Books for newbies

[Captain Daz]

I intend to buy a slow old motor cruiser and potter up the West coast. I really know nothing about tides and harbours and currents, that type of thing.

I intend to do a radio course, a navigation course and a RYA course before hand, but can anybody recommend a book that might give me some pointers in the absolute basics?

Thanks.

 

[Searush]

Tom Cunnliffe's "the Complete Day Skipper" is a good starting point & works thro the basics logically.

I trust you already have a good understanding of diesel engines cos you will surely need it with an old MoBo. There is a good reason why old MoBos are cheap & plentiful on the market. If not, you really will need to understand how to keep them in top order & fed with fuel.

 

[gjgm]

I intend to buy a slow old motor cruiser and potter up the West coast. I really know nothing about tides and harbours and currents, that type of thing.

I intend to do a radio course, a navigation course and a RYA course before hand, but can anybody recommend a book that might give me some pointers in the absolute basics?

Thanks.

RYA book on navigation is a good read to understand much, and probably alot more than, you need to know.

One aspect to consider is that modern electronics can now play a huge part in most peoples' boating. For example, it might be fascinating to calculate the expected tidal heights longhand, but most plotters do it for you instantly.
Similarly, we all have mobiles these days, so calling a harbour master for his local weather forecast gives you his decade of sky-peering local experience.
Top tip? Those who know the limit of their ability have no issue with asking others for help, be they new or seasoned. Never be embarassed to ask

 

[Captain Daz]

Tom Cunnliffe's "the Complete Day Skipper" is a good starting point & works thro the basics logically.

I trust you already have a good understanding of diesel engines cos you will surely need it with an old MoBo. There is a good reason why old MoBos are cheap & plentiful on the market. If not, you really will need to understand how to keep them in top order & fed with fuel.

Thanks again for your input Searush, I am beginning to find your input invaluable.
I am/was a trained diesel mechanic and spent nine years repairing Chieftains, the world's most unreliable tank, in the army. The boat I have my eye on has two Gardner engines, which I have subsequently researched and found them to be the very epitome of longevity.

 

[Captain Daz]

RYA book on navigation is a good read to understand much, and probably alot more than, you need to know.

One aspect to consider is that modern electronics can now play a huge part in most peoples' boating. For example, it might be fascinating to calculate the expected tidal heights longhand, but most plotters do it for you instantly.
Similarly, we all have mobiles these days, so calling a harbour master for his local weather forecast gives you his decade of sky-peering local experience.
Top tip? Those who know the limit of their ability have no issue with asking others for help, be they new or seasoned. Never be embarassed to ask

Thanks for the reply, I think I will go all electronic but would I still need charts etc?

I will never stop asking, one can never stop learning.

 

[gjgm]

Thanks for the reply, I think I will go all electronic but would I still need charts etc?

QUOTE]
I am afraid you will have to be sunk for asking that !
I like having charts, but then I have room at the helm for them. The plotter can zoom in/out of course, but I like seeing the big paper copy next to me.
Cant recall if it is Admiralty or Imray (or both) who do some good sets of charts with charts for the passage , and then charts of the river mouth/harbour etc in bigger scale. Usually about £40 a set. They are good when going somewhere new, but of course after a while you get to know the place anyway.
They are also good for at home peering over the charts in the warmth of your lounge, looking at pilot guides, thinking of routes and where to go etc.
And they are good for learning about charts and symbols etc.
Do you need them? Probably not. A plotter can go wrong of course...but if your next leg of the journey is 20 miles down the coast, you might not be going to go THAT wrong without them
On the subject of learning though.. some feel you need to learn the old salty sailor way, as thats the only way really to understand a plotter etc etc. Others feel a plotter will do most people most of the time (and that is possibly true).
For example, with a chart, you wont plot a course from A to B if it goes through a headland or dangerous rocks, but a plotter will just draw the line you ask... namely A to B.
(In fact the flashier Garmin plotters wont do that, I believe.. they can plot a course for you, but I have never tried it on mine!)

