"The only rules-of-thumb compendium for boaters, updated with 45 new entries to delight, entertain, and most importantly, inform. These are tried and tested rules of thumb--the distilled essence of centuries of seafaring experience--providing succinct answers to the questions most-asked by boaters.""The perfect, practical gift to give or receive."" -- The Ensign
""...reads like a lively conversation with a friendly, seasoned pro."" -- Lakeland Boating
""All in all it is refreshing, and it is often a giggle. But most importantly, it is always helpful--very helpful."" -- SA Boating
About the Book
A concise, alphabetically organized reference for sailors and boaters. New edition includes over 460 concise entries on diverse topics such as: hull thickness, estimating distance, anchoring rights, making a rum punch, stability as assessed by roll times, and hallucinations, occurrence of. This updated to provide a new generation of boaters with an instant reference like none other. This is either the most useful boating book ever designed to entertain, or the most entertaining book ever designed to be useful.
Features
- Unusual, engaging, and practical collection of information not found anywhere else
- Format is concise and trim, and packs well aboard, as a print book or ebook
- Alphabetic organization makes navigation easy, as does the exhaustive index
- Wit and wisdom of some of the entries (""Fear, Widespread Occurrence of"" and ""Useless Articles on a Boat, the Three or Four Most"") combines nicely with practical emphasis on others (""Fiberglass, Drawbacks of,"")
- Comprehensive appendix of useful forms, tables, and measurements (tank capacity, rope strength, power of attorney for a cruising couple)
- Includes Vigors now, well-known and often referenced ""Black-Box Theory""
Market / Audience
Curious boaters of all shapes and sizes
Boating Novices
Veteran Boaters
Sailing schools
Boating instructors
Libraries
""The book claims that within its water-resistant covers lie 420 Sea-Tested Rules of Thumb for almost every boating situation. It could have added: and then some.""For here is a true potpourri of maritime and othertime advice that is at the same time amusing and practical. The decision to coallate it all alphabetically adds to the surprise effect. Flip open the pages, and you could find entries such as Rum Punch alongside Rules of the Road. Or Ear Infections next door to Electrical Wiring. How about Horsepower just a stride away from Horses, Live, Provisions for. Thank heaven there is a subject index to help out, and if one needs something a bit more precise, one might locate it in the 32-page appendix tables.""All in all it is refreshing, and it is often a giggle. But most importantly, it is always helpful--very helpful."" -- SA Boating
New Topics:
AIS As a Safety Aid
Beating, Best Strategy for
Boat Tasks, Time Taken for
Buoys, Way to Recognize
Burial at Sea
Capsize, Vulnerability to
CARD, Uses of
Chainplates, Loads on
Coiling Halyards, Best Way of
Dacron Sails, Life of
Dinghy, Hard, Safe Load
Dinghy, Inflatable, Material for
Fenders, Diameter of
Galley Drain, Minimum Size of
Hull, Cored, Thickness of
Inverters, Recommended Capacity of
Jib, Storm, Size of
League, Length of
Mast, Downward Thrust of
Mast Steps, Distance Between
Mast Vibration, Curing
Name, Changing of
Plywood, Properties of
Position Line, Single, Use
Radio, VHF, Best Antenna
Rations, Survival
Shackles, Safe Working Load of
Sheer Line, Curve of
Solar Panel, Output of
Tanks, Estimating Capacity of
Towing, Safest Way of
Varnishing, Time Spent on
Wood, Oiling
Wood Rot, Preventing
About the Author
A journalist who has worked for major daily newspapers in Great Britain, South Africa, and the Uni
