Boating Books

This is a really good book for the newcomer to boat building. The authors are very through in the technique for building wooden boats. They do an excellent job. They are professional builders so they have the best of tools. Unfortunately, the beginning wooden boat builder may not have all of these tools available. I believe that for the creative person, if they spent some time, they can find ways to build a boat with a lot fewer tools.

I think it is very verbose, too many words, too few illustrations and even less drawings. A picture is worth a thousand words.

I am currently building a Merlin Rocket racing sailing dinghy in Italy and I have purchased various books including those by The Gougeon Brothers, Ian Oughtred, John Leathern, Greg Rossel and others all of which are very good. However, I have never built a boat before and I needed a text which provided information from the ground up.
This book is first class. The authors provide a step by step approach to every single minute aspect of the building process. There are many innovative ideas and the book is generally written with great clarity. You will need a working knowledge of marine and woodworking terminology and you will probably spend ten or twenty minutes reading, rereading and reflecting on the techniques and steps involved in many sections. But the sheer beauty of the book is that it is all there so we can all get cracking.
Many thanks to the authors for writing such an excellent book and for giving all of us the opportunity to embark on the beautiful craft of glued clinker (lapstrake) wooden boatbuilding.

I have bought and read every book on the market about epoxy and wood boatbuilding in preparation for building my own gaff rigged crusing boat. This volume is the best of the bunch -- and it has some excellent company -- but it is heads above the others. I am now rereading it because I am sure I will absorb more knowledge that I will need as the epoxy begins to set up.

Although I enjoy reading John Gardner's books the most, when it comes time to build this is the book I'll have on my workbench. It's packed with more info than any other book I've seen and answers all those nagging questions. It's by far the best Bible on boat building. The only part about his boat building technique I question is the use of screws, battens, and small blocks of wood to replace clamps. Guess I'll have to try it both ways to be convinced it's easier. Hat's off to you John. Good work.

Neil

This is the best introductory book on sailing small boats i have seen. It works perfectly with individual or group instruction and has been rated high by my son-in-law and three grandkids.

I purchased this book, as well as the "Complete Sailor" and "Sailing for Dummies" in an effort to learn to sail a 14 ft. dinghy, and I can easily say that "Learning to Sail" was the best of the three. It's very simple, with just enough basics to get you up and sailing safely. No, you won't be able to cruise to the Bahamas after reading this book, but it should be more than enough to let you enjoy a little freedom out on the lake. It was very nicely illustrated, with simple, straightforward instruction. It also had good illustrations on how to tie some of the basic knots in sailing, as well as where and when they're used. Overall, an excellent book for the beginning sailor.

We just purchased a Sunfish and this book was a great primer for both me and my children (ages 9 and 10). Illustrations are very helpful and fun.

NOT for adults. Geared toward sailing campers and so on who are young teenagers or younger.

Good, comprehensive book for learning the fundamentals of sailing.

This is a great boat because its make it simple, and thats really the key. If you can understand some of the basics from here, the physical sailing will be much more logical, and will assist you as you learn on the go.

If you have children you want to introduce to sailing also this is a good buy.

This book is perfect for new kayakers. It has everything you need to know with good illustrations and kind advice and encouragement.

I checked this out from the library for my girl friend, but was very impressed with the content when I went through it myself. She never did, so now she's getting it for a birthday gift. This is a well written book that I'd recommend for anyone interested in kayaking. I went through all the kayaking books the library system had to offer, and this was definitely one of the best.

I had been looking for an informative book that covered the many aspects of kayaking when I found this book while on a kayaking/camping trip in Maine. The book caught my eye, because it said it was a woman's guide to sea kayaking. However, it is much more than just a "woman's guide". As the others have said, all kayakers will benefit from reading this book. It is an interesting and easy-to-understand guide with lots of descriptive photos and drawings. It covers a wide range of topics such as:getting to know your kayak & paddle, safety and emergency info, carrying and transporting your kayak, weather and navigation, and much more! I would recommend this book to any person interested in learning more about kayaking!

