there and done that (a thousand times),but He doesn't have to keep showing us His "medals"in every paragraph. His Bibliography and references at the end are a great source to what else is worth exploring in the world of print.If you sail- get this book!

This book is an interesting first hand account of the Shackleton expedition and their journey by small boat to South Georgia Island. As a narrative by the captain of the Endurance, it can make for laborious reading, as it is not written as a spell-binding novel. As well, it requires some basic foreknowledge of the Shackleton expedition; their mission and the result. The Endurance sinks on the first page of this book, so there is really no background information about the expedition. If you know nothing about Shackleton, you probably should read a more comprehensive history before you read this book. If you already know a bit about it, though, this narrative provides an interesting look at their boat journey from the perspective of the captain. The details of the journey are clearly understated, but you can still gain a glimpse of the horrors of the voyage by reading between the lines. This was a nearly impossible journey, completed by tough and capable men who triumphed against the odds. The story is awe-inspiring and powerful, just make sure you have some background knowledge before you read it.

This is an outstanding little book. Worsley, who was part of the adventure, writes in the first person and keeps the reader on the hook. Of course, Shackleton's adventure is well known and well covered by authors. However, Worsley's being there and telling stories of the crew is unique. If you are into Polar adventures, this book is a must read.

In the summer of 1914 Ernest Schackleton's ship Endurance became trapped in Antarctic ice in 53 degree below zero weather. The following winter, the ship was crushed and sank, leaving the crew to camp on the ice while eking out subsistence under unimaginable conditions. In April of 1916, the ice broke apart beneath their feet, and twenty eight men piled into the lifeboats they had rescued from the wreck of the Endurance.

These hair raising events are not part of the story of Shackleton's Boat Journey, but simply the preamble, described in less than a page, that sets the stage for the real action that is to follow.

The tale is told by F.A. Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance. And what a saga it is, as the entire crew barely makes it to Elephant Island and from there an advance party navigates across the raging, freezing ocean in a tiny boat, all the way to South Georgia Island, from which the balance of the crew are eventually rescued, without one man being lost.

What these men endured is beyond belief, yet Worsley recounts it humbly, with understatement, and with considerable grace. Here is an example of his prose:

"Squall by squall the wind grew fiercer and the sea heavier. Through a rift in the clouds the moon shone out on the stormy sea and for two minutes revealed the ghostly white uplands and glaciers of the island. Another squall blotted everything out. We heard whales blow right alongside. They may have been killers, but, whatever they were, a push from one of them would have capsized us. If they were killers we would have had a quicker end. Soon to our great relief they left us for some nobler quarry than dirty smelly little men in Burberry overalls".

It is amazing that in the midst of a Herculean struggle for survival the author was able to take note of beauty in what must have been a living hell, and to describe it so elegantly. Here for example, is his description of icebergs, "All the strange fantastic shapes rose and fell in a stately cadence, with a rustling, whispering sound and hollow echoes to the thudding seas, clear green at the water line, shading to a deep dark blue far below, all snowy purity and cool blue shadows above".

This combination of gripping action and poetic insight makes for a richly rewarding read.

Highly recommended.

This book is well written. I've read a great deal about Shackleton and seen videos, movies, DVDs and Hurley film. But this book provides detail where the second hand accounts do not. If you like sailing, you will especially love this book. The testament also highlights some areas of disagreement between Sir Ernst and Worsley, not of much import, but also not often discussed. Overall a required addition to any Expidetion library. But most of all, perhaps of the the greatest adventures ever told.

If you want to imagine cold -- real bone-numbing cold -- read Worsley's memoir of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated voyage to the south polar regions during 1914-15. I first learned about Shackleton in the 2000 documentary The Endurance (narrated by Liam Neeson and quite a fine film), and I found I wanted to know more. And what better account than one written by Shackleton's friend, and the captain of the Endurance, Frank Worsley?

The real surprise is just how good Worsley's writing is! Despite the harrowing ordeal, the adventure really comes through — what it is that would make Shackleton want to venture into the south polar regions in the first place. And the truly amazing thing is that Shackleton managed to save every single last man from that star-crossed journey. They may have had to live on rotten seal meat, but they all lived to tell the tale.

Worsley's praise of Shackleton is at times almost ridiculously hyperbolic, but I suppose we can forgive him that, under the circumstances. And his writing is lively and entertaining at every turn. A wonderful ocean adventure tale.

This is an excellent how to book which has stood the test of time and is relevant to any "back yard" kayak builder.

Text and pictures are well laid out and easy to compare. The author has a sense of humour which add to the reading enjoyment.

I have to admit it - I did not build this kayak. In fact, I have never built a kayak, and most likely I never will build a kayak. I already have a kayak which I like a lot, and if I wanted another one I would probably go store bought. But still...

