Editorial Review

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Reviews (44)

Best collection of knots ever.
This book has just about every kind of knot you could ever imagine. The drawings are quite nice and history within the book is most interesting. If you've ever had an interest in knots, rope, or sailing this is the book for you.

Knot-Withstanding
This is a marvelous piece of work, a wonderfully compiled index and history on the amusing subject of knots.Moreover; this is the story of knots, written with a scholar's pen (so, it's educational), but told with a seaman's heart. The author's passion for his subject, evident on every page, animates all of his hand-drawn, disciplinedillustrations(Ashley was a student of the great Howard Pyle), which lends the book a nice, user-friendly appeal. As the author literally unravels the chords of the past on the subject, he then meticulously ties all loose ends together to knot the vast gamut of one ofhumanity's oldest skills and indispensable crafts in one timeless reference book. Here is a legendary work for the ages on a specialized professional skill, and a skill people rely upon everyday.
"I'm a bit tied up at the moment."
First published in 1944, THE ASHLEY BOOK OF KNOTS is a fundamental reference work for anyone who works with rope, be you a sailor, stevedore, circus acrobat or dominatrix.
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Subjects:  1. Arts And Crafts    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. General    5. Knots and splices    6. Sailing - General    7. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    8. Sports & Recreation / Sailing    9. CRAFTS/HOBBIES   

Reviews (16)

"Sail on, sail on, sailor..."
Weighing in at a hefty five pounds plus and almost 1000 pages long, this book is as important to your boat as its keel, and almost as dense. First published by Nathaniel Bowditch in 1802 and carried on board every U.S. Navy vessel, THE AMERICAN PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR ("BOWDITCH") is the quintessential seafarer's reference.
I know nothing
I bought this book for my brother who is in the Navy. He said it is required for them to have. He said it has been very helpful. Other then that, I know nothing else about this book.

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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    2. History    3. History: American    4. Sailing - Navigation    5. Transportation   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (13)

Bible of Boating, but maybe you just need a little prayer.
If you could only buy one book on boating, this would be it, but it's overkill for a beginning recreational boater. The newcomer to boating will get lost in all the detail if he tries to use this as a practical manual. With all the books on boating, it might be better to label this as an intermediate-advanced reference book. Sure, it's got everything, but most weekenders don't need to know everything, just the basics.

an absolute boater's neccessity
Chapmans is the must-have for any boater who wants to do things the right way. I regularly go to this book. Easy to read, organized and practical. A bit big to bring onboard, however.

Don't Leave Home (or the Dock) Without It!
Our most frequently asked question: "What's the one book you'd recommend for a boater?"Our answer every time: "Chapman's."Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating And Sailing    2. Motorboats    3. Navigation    4. Pilots and pilotage    5. Sailing - Navigation    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - General    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Transportation   

Reviews (13)

Really essential
Quite a bit of good info here although Nigel does let his rather strong opinions shine through in some areas.Smile.

Nearly best book
After my 22000 nautical miles bluewater sailing and cruising life still I feel myself really beginner.
Great book
Lot's of sailing info packed into one book. Covers many different aspects of sailing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Navigation    4. Sailboats    5. Sailing    6. Sailing - General    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Transportation    9. Travel    10. Sports & Recreation / Boating    11. Cruising    12. Seamanship   

Reviews (4)

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. 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.

Great Map
If you are looking for an excellent road map of the oceans and plan on traveling soon this is a good read.Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Navigation    4. Reference - Cruise Guides    5. Sailing    6. Sailing - General    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Travel - General    10. Yachting    11. Sports & Recreation / Sailing   

Reviews (1)

A Must Have for the Do-It-Your-Selfer
This book is a must have for the occasional do-it-your-selfer. Being a compilation of all of the Don Casey books on sailboat maintenance, I find myself pulling this book off the shelf more often than any other maintenance book I own.
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Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Maintenance and repair    3. Sailboats    4. Sailing - General    5. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Boating    9. Sports & Recreation / Sailing   

Editorial Review

First launched in 1983, Read more

Reviews (20)

One Hand For Yourself, One Hand For The Ship
THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP by John Rousmaniere is the ur-text on sailing used by virtually every sailing school as its primary educational source. Now in its third edition, this eminently readable and well illustrated book is encyclopedic in its scope, crammed full of practical information about sailing vessels, the mechanics of sailing them, and the traditions of sailing. It's a measure of the excellence of THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP how familiarly Rousmaniere presents this largely alien topic with its many very specialized terms of art.
Has good info...
This book has some pretty good info and is quite comprehensive and well laid out.If you're going to buy 1 book, let it be this one.That's if you ever get around to reading it (it being so comprehensive and all) it's almost easier to go out sailing than trawl through it's many pages!But a worthwhile reference.