I enjoyed reading this book. I feel more at ease about going out and kayaking without the "aide" of my husband. Great ideas for women only!

We're all out on the water. Excellent source of information with a target audience.

Excellent accounting of Mr. Guzzwell's travels over the years he was sailing his small boat around the world. His story makes it very clear that constant, immediate attention to maintenance and repairs on boats is imperative. It also shows that appropriate preparation and a good attitude is a must for success.

I think that this should be required reading for the dreamers, like me, who are looking forward to weighing anchor and testing our sailing ability.

Frank Dare

This book reminds us on that It is still possible to cross the oceans in smaller vessels. John Guzzwell share his story with us in a excellent way. Recommendable.

A nonfiction, wonderfully told, adventures by a fine young man in his self built, yawl-rigged, sailing vessel of just 20 feet, 6 inches. Don't let size deter you, for this is most enjoyable read.

An excellent book by a remarkable sailor and person who at the age of 76 is still involved with boats. I met him in 1962 when he built his second yacht, 'Treasure' and like 'Trekka' is to a Laurent Giles design.

John Guzzwell, who is arguably the finest yachtsman in the world, writes a beautiful book about his record breaking voyage around the world. Mr. Guzzwell proves that not only is he an avid sailor but an outstanding author as well. I couldn't put it down! Do yourself a favor and don't sail another mile before reading this masterpiece!

I can't remember when, but at one point I mentioned to my wife that I was fascinated by adventures on the open sea. We conversed about it, and she told me about Kon-Tiki, the famed book by explorer Thor Heyerdahl. In that book, he builds a raft and then goes on an expedition from South America to the Polynesian Islands. I think I received this book as a gift, and eventually I began to read it.

Somehow, during the reading of Kon-Tiki, an e-mail arrived from John Haslett. "I was wondering if I could induce you to read my new book." His book? Voyage of the Manteño: The Education of a Modern-Day Expeditioner.

Both books describe the details of building balsa rafts. Both books describe the arcane politics of setting sail from a foreign land. Both books were about open sea voyages (in the case of Manteño, multiple voyages), and the effort it takes to make a voyage work. In each there are fascinating passages about the ocean which any sea-dreaming land lubber like me could enjoy.

While Kon-Tiki is the more popular of the two, and certainly the more heralded (it was first published in 1950), John Haslett's book comes much closer to telling me what I wanted to know. What does the ocean feel like in a storm? What are your emotions when you're adrift at sea? And what happens when you get pissed at your shipmates? (Both authors had a small crew.)

Voyage of the Manteño took on these questions and more. John describes the ocean in all its beauty and fury. He describes feelings of elation, anxiety, and abject terror. He describes the emotional fortitude required to be a true explorer. He writes about his shipmates as worthy companions, even though some of them couldn't hack the sea-faring life. His book is ultimately an adventure of great endurance.

When I finished reading it, I felt immense satisfaction that John was still out there, planning his next voyage. I hope he'll write about it.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I even ordered three additional copies for my Alaskan rafting companions. It's a fascinating adventure.

I bought this book as a Father's Day present after hearing an amazing interview with John Haslett on the NPR radio program Think, on KERA in Dallas. Before wrapping it up to send to my dad, I made the "mistake" of starting to read it and couldn't put it down.

This is a compelling, moving, and beautifully written account (despite quite a few typos and editing blunders) of John Haslett's attempts, with friends, to resurrect the dead technology and lost sailing arts of the ancient Manteno people of Ecuador. Through the course of building and sailing four gigantic balsa rafts over several years, Haslett gradually becomes aware of his mission, transforming from an adventurer with something to prove to a researcher with the ability to contribute to a body of knowledge. Haslett's strong prose brings alive sounds, sights, smells and physical sensations - intense, unexpected, sometimes intolerable, sometimes breathtaking - bringing the reader into the action. It is foremost a document of his experience, but also, as the title claims, of his education - definitely in the school of hard knocks.