 

[Kawasaki]

Thanks for the reply, I think I will go all electronic but would I still need charts etc?

I will never stop asking, one can never stop learning.

Yep, keep charts aboard and learn how to use them
Electronics are great these days but one day they will pear shaped just like yer pute does!
Having the basics of navigating by paper is not only usefull but interesting too ihmo

 

[Kawasaki]

I intend to buy a slow old motor cruiser and potter up the West coast. I really know nothing about tides and harbours and currents, that type of thing.



Thanks.

I see from your earlier posts that you have a penchant for a Colvic Notherner or similar
Therefore you will need to get a grip with tides and currents etc
Stuff like this is also shown on paper charts and various other books and publications
For instance if your vessel makes 7 kts and you are punching a 5 kt tide etc your passage might take you longer than you anticipated
Similarly if you are getting shoved sideways you might end up where you dont want to!!!
As you say there is lots to learn but thats the fun of it
Like others, I,m still learning after too many years to mention

 

[Captain Daz]

I see from your earlier posts that you have a penchant for a Colvic Notherner or similar
Therefore you will need to get a grip with tides and currents etc
Stuff like this is also shown on paper charts and various other books and publications
For instance if your vessel makes 7 kts and you are punching a 5 kt tide etc your passage might take you longer than you anticipated
Similarly if you are getting shoved sideways you might end up where you dont want to!!!
As you say there is lots to learn but thats the fun of it
Like others, I,m still learning after too many years to mention

No, you actually scared me off the smaller boats, I now have my eye on this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150769575...AX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1287

 

[Captain Daz]

Thanks for the reply, I think I will go all electronic but would I still need charts etc?

QUOTE]
I am afraid you will have to be sunk for asking that !
I like having charts, but then I have room at the helm for them. The plotter can zoom in/out of course, but I like seeing the big paper copy next to me.
Cant recall if it is Admiralty or Imray (or both) who do some good sets of charts with charts for the passage , and then charts of the river mouth/harbour etc in bigger scale. Usually about £40 a set. They are good when going somewhere new, but of course after a while you get to know the place anyway.
They are also good for at home peering over the charts in the warmth of your lounge, looking at pilot guides, thinking of routes and where to go etc.
And they are good for learning about charts and symbols etc.
Do you need them? Probably not. A plotter can go wrong of course...but if your next leg of the journey is 20 miles down the coast, you might not be going to go THAT wrong without them
On the subject of learning though.. some feel you need to learn the old salty sailor way, as thats the only way really to understand a plotter etc etc. Others feel a plotter will do most people most of the time (and that is possibly true).
For example, with a chart, you wont plot a course from A to B if it goes through a headland or dangerous rocks, but a plotter will just draw the line you ask... namely A to B.
(In fact the flashier Garmin plotters wont do that, I believe.. they can plot a course for you, but I have never tried it on mine!)

I have been looking at charts that are for sale,, it could be a very expensive hobby if, like me, you plan to do a fair bit of Scotland

 

[Kawasaki]

No, you actually scared me off the smaller boats, I now have my eye on this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150769575...AX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1287

I have been looking at charts that are for sale,, it could be a very expensive hobby if, like me, you plan to do a fair bit of Scotland

I don't remember scaring you off
There are chart folios that will cover where you want to go
£100 will go far!
Fair play to you that one heck of a starter boat
But a double diagonal wooden hull will take some looking after
Seems like a nice liveaboard though.
Been down the converted lifeboat route myself
Mine was clinker built and a double ender too
Really learnt load about tides and boat handling with Her
High maintenance thats fer sure
Mine was a single engine which helped me discover all the quirks about 'prop wash' etc
The twin engined one you are looking at has a different kind of characteristic ref close quarters stuff.
The props are in kinda 'tunnels' ( iirc) I helmed one once, very 'different' to the norm.