Smooth sailing
Unlike some reference books that I have seen, the Annapolis Book of Seamanship is clearly written and understandable for this novice. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Navigation    4. Sailing    5. Sailing - General    6. Seamanship    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Boating    10. Marine engineering    11. Reference works    12. Ships & shipping: general interest    13. Sports & Recreation / Sailing   

Reviews (8)

Good information from very experienced people
It's wonderful to keep this dream alive for those of us with moderate means. I'd recommend this book, along with FitzGerald's Sea-steading, as basic reference volumes for simple sailing.

modern man is loosing his ability to use his own hands
I read this book fifteen years ago, then bought the new edition because someone borrowed my old one. Yup, as the previous reviewer said, the Pardyes have only updated this edition, adding maybe 30 percent new info. But their message is as modern as today. Only by knowing how to get along without al the fancy gadgets can you be have a chance to feel completely in charge of your cruising life. You may never need to get along without your engine, or without your electronics, but if they do fail you will not feel stuck,if you think through what they say.By the way, I happened to go to their website and am amazed at the wonderful life they have made for themselves, a small but grand cruising boat and a boatyard and home in New Zealand that makes a perfect safe haven that I would love to have for my later years.

Outdated
This book is so old it should not be sold anymore.The so called "updates" are simply token and the whole book is too old to be of help. Also, the people are so spartan they really don,t relate to the modern cruiser..ie.. they spend time on the merits of kerosene lights.When they finally retire to land I sure they will end up in a trailer park. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating And Sailing    2. Sailing - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sailing    6. Ships & shipping: general interest   

Reviews (1)

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 applytoo mariners.And some very good ones i'd never heard of , but as itstates in the book " good advice is so very hard to come by when itcomes to rules of the ocean , and the black box theory is some thing i willdo my utmost to adhere to as it is all very true done with the witty senceof humor that would appeal to more than most fisherman allthe way toseasoned sailors its a very handy book ,A must for all serious Boaties! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Boats and boating    4. General    5. Sailing - Navigation    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Transportation    9. Boating    10. History / General    11. Marine engineering    12. Ships & shipping: general interest   

Reviews (10)

Interesting Book to Read
If you're looking for the right boat to sail around the world, this book is a good place to start.Well written and interesting to read.The only negative I have about the book is that the author is excessively biased towards older full keel sailboats.Newer sailboats can do as well as older full keel sailboats in many cases.All boats have their strengths and weaknesses so you just have to pick the one with the right mix for yourself.

A good placeto start, but...
There should be more books like this for young sailors to read.His writing style is good - the information presented is good, but it is true he omitted some boats which should have been included.That said, how many people have sailed in every possible boat between 25 and 40 ft that might be capable off shore?I like the emphasis on inexpensive boats.In addition to this book be sure to read J. Fitzgerald's "Sea-Steading" , Pardey's books, and Hiscocks. You don't need an expensive boat full of all the latest gadgets to sail the oceans!

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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sail Boating    2. Sailing - General    3. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation   

Reviews (3)

One of my favorite travel guides ever.
This is one of my favorite travel guides, ever, period.Even though this book is aimed at sailors, it has plenty of helpful information for land travelers too.Plus it has a lot of information I've never found in another travel guide.The best example is this.One beautiful night as we sat on our terrace enjoying the 180 degree view of the southern skies, I turned to my travel partner and said, "Did you print off those star charts so we can identify the southern cross?"His response. "Uh oh, I never got around to that."
Too many adverts
Doyle's info was very good and the color arial photos and mini charts are very usefull. The book is 9 inches by 6 inches and has 400 pages, however if you were to remove the advertizments and touristy photos you would probably end up with about 275 pages of usefull info.