I was repeatedly astonished at the author's (and his compatriots') supreme good luck in managing to survive to tell their tale. The sequence of disasters they endured seemed endless and incredibly varied. Even more astonishing was the author's refusal to give up. He somehow continued to believe in the possibility of completing his intended voyages, even as the odds piled up against him again and again.

Intermingled with the (mis)adventures were times of joy, delight, wonder, and unexpected humor. Sharks roll to scratch their bellies against ends of the raft's big logs. Dolphins and whales curiously examine the raft and the diving men. The indefatigable inventiveness of a pair of Columbian sailors provides life-saving drinking water as well as little unexpected "luxuries."

Although it is not the book's focus, we also see glimpses of the environmental [...] of the ocean. Haslett's frequently assumes that the conditions he faces, including the voracious sea-worms that destroy his rafts, are the same as those faced by the ancient Manteno, but what if the pollution and fish depopulation he witnessed have also resulted in sea-worm "bloom" leading to more severe infestations?

Many of the expedition's "disasters" actually resulted from inexperience and lack of information. Haslett was blundering headlong in the dark to recreate lost technology and technique - and blundering from his role as solo adventurer to his role as a leader of men. Impatience - the urge and need to get underway without adequate preparation - working on a modern clock rather than an ancient one - also ultimately doomed every voyage, according to Haslett. In relating all this, I found Haslett's account courageous. He was willing to share the details of the expedition's repeated failures, and admitted that his own shortcomings as a leader played no small part in the first raft's demise and the first team's disintegration.

Haslett's relationships with his crew and the many generous people who helped them were poignant. He generally portrays them with respect and conveys their very distinct personalities, sometimes exposing too many warts. Yet he also conveys a slightly overwhelmed sense of gratitude, profound love, and a bit of guilt toward most of his crewmembers. Some were truly heroic, saving the lives of the entire crew; most endured conditions much worse than they had expected, even to the point of trauma. I find myself with strong emotions towards many of the book's "characters," especially Dower, the Ecuadoran fisherman whose maritime experience saved the expedition many times.

This was a worthwhile read, one that calls for a next installment. I hope that John Haslett and his future crew succeed in learning how to build a raft that they can navigate successfully all the way along the ancient Manteno's hypothetical trade route to Mexico - I'll be cheering them on from the shore!

After reading "The Voyage of the Manteno", I can emphatically encourage you to buy a copy for yourself and as a gift.
John's writing makes you feel like a member of his crew. Your knees will feel the bounce of the bamboo floor of the raft. The sea will wash over your feet. Your stomach will growl from hunger. You'll shiver and laugh over John's foibles with a hammerhead shark. His description of living in the darkness at sea will make you hold your hand out in front of your face and marvel that you CAN see yours. You'll cheer for John and Annie - two kindred souls who found each other. Was it chance or fate? You'll admire John's determination, perseverance, and enormous heart. You'll be in awe of what the human body and spirit can endure.
Don't miss the chance to share the experience of a modern day adventurer. Buy "The Voyage of the Manteno" by John Haslett.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the story was really captivating. Although I was really entertained by the story, I agree with many of the previous reviews that there were many egregious errors in the book, and I had a hard time getting through it without whipping out my trusty old pencil and making corrections in the margins...

Great information that is helping plan a schedule for our trip to the BVI.

I recently did a sailing course in the BVI and this book came as part of the package. It was an invaluable asset to sailing in the Virgin Islands and I highly recommend it before going there. Details on restaurants, places to anchor for the day and overnight anchorages. This is a great reference book!

If you only had one publication to take on a trip to the Virgin Islands this would be it. The updates are good which means their research is working and I am really pleased to see the return to a spiral binding. This works so well when you want it to stay opened to a particular page.

The spiral binder is a simple solution to using the book aboard. While it is true that you'll get a lot of ads it's a fair trade off since you'll only pay about half of what other cruising guides cost and it will show you the services you're likely to use. I find the technical aspects of this guide (anchoring, mooring, customs, etc.) to be clear and accurate. I've used some well respected guides for other areas that were not so.