I have great respect for the Crews who rescued peeps in rough seas with them.
Gardener diesels. Lovely!
1958? again could be high maintenance?
Not trying to scare you off again!!!!!
But does She come with a sizable inventory of sick bags

 

[Captain Daz]

I don't remember scaring you off
There are chart folios that will cover where you want to go
£100 will go far!
Fair play to you that one heck of a starter boat
But a double diagonal wooden hull will take some looking after
Seems like a nice liveaboard though.
Been down the converted lifeboat route myself
Mine was clinker built and a double ender too
Really learnt load about tides and boat handling with Her
High maintenance thats fer sure
Mine was a single engine which helped me discover all the quirks about 'prop wash' etc
The twin engined one you are looking at has a different kind of characteristic ref close quarters stuff.
The props are in kinda 'tunnels' ( iirc) I helmed one once, very 'different' to the norm.

I have great respect for the Crews who rescued peeps in rough seas with them.
Gardener diesels. Lovely!
1958? again could be high maintenance?
Not trying to scare you off again!!!!!
But does She come with a sizable inventory of sick bags

Sorry, I glanced at your avvy and thought you was Searush.

I have seen a copy of a survey from 2010 and it said the wood was in very good order. |She has a bowthruster fitted which should help me with the tricky stuff.

She would make a good live aboard and I just might do that because my local marina (preston) has a special offer on from April. And I will be homeless

 

[SgtColon]

I have pretty much the same question as Capt Daz.

Won't Tom Cunliffes book be very sailboat orientated? Is there a book that might have more emphasis on motor boats.

Also .... And I'm sure Searush and Kawasaki will have the answer to this. Which would be the best chart for me to purchase that would provide the most cover for North Wales.

Thanks

 

[Kawasaki]

I have pretty much the same question as Capt Daz.

Won't Tom Cunliffes book be very sailboat orientated? Is there a book that might have more emphasis on motor boats.

Also .... And I'm sure Searush and Kawasaki will have the answer to this. Which would be the best chart for me to purchase that would provide the most cover for North Wales.

Thanks

Admiralty Folio 'Chart SC 5069'
These small craft leisure folders are ideal for us small boaters
A manageable size and they cover loads
SC5059 covers all of North Wales with different scales for harbours etc.
Lots of chandlers etc stock them
If yer stuck gis a shout, keep a few for teachy purposes usually.

Good books specifically aimed at power and motor cruisers can be had from the RYA
Have a blimp on their sight.

 

[Kawasaki]

RYA 'Motor Cruising Handbook' (G24)
Simon Jinks
£10.62 Amazon
Handy book for newbies etc

RYA 'Buying Your First Motorcruiser'
Robert Avis.
£8.44
Not read so can't comment

RYA 'Powerboat Handbook' (G13)
Paul Glatzel
About a tenner too!
Also usefull

 

[Kawasaki]

Sorry, I glanced at your avvy and thought you was Searush.

Expect a communique from my Solicitor

 

[Sneds]

Love the look at that ex lifeboat, looks like a really nice fit out.

 

[rbcoomer]

I started with Peter White's "Powerboating" on the recommendation of a friend. It's perhaps more sportsboat targeted than anything, but a large amount of general stuff and a very good/informative read IMHO.

 

[Solitaire]

I intend to buy a slow old motor cruiser and potter up the West coast. I really know nothing about tides and harbours and currents, that type of thing.

I intend to do a radio course, a navigation course and a RYA course before hand, but can anybody recommend a book that might give me some pointers in the absolute basics?

Thanks.

IMO, if you want to buy a single book that covers all the bases, then this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yachtmaster-Sail-Power-Alison-Noice/dp/0713669888 is probably the best around. Although the title would suggest more than the basics, it is well written and easy to understand.

 

[Captain Daz]

Love the look at that ex lifeboat, looks like a really nice fit out.

It's a nice looking old thing isn't it?

She is not perfect though, no heating, no anchor. Oddly.