Rare combination of useful advice and humor
As a frequent user of cruising guides, I appreciate how rare is the combination of useful, detailed advice and a sense of humor.Chris Doyle does it here, and every traveler (or prospective traveler) to theGrenadines should get this guide.It's not just for sailors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Sailing    4. Windward Islands   

Reviews (12)

This Old Boat
Covers everything from dings to diesels.A must read for apprentice boatsmiths.This reading gives you the confidence and knowledge to fix up & repair most every defect in your used boat.

Before you buy that old boat - READ THIS BOOK!
This book is entertaining to read and really is an eye opener as to what you're getting yourself into re wooden boats.Really is a prmer on the topic or Wooden Boats 101 - when you are done reading it you'll know your up to the task or not.

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.
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Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Sailing - General    3. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Transportation    7. Boating    8. Shipbuilding technology & engineering    9. Ships & shipping: general interest    10. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (21)

A pretty good learning tool
This book is not for the very novice sailor.Actually no book alone is but a good teacher and book is what is needed for newbies.The details and topics discussed were great, though the section on knots left some to be desired.Why can no sailing book acurately cover knots?I would give it a B+.

Review
Excellent book. Talks about the lifestyle as well as how to sail. I recommend it.

learning to sail is only the first step
My partner dreams of cruising across oceans. He gave me this book, along with Lin Pardeys Care and Feeding of Sailing Crew. I am truly hooked. Seidman makes sailing accessible. Lin Pardey makes crossing oceans in a boat we can actually dream of owning, do able. I recommend both! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Equipment and supplies    4. Physical Education    5. Sailboats    6. Sailing    7. Sailing - General    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Boating    11. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (3)

Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook : Norfolk, Virginia, to Miami, Florida
A must for traveling the Intercoastal Waterway.A very detailed illustrative set of information to successfully achieve your trip.

Excellent source... More than a set of charts!
Very usable in it's small page spiral format.Flipping pages as one cruises north or south is easy, and takes very little space at the helm.The annotations indicating marina locations save looking in separate guideswhen a stopping point is desired. Some obvious side trips (e.g. BananaRiver) are omitted and would have helped increase usefulness if included.

Excellent up-to-date reference
The charts are well organized and very reliable.Only a minimum number of aids were missing or changed in number.Some of the bridge info is a little dated but generally did not cause any navigational problems. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Sailing - Navigation    3. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Boating    7. Cartography, geodesy & geographic information systems (GIS)    8. Navigation    9. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (4)

Excellent introductory sailing manual.
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.

Learning to Sail: The Annapolis Sailing School Guide
Learning to Sail: The Annapolis Sailing School Guide for Young Sailors of All Ages by Di Goodman, et al, is a good informative reference for beginning sailors of all ages. Great for all ages.
This book was selected for use by the Lake Saint Louis Youth Sailing Academy after our lead instructor and our top student (age 10) bothselected the same book from a group of 10 potential class text books.Thekids found it easy to follow, and the adults found it easy to establish alesson plan based on the structure of the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Navigation    3. Physical Education    4. Sail Boating    5. Sailing    6. Sailing - General    7. Seamanship    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Boats & boating    11. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (2)

A new nautical classic with great sailing insights
Kretschmer's new book about the bone chilling tail of a wrong way hurricane is bound to become a sailor's classic.Not only is the book a well written page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat, but it is filled with questions that every blue water sailor confronts when faced with difficult decisions at sea. Kretschmer's extensive knowledge of the subject is evident as he offers insights and thoughts about heavy weather strategy, survival tactics, and the decisions that were made by three brave sailors as they battled for their lives.

A Moving Book of the Sea
John Kretschmer has hit a home run with his new book - this is a very moving tale of the sea and hurricanes - and, even more, a moving tale of the people who go to sea on small sailing boats.I did not put the book down until it was finished. If you liked the Perfect Storm, this is better, partly because Kretschmer has been there himself, facing hurricanes on a small boat.This is a book about a tragedy, but is uplifiting at the same time. Great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Boating accidents    3. Caribbean Area    4. Heavy weather seamanship    5. Sailing    6. Sailing - General    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Boating    10. Sports & Recreation / Sailing   

Reviews (7)

Alll of what you need to know
This book is well written and covers everything you need to know for an off shore voyager.I believe it is a must read for before a first time offshore journey.