I purchased this book prior to a sailing trip through the British Virgin Islands. My family has bareboat chartered in other locations before, but was our first trip to the BVI. This guide was outstanding - gave thorough information about anchoring, mooring and also activities and amenities to enjoy on the various islands. I would highly recommend purchasing this book prior to boating in the Virgin Islands. There is so much to do - we plan to go back next year - we couldn't get to all of the great places this year on a 9 day trip.

So sharp and acerbic that it just might be one of the funniest books ever written. Boating for beginners is a refreshing look at a story that everyone has heard more than once, only, in this version you are more likely to pee yourself laughing than be riddeled with guilt.

i loved this tale of an alternate possible truth to the noah story. i love anachranism, anyway, so this flood of it (ha ha!!) was right up my alley. i found myself telling others about it over and over, although i couldn't really do it justice. in fact, i'm on amazon right now buying it for a holiday prezzie for a friend. i thought it was lots of fun and wish i could read on....perhaps another one????

Terribly weak compared to her other work.

The story of Noah and the flood...told from an entirely different perspective, including rhinestone roller-skates, an orange demon, angels addicted to romance novels, and a transvestite...not to mention that giant ice-cream/black forest gateau concoction! Less intense than most of her later work, but beautifully written and an ton of fun to read!

If you read the author's remarks on her own webpage, then ÒBoating forBeginnersÓ is supposed to be a pot-boiler, written for the money inthe time of dearth before her ÔOranges are not the only FruitÕ finallysaw the light of day. Should this be true, then Ms. Winterson is evenmore talented than I had given her credit for. The book is a riot,truly funny, the kind of sarcasm that may kill a religion, and is muchmore effective as an antidote than the most elaborate production oflearned scholarship ever could hope to achieve ...Of course there aresome purely British insider jokes, and since we are at it letÕs givethe media a bit of a flak too. It is the wonderful world of glitteringtears and hallelujah-burgers from Genesis all the way to the latesttelevangelists. Praise the Lord! (And it is true: you CAN get yourorgasms in a supermarket.) Ms. Winterson sparkles with angular twistsand turns and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of ideas and jabs, butto the readers pleasant surprise, it all falls into place, and a realstory among ÒrealÓ people develops Ð characters we recognize, even inthis warped apparition from a parallel universe. Talent, fantasy andthe language, if an author has this, and Ms. Winterson has it inabundance, then even potboilers turn out to be a delight to read Ð infact it may even turn out better than more ambitious projects where anauthor can be a tat too conscious of what she or he is trying todo. (Yes, you guessed it, I am thinking of Ms. WintersonÕs ÒGutSymmetries.Ó) For the seeker of Ôprofound ideasÕ: the book developsthe premise: ÒWhat would happen if we took Northrop Frye seriously andused his method as a prescription of how to write narratives?Ó Need Isay more? Anyway: it was a pleasure to look into the workings of arare talent. If this book really had been produced in such a haste, asMs. Winterson claims, than it is the most transparent sample from herworkshop so far Ð and I must say, the most appealing, despite hertremendous ÒSexing the Cherry.Ó If you like Douglas AdamsÕÒHitchhiker,Ó then you are in for a treat, because this here is waybetter, and a good starting point to explore Ms. WintersonÕswork. Thing is: the book is only sporadically available in the US. andWintersonÕs own US-publisher doesnÕt even mention its existence. Why?You tell me! What a shame. END

With this book in addition to Chapelle's and Stewart's books, I am beginning to grasp round bottom traditional wood construction.

Its a great book if your want to build wooden boats in the most traditional way or with an archaic manner. Most wooden boat builders today can cut time by using modern equipment and techniques which is not described in this book. Its a good reference book and it includes a topic on the author's experience using modern epoxies and it contains Herreshoff rules/guidelines which every classic boatbuilder enthusiast might find informative. It will also describe you the events that you will go through if you're building a cruising boat. This book is not for the beginner for the terminology used will confuse them. In my opinion, if you would want to build a classic wooden boat I suggest you go through a weekend workshop (for the curious) or an apprenticeship (for a career) then buy this book to supplement what you've learned. Like the author said, "There is no such thing as a comprehensive book on any type of boat building." Your best chance to build your own dream boat is to get out there, learn from others, and supplement what you've learned with this book!

