Boating books

L

Lil Rascal

New member
Hi,

Just turned 40 last week and got a ton of Barnes & Noble gift cards. I was wondering what books you folks think would be good to add to my boating collection. I prefer to have reference type books, for example having to do with maintenanance or boat handeling etc.
Thanks,

Scott on Lil' Rascal
 
You don't need any boating books, what you need is books on Creative Child Abuse... or a chiefs guide to fine dining for a child.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship is a must-have on our boats. Full of the best information on all aspects of small boat handling. If I have a question on lights or nav aids, I reach for the Chapman's.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Along with Chapmans,
I would also recommend two books by Nigel Calder:
Boat Owners Mechanical and Electrical Manual
and
Cruising Handbook: A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors

Every C Dory 22 owner needs to have
River Horse, by William Least Heat Moon.

Earl Hinz's Complete book of Anchoring and mooring is another classic.

If you really want to spend the bucks--get all of Steve Dashew's books in the "ultimate package" :
http://www.setsail.com/store/catalog.ta ... uct_id=412

Then by the million dollar boat to go around the world!.

Happy birthday!
 
Happy belated birthday Scott:

If you are interested in navigation books, here are some excellent ones that I always recommend to my captain's license students:

The Weekend Navigator by Bob Sweet great combination of traditional navigation merged with modern electronics - comes with Maptech demo software to boot. Fantastic graphics

GPS for Mariners by Robert J Sweet (same guy) excellent detailed coverage of GPS, walks you through a simulated cruise on your own equipment

Radar for Mariners by David Burch complete use of recreational radar and controls - comes with a demo radar simulator program

How to Read a Nautical Chart by Nigel Calder chart symbols and other mysteries decoded

Enjoy,

V/R Chris
 
Scott,

First, the list that Bob Austin and V/R Chris is a very good start. Chapman's is on top of the list.

Here is how I do it.

I have a wife who likes to shop, and I hate to shop., So she drops me off at the Barnes and Noble Book Store. I go to the Cafe, stake my claim on a table near a window, and order an expensive coffee with my 10% discount card because I am a member.

I then go to the boating book section, and grab any book that might turn me on. take them back to the table. I thumb through the books, and if one really turns me on because it will make my "yachting" better, I buy it.

Most of the books are a rehash of Chapman's, in fact some are excerpts of Chapman,s.

After I am through with the books I start with the magazines.

When my wife is finished with the shopping, she calls me on the "electronic leash" and picks me up. I then take her out to lunch.

It works for me.

I should mention, that a lot of books in my library are purchased from used book stores. I don't think they will take you gift cards, but if you get hooked on boating books, try them.

Fred
 
Hey Scott... How about coming to the boat show with us .... there are always books that are shown there that never seem to make it to Barns and Noble down here.... you can always order them and use your gift cards that way....
Heck maybe you can even buy a new boat while yer there...what the heck....

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Chapman's is great but very large, heavy and spendy. I think I will keep mine at home and take on board a new book I found at the Anacortes Ace Hardware: Boater's Pocket Reference by Thomas McEwen ISBN 0-9774052-0-6 http://www.anchorcovepublishing.com

I have a copy of Calder's How to Read a Nautical Chart and second the recommendation.

Warren
 
I agree with Warren on the size of Chapmans - the author must get payed by the pound. It is a very complete reference however and provides the additional capability to trim your boat, depending where you stow it or as an emergency anchor in a pinch.

Another nice book that I recently discovered is:

The One-Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road by Charlie Wing

Very/Respectfully, Chris
 
Speaking of "Chapman's..." I was at the Wichita, KS, Borders Books the other evening and I thought maybe I should update my moldy, 12 yr old, edition. I was surprised that they did not have Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship on the shelf, so went to the order desk to order one.

The clerk was not able to find "Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship" on their order site computer. I went round and round with him asking him to try "Piloting and Seamanship" etc., written by Chapman, but to no avail... I have been back in the store many times since and they seem to think it is no longer published.....


Yet, 30 seconds on the internet could net you a new copy......

John
 
It may be that the name of the book is actually
"Chapman Piloting & Seamanship" By Elbert S. Maloney. 64th edition
ISSN 1545-472X
isbn 1-58816-089-0

(my "latest edition" us 2003--and there is a 65th edition with an isbn:158816232X )

I agree that Chapman's is too large to carry on a C Dory. The book I do carry however is the rules of the Road:
Department of Homeland Security US Coast Guard
Nautical Rules of the Road
Binding: Paperback
Pub Date: May 2006
Size: 6 x 9
ISBN: 0939837498

If your boat is over 40 feet you are reqired to have this aboard--but it is a good idea to have it on smaller vessels.
 
I agree about the "rules of the road"...... I use those plastic covered "quick notes" from West Marine.... seems like when there is a question there is no time to look it up....the cards are great...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Joel,

I would love to come to the show with you if the wife and kids let me out of the house. As a matter of fact I am on about a month vacation starting December 23rd. Maybe I will bring the whole family. We could stay in your room. Right? :0)

Everyone else,

I have Chapmans book already on my C-Dory. I went to Barnes and noble.com to order the Nigel Calder book about maintenance and they don't carry it. Go Figure. So, I am still looking to see what else I need. Maybe a cruising guide for the Pacific coast.

Thanks for all the suggestions,

Scott on Lil Rascal
 
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