Buy This Book
Even if you do not plan to sail shorthanded thousands of miles offshore it's a very good idea to understand in detail what makes your boat seaworthy in difficult circumstances and to make it so. Good Advice
You can easily pick up three books on offshore sailing and get three separate opinions of what type of boat you need.A fast boat will get across the pond faster.A big boat adds stability and can carry lots of accessories like auxiliary generators and water makers.John's theory is that you should get a boat that can be handled well by a small crew and tough enough to handle any weather that you are likely to run into.Since his opinion parallels my own, I can only assume that he is obviously a sailing genius.This book is highly recommended for anyone contemplating a voyage over the horizon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Sailing - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sailing    6. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Editorial Review

Though literature, films, and folklore have romanticized pirates as gallant seaman who hunted for treasure in exotic locales, David Cordingly, a former curator at the National Maritime Museum in England, reveals the facts behind the legends of such outlaws as Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, and Calico Jack. Even stories about buried treasure are fictitious, he says, yet still the myth remains. Though pirate captains were often sadistic villains and crews endured barbarous tortures, were constantly threatened with the possibility of death by hanging, drowning in a storm, or surviving a shipwreck on a hostile coast, pirates are still idealized. Cordingly examines why the myth of the romance of piratehood endures and why so few lived out their days in luxury on the riches they had plundered. ... Read more

Reviews (80)

A good reference
'Under the Black Flag' is a book containing the history of the pirates age (1600-1700's). The book focuses on the pirates of the Caribbean, but does reference pirates in the South China Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the coast of Africa.
An Excellent Reference
This is a compelling read for anyone interested in the history of Pirates. The author obviously did his research and cited his sources correctly which adds to the legitimacy of this work. The main focus is to present factual information and dynamically contrast it to fictitious images the public commonly hold of piracy. Dates and time lines play a crucial part and the overall picture is presented logically and coherently. This is a must have for novices interested in a broad topical overview as well as those who are interested in the origins of the fiction surrounding pirates.
good read
Cordingly writes a good book.For those who are searching for a book on the general overview of piracy, this is it.I would highly recommend it.
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Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Earth Sciences - Geography    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Maritime History    6. Pirates    7. Sailing - Narratives    8. Science    9. Sports & Recreation / Sailing   

Reviews (1)

Great Source of Information of Countries and Ports of Entry
This is a well structured book that provides a one stop source of information on port of entry procedures among other thing. However with that said. I have just returned from the Leeward Islands and found the entry procedures have completely changed. No longer do you fly the Q flag and wait, but the skipper can proceed directly to customs and immigrations. This is no doubt due to the increased yacht traffic.So talk with other yachts going to or coming from your destination to get the latest information on entry and clearance information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Pilot guides    4. Sailing - Navigation    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Travel Guides    8. Motor / power boating & cruising   

Reviews (27)

A must read if considering cruising
Beth Leonard made the cruising lifestyle come alive for me from
An Excellent Book
Just finished reading this excellent book on voyaging. The last few reviews left me wondering if the author would really have the experience to write about cruising. SHE DOES!!!
Worth reading
This author has copped criticism for being an inexperienced "yuppie" whose early lifestyle - a lifestyle she now decries as meanginless - helped pay for some easy cruising. This opinion is small minded. The simple fact the book is written by an honest woman gives it a rare and compelling resonance. Any man trying to honestly sell the cruising dream and any woman seeking a fair appraisal of what to expect from that dream will benefit from Bluewater Cruising. Does this book cover its topic exhaustively leaving no stone unturned? Not always - but none truly do. Does the book present our favourite subject in a different and useful way? Yes, I believe it does. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Ocean travel    5. Reference - Guides (General)    6. Sailing    7. Sailing - General    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Motor / power boating & cruising    11. Ships & shipping: general interest    12. Sports & Recreation / Boating