What to say about this book...it shows you wooden boat construction at its very, very best. Starting with raw lumber and simple hand tools, Larry Pardey takes us, step by laborious step, on the odyssey of building a truly world class cruising yacht, his 30' Taleisin. Not only is every step of the hull construction detailed, but we also get "real world" time and cost estimates so there are no illusions as to how much time and money each step will take. There are superb "pro and con" treatments of aspects that have a variety of solutions. If there are multiple ways to tackle a job, he makes two columns and discusses the pros and cons of each in detail. Usually you just get the author's opinions without any extra information.

This book is famous also because of it's very important final appendix on epoxies in salt water craft, and how epoxy often is weakened to the point of failure by salt water, repeated stress, and heat - 3 things that a sailboat gets plenty of. I am told by many epoxy fans that this chapter "is now out of date", but I don't remember any amazing new epoxies coming out that make Pardey's findings defunct. George Buehler says it best - epoxy works best when it's backed up by a bolt. "Praise epoxy but pass the nails".

Also note the title "The Hull". That's all you get. When it comes to decks, houses, rigging, etc., you're on your own. Hopefully Pardey will bring out volume 2 on the rest of the boat.

He's a masterful carpenter and his work is glorious and gleaming, fully among the best of yacht-quality work ever done. This is something you need to seriously soak in. This is THE BEST, and not necessarily realistic for the average home boat builder. This book represents a set of skills that you probably don't have, and may find difficulty developing in your lifetime, unless you are really dedicated. Also, there is the time factor. It's one thing to look at a photo of fastening planking on the frame and say "I understand that...I can do that!" and it's quite another to realize how many HUNDREDS of hours are involved in just a few of the aspects of the hull construction. Pardey could work on his yacht full time - he didn't need to do other work to pay the bills. He was also in the prime of his health. Most Americans only have this kind of time if they're retired, and that often means not as strong as we once were. If we're young and strong it means we have to work for a living. So, this particular boat might be best aimed at the youngish man who doesn't have to work very much for his living. Either that or you'll spend about a decade of weekends on this boat.

If you want to get on the water a little quicker than that, consider George Buehler's "Backyard Boat Building", for salty and sea worthy crusising yachts that the average man or woman can build themselves in a year or two, and actually take to the Caribbean, or further. I'm not saying don't aspire to Pardey's level, but remember that you live in the real world. It's better to build a simple boat than to not build a fancy one. It's better to go sailing than it is to spend your free weekends for 2 years screwing down teak decking. But, that consideration aside, there is no better guide to traditional yacht construction than this.

Larry Pardey book is the definitive guide on Carvel Plank construction, he takes you through the building process of their 30' Talesin.

Besides is Epoxy-phobia, there are great tips and considerations when building a boat. If you plan on building even a strip plank, Larry's book will give you tips to avoid the mistakes that have often destroyed a home builders dreams or wasted a lot of wood.

The short coming of this book is that the deck is only modestly covered and it stops at the hull. Mr. Pardey has yet to put out the other part that covers the interior and rigging. So you will find some questions unanswered.

I have read at least 5 (maybe more) books on home boat building. Where this book does a superior job is in its prolific use of photographs to demonstrate the steps discussed in the text. Pardey's is a good book but a bit on the "HARD CORE" side. For instance how many "one-off" builders are going to go to the trouble of forging our own magnesium alloy floor brackets? If you are serious about building your own boat I'd still recommend reading this book but it should not be the first you read. In my opinion, Pardey's book is not intended for the rank armature. In fact you have to be fairly familiar with, carpentry, boats, and boat building terminology in order to follow the book at all. I still encountered JARGON that was unfamiliar to me. If I were the editor of this book I'd recommend a comprehensive GLOSSARY OF TERMS be added at the end of the book. That one addition would greatly increase the utility of this book.

