The Annapolis Book of Seamanship: Third Edition, Completely Revised, Expanded and Updated by John Rousmaniere

June 20th, 2008 — Boating, Book Review 

When you want to learn proper seamanship, what better way that to go straight to the Navy. This is the perfect book for beginners and professionals alike that need to learn solid techniques, and really understand what it means to be a good seamen. This book is very easy to read and is so packed with powerful tips that it definitely deserves more than one read. If you've purchased a previous edition of the book, we still recommend investing in this latest copy, due to the fact that it has been extensively revised and even more important information has been added.

The book was first published in 1983 and has since undergone many updatings. The world of boating is constantly in flux and it's nice to see that the author has been so committed to keeping everyone updated on these changes and introducing new things and concepts to keep it fresh. When this book was first released it quickly shot to stardom and it has certainly been well deserved. If you are looking for the definitive bible on how to operate, maintain and care for your boat, look no further.

The author starts by making sure that you know absolutely every inch of your boat before you take it out on the water. No matter if it's a little fishing boat or an expensive yacht, it's vital to understand how everything on your boat works before you actually start using it. Even if you're an occasional boater that simply rents a boat whenever you want to head out on the water, it is still useful to learn all of these basics so that you can be prepared for whatever your boating session may throw at you.

A large portion of the book is devoted to safety and knowing how to handle emergencies. This is incredibly useful information and should be read several times. We also recommend taking a copy out on the water with you in the event that you run into trouble. Chances are, your emergency has already been covered in detail in the book and you'll be able to get the quick answers you need to get out of trouble. Boating doesn't have to be dangerous and if you're well prepared before you head out, you'll be able to avoid a lot of common mistakes that can lead to disaster.

He also goes into the traditions of being a sailor and you'll really gain more of an appreciation of what it means to get in touch with that side of yourself. The book is incredibly well written and bypasses a lot of the jargon that can be difficult for novices to grasp. Sailing is also covered and there are some useful tips here that are commonly glossed over by other similar books.
Overall, this is a must read and we simply cannot say enough nice things about this book. Buy it, read it and re-read it again. You'll be glad you did.

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Review of Devlin’s Boatbuilding: How to Build Any Boat the Stitch-and-Glue Way by Samuel Devlin

June 6th, 2008 — Boating, Book Review 

If you've been thinking about making your own boat, but you're worried that you don't have the kind of equipment or the time to really make a masterpiece, this book is simply an incredible resource that will make it easy. Although traditional methods of small boat manufacturing are time consuming and require a lot of lofting and special tools, if you've got a "circular saw, a sander/polisher/grinder, a block plane, a framing square, a level, and a tape measure," you can build your own boat by following the instructions in this book.

Stitch and Gluing is quickly becoming one of the most popular methods of building a small boat from scratch, simply because it is so much easier and the results are completely comparable to boats made the traditional way. The main issue facing those of us that want to build a boat is a lack of proper equipment and the painstaking and time consuming process of trying to assemble it in your backyard. With this book however, you can accomplish the same things in less space, in less time and with less tools.

The book will walk you through every step of making your own small powerboat, sailboat or just a regular fishing boat. The author starts off with the very important process of learning how to design your own boat effectively. The tips are well worth the price of the book alone and you'll feel extremely confident by the time you reach the next section. The author does a great job of giving you that kind of confidence by breaking down each one of the steps until it is incredibly easy to follow.

Next, you'll get a quick look at how to set up shop to make the actual construction process much easier. This is incredibly helpful and organization is key if you want to make your own boat. You'll learn the steps you need to avoid and how to set up your shop for the most effective means of building a boat in a lot less time.

After you're already to go, you'll get step by step instructions on how to build the boat of your dreams, using those designs that you made in the first section of the book. Even if it is a bit daunting at first, if you follow the instructions and keep to the plan, anyone should be able to make their own boat with few problems. No boat is complete however without some finishing, so the last part of the book covers proper painting techniques and how to completely customize your masterpiece.

Overall, this is a book that we highly recommend to any boat owner or anyone that is interested in boating. Even if you don't plan to build your own boat anytime soon, you'll learn a lot about how boats are made and how to know what you're dealing with on the water. This is simply a great resource.

 

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