Books recommended

[cmedsailor]

Hello,
there are lots of books around for sailing, boat maintenance and in general anything a sailor/boat owner is good, or more important must, know. Any recommendations of books you particularly like?


Thanks

 

[TimLamb]

I bought Nigel Calder's 'Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual' which covers eveything, going into considerable depth, but also covering the simple stuff (changing filters, bleeding the system for eg.).
It's about £45, but appears to be one of those books that is so expensive it is frequently on offer - I paid about £25.
You could do a lot worse.
Regards
Tim

 

[tmh900]

A second vote for Calder's book.

My favourtites/most used are also:

Yachting Monthly's SailPower - all about sail trim for the cruising yachtsman (esp. one that want's to go a bit faster).

Heavy Weather sailing, Peter Bruce (mine is 5th edition, not seen the latest)

RYA Weather Handbook

 

[TimLamb]

2nd vote from me too for Heavy Weather Sailing, but I didn't include it as I assumed you were referring to maintenance as opposed to sailing technique.
I don't do 'heavy weather sailing' myself, but it is certainly interesting (and one day I might get caught out in some heavy weather).
Tim

 

[Abigail]

Calder for definite. Also Seddon's Deisel Troubleshooting.

Heavy Weather Sailing is great, but lots of practical ideas to be found in any of the Pardey's how-to books or Beth Leonard's Voyagers Handbook.

 

[mollyoxford]

Second Calder (fantastic!) and The Pardeys (inspirational).

I'd thoroughly recommend The Rigging Handbook - Brion Toss. Not just rigging (old and new) but tons of knots and other fun. Really good read, he has an excellent style.

Some more recent good reads were "The Complete Book of Anchoring And Mooring" by Earl Hinz, "Traditional Small Boat Sails" (forgot the author). "Single handed Sailing" by Frank Mulville" has a few gems (and a lovely old-fashioned style).

Annie Hill's "Voyaging On a Small Income" is good (and extreme frugality is probably a good philosophy in the current climate!).

RYA Book Of Navigation - for the things you probably do know but occasionally feel comforted by checking.

And "Hand Reef And Steer" by Tom Cunliffe for those of us into gaffers and the like.

 

[Blue5]

Having read "Force of Nature" I found a copy of RKJs first book "A world of my own" both cracking reads and very inspirational.

Reccommend them both

 

[ghostlymoron]

Agree with previous poster both of RKJs books are a good read but I feel World of my Own is more inspirational. I also refer to Cruising under Sail by Eric Hiscock regularly to see how things were done in the early days. Joshua Slocums 'Sailing alone around the World' is brilliant dating from the days when sailors wore tweeds and a tie.

 

[TimLamb]

Don't forget Bernard Moitessier

Tim

 

[velo]

"boating magazine, quick and easy boat maintenance".sandy lindsey. yank book itslike 1000 tips in one soft back uses every day items never thought of . best value of all tried the lot cheap on internet 7£

 

[barnaclephill]

"the 12 volt bible" explains thoroughly all electrical aspects. The other is by Jeff Toghill, "Coastal Navigation" it's a compact book that covers everything I learnt in 7 lessons at night school.

The main thing you need is practice. Only that will sort out whether you are confident that you know what you're doing.

 

[Cloona]

as mentioned elsewhere Cruising Under Sail by Eric Hiscock
as it has everything you need to know and is full of the attitude of mind that is seamanship

 

[Conachair]

In addition to Calder, "this old boat" by Don Casey is full of useful tips.