To who ever desires or dreams of building this is a valuable eye opener of what has been drawn over the years.
Some difficult some relatively easy. But all worth studying for the efforts the designers made to come up with some beautiful ships.
It is not a complete list but a very varied selection and will be able to allow some one to focus on what one find more appealing.

This is simply a catalog of plans you can buy. I wouldn't pay for a Sears catalog of things to buy. It also has a list of related articles in Woodenboat magazine that can be ordered.
I am looking for imformation on how to build a boat, not looking to buy a book on where to buy imformation on how to build a boat.

A wonderful compendium of study plans for wooden boats. The full construction plans can be purchased separately and in various places, depending on the plan set.

This is a great book for anyone wanting to build a wooden boat. You can go over 40 different designs and then purchase the plans for the one you wish to build.

5 Stars

Some people love working on cars, golfing, or seeing a good game. This reviewer loves ships and boats. I got this book as a house warming gift for a friend who build a massive house. I have to admit the book is amazing and quite informative.

Bluntly, if you're a good carpenter with a full work bench of tools, know a lot about basic carpentry construction, and don't mind spending money then this is the book for you.

Indeed, the person I gave this book to is an avid sailor on Lake St. Clair and is a house contractor. He is using some of the information in this book in restoring a wooden 1950s era cabin cruiser. This book tells a craftsman how to cut nautical grade joints, tells what types of woods to use, calking, and what types of glues to use. Note, the information is a little old so a person may want to research modern glues for marine use. It may not be easy to find some of the older glues referenced in this book.

I highly enjoyed reading this book. This amazon.com reviewer own a small sloop with a Marconi rig. I would never own a gaff rigged boat. But this wonderful little book will give you complete information on building a nice little sail boat. The section on the large cruisers is very tempting to anybody who has a passion for the sea.

If you are a builder of boats this book will have some good information for you. If you're like me, it has a fair bit of necessary general information on construction techniques and nautical terms.

I give it five stars. Anybody who likes boats, woodworking, and being on the water will learn something good from this nice book.

Highly recommended.

THIS BOOK PUTS A REAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE REALITY OF DEALING WITH TREACHEROUS SEAS. IT MAKES MY HAIR STAND ON END EVERYTIME
I LOOK THRU IT...

I would give this book five stars except that it is a little out of date and not the easiest to read. Despite this, there is no question that the material within is critically important for any sailor who ventures offshore and worth reading. I feel this topic has not been adequately explored in the printed media. There are only three good books on the subject and this book leads the pack. There is still a lot of research to be done in area of heavy weather sailing. Coles does a good job explaining what to do in various situations he faced. This book gives you a chance to put yourself in his shoes. This book is well worth the price. It is cheap insurance considering that what you learn could save your life. Serious yachtsman read this book.

No-one who takes responsibility for others at sea should be without the life-saving knowledge in this important book. It is a 'distance-learning masterclass'of wild-water seamanship, bang up-to-date, and filled with hard-won experience of what works and what doesn't when the chips are down.

I would not want to be at sea in a rising gale without the 'know-how' I've learned from 'Heavy Weather Sailing'. I echo Pete Goss's endorsement - "If you buy no other book for your voyage, buy this one."

Bill Bailey MRIN and Commercial Ocean Yachtmaster

No-one who takes responsibility for others at sea should be without the life-saving knowledge in this important book. It is a 'distance-learning masterclass'of wild-water seamanship, bang up-to-date, and filled with hard-won experience of what works and what doesn't when the chips are down.

I would not want to be at sea in a rising gale without the 'know-how' I've learned from 'Heavy Weather Sailing'. I echo Pete Goss's endorsement - "If you buy no other book for your voyage, buy this one."

Bill Bailey MRIN and Commercial Ocean Yachtmaster

This book has excellent info, but is a bit overwhelming and I didn't let my partner read it, cause it can be pretty scary. Then I came across the DVD Lin and Larry Pardey put out. Their ideas are discussed in this book. But their Storm tactics DVD put it all in prospective and added a lot of info. was fun to watch too and my partner came away feeling eager to get out voyaging. The two make a grand combination.