People like to make things, and when I can not make real things I do it vicariously, which makes this book a particularly good match for me. I almost felt like I was in the shop, smelling wood chips and epoxy as I read it. The author is always entertaining, almost always clear as a bell, and reasonably well organized. There are a few places where I might have put the picture a page earlier, or even used a line drawing, but once you understand his style, you know that if you just keep reading the mystery will be solved straightaway. He explains the technique so thoroughly that the reader has no doubt that this is a job they could do, and do well. One must only begin.

A true classic that will last as long as other good literature of it's ilk. Well presented, very clear and above all has a humourous dialog that begs to keep reading. I finished it in an afternoon and reread it the next day. I am already chasing the materials for my kayak. Thanks George

This is not traditional kayak building. It is modern, "Popular Mechanics" style kayak building, which means the boat will be fine for what it is, but overbuilt, too heavy, and basically nothing like the sleek racy craft that it could be. The design and construction is suited for the amateur builder who wants as little of a woodworking challenge as possible, which makes it perfect for a project to build with kids. A parent and child could have great fun building a boat such as this. So, keeping that in mind, it's just fine. For real kayak building in the traditional manner see Cunningham's "Building the West Greenland Kayak", or Morris's "Building Skin on Frame Boats".

If you are a beginner looking for a, relatively speaking, quick and easy way to build your first kayak, this book is for you. While these kayaks probably are not ones that will push the envelope, they will serve the recreational kayaker well. Also included with the book is the article of the kayak that inspired George's design and if you compare the design to others kayaks that are on the market you will see that their designs were inspired by it too (Klepper and the old Folbots, though heavily modified, resemble both George's Walrus as well as the original Walrus design). While I probably will not build this kayak as my first, I do plan on using many of the weight savings ideas that are evident in George's design. There is an excellent chapter that discusses the various issues with repairing problems after the kayak has seen some use. Other books tend to leave this info. out.

One area I was disappointed in is that I believe the author should have shown an alternative building method that utilized the actual plywood floor frames instead of using the stands, then going back and replacing the stands with plywood frames. The other point that I disagreed with was the author's attitude toward plastic kayaks, there is enough room on the water for kayaks of all kinds. The author's writing style was different, very much down to earth although opinionated in some respects, but does not detract from the book at all, IMHO.

I have almost finished making my first Greenland kayak and this book has received it's fair share of use. I bought this book together with the book from Robert Morris and the books do differ quite a bit. I would recommend you use both of these books, however if I had to choose one book and I only wanted to make a greenland kayak, this would be the one. This book was worth it just for the jig on bending ribs, an area where i really struggled to get consistent results until i built the jig.

Overall i found this book extremely detailed and exacting, with precise jigs and tooling to ensure a quality result. In comparison, Robert Morris describes more different boats and makes you aware of the many different methods of building a kayak. If you have a solid appreciation for the working characteristics of wood and experience with kayaks to know how your work will affect your boat, Robert Morris provides alot more encouragment for experimentation.

Great book, if you want a Greenland kayak, and info on paddle building, equipment making and technique relating to the Greenland kayak, this is the one.

This is the basic book everyone shold read to built the wooden kayak. Step by step, piece by piece, tool by tool. But remenber, your hands make the spirit of the water.
Este libro es el "básico". Todo lo que hay que saber para constrir un kayak tradicional, paso a paso. Pero recuerda, no hay que ser tan preciso, tus manos le darán el espíritu del agua

I have a small library of building skin on frame kayaks. Some are better than others; this is one of the best. Another reviewer commented that this book along with Robert Morris's Building Skin-On-Frame boats would be all you need for a successful build. He has a good point. Cunningham is, of course, extremely knowledgeable and his book while small in size covers a wide range of other kayak topics very well. He is particularly good on using various tools for the same task. It helps a lot since many of us do not have extremely well equipped tool shops and need workarounds.

Fine book, nicely written, with good pictures. I'm glad I bought it.

My daughter and I are building kayaks in an Adult Ed class using this book as our bible. Luckily, there is an instructor who has built 2 kayaks before using this book. The book contains all you need to know, albiet that you have to spend time reading the words repeatedly because there aren't enough sketches to show what is intended. There are lots of photos, but they don't convey the same amount of info as a sketch with dimensions. But, if you keep re-reading the book to figure our how to make the jigs, you'll end up with a piece of art, that you can kayak in.

If you want to build a greenland kayak then this is all you need. Instructions are clear and not wordy. It also has sections on making paddles and paddling clothing. The style shown in this book has slight deviations from the original greenland technique but he specifically states all the changes. I built a kayak from this book with my only help being a second pair of hands, and i am only 15. The boat was exactly to his designs and it is fast, fairly stable, and responsive.