Sea Kayaking Books

Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual

Nigel Calder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 52 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Must Have for Owners of Auxiliary Sailboats 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have a 1987 Catalina 30 sailboat with a diesel engine. I wish I had purchased a copy of this book six years ago when I bought my boat. I might have saved hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars in yard bills by doing more of the work myself with the help of this book. I have the 2nd Edition published in 1995. I think it is well organized, well written, and I find the illustrations to be clear. A friend of mine purchased the 3rd Edition, which has updated information, particularly on electronics. However I am extremely satisfied with the 2nd Edition for my needs.

Editorial Review:

Do yourself a favor: if you own a boat, you should also own the Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual. Written in a simple, accessible style, the Manual is aimed at helping the nonexpert solve problems in marine systems--think of it as a friendly mechanic. Author Nigel Calder explains how the systems work, helps you troubleshoot and identify problems, and presents clear and concise instructions on how to repair them. Best of all, Calder also offers helpful advice on how to prevent future system failure. Absolutely indispensable for boat owners. --M. Stein

The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build

Nick Schade

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Why another review? 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

With all the rave reviews already stated, I add my own.

Mr. Schade will break your heart in the very introduction of the book; at this moment you will come to understand the true dedication of this author to his craft (and love for his wife). Then there is a descent into the inner secrets of this craft that he loves. As an accomplished gymnast, he will certainly make this kayak-building appear easy, almost too easy, and yet the details are in place to convince you that, yes, you can do it yourself.

You have to pinch yourself to bring yourself back to the reality that you will spend many hours building this kayak, that it will cost you quite a bit, and that the process is not as easy as it looks. Then stop pinching yourself and start planning; the reality is that you can do it!

There are a few gaps in the details that I had to think my way through, but none of these gaps are intentional. In fact, these opportunities are more exciting than aggravating.

This is not the only good resource available for learning the strip-building technique. I am already modifying Mr. Schade's designs to include elements provided elsewhere, as he would even encourage himself. On the other hand, this book is all you need to make a great kayak, and the information in this book is superior to anything that I have seen elsewhere.

I would recommend this book even to those who never plan on building a kayak if for no other reason than to appreciate this fine art of shipbuilding.

Editorial Review:

Although books on strip building canoes abound, this is among the first to adapt the technique to crafting attractive, functional kayaks. Using high-quality, computer-generated illustrations and photographs to explain key techniques, the book provides complete plans and measurements for three different kayaks: 1) A simple solo craft for beginners, 2) A high-performance solo kayak for intermediate paddlers, and 3) A tandem design for two paddlers. With its easy-to-follow guidance and instructions, The Strip-Built Sea Kayak makes top-notch kayaks accessible to budget-minded paddlers.

Ultrasimple Boat Building

Gavin Atkin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Ultrasimple Boatbuilding Review 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This book belongs on the shelf of anyone who is contemplating building their own boat. This book was a special treat for me because there is a picture of a boat I built in it.
The prospect of building a boat can be very overwhelming. It is a process of figuring out your needs and then deciding on an appropriate design. This is followed by determining if you have the tools, money, space, skill, and time to see a project go from a pile of wood to a pleasant afternoon sailing on a local lake with your family. If you are like me you begin this process by reading as much as you possibly can prior to actually creating sawdust.
Gavin Atkin's book is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the "how" to build a boat. Although you may supplement this information with additional material from other sources, Atkin gives enough practical information to actually build a boat. Atkin makes building a boat for someone who has never done it seem very doable, even fun. The second part of the book is filled with designs to whet the appetite of anyone who
is in the process of trying to decide what would would be the right boat for them. Mr. Atkin includes complete plans for seventeen of his own designs, all very doable, plus he reviews designs done by other popular designers.
My boat recently succumbed to dry rot and was hauled to the dump. I am now in the process of deciding which is the "right" boat to build and Gavin Atkin's book, "Ultrasimple Boatbuilding", has renewed my interest in building my own boat again.

Editorial Review:

The first complete how-to guide for building the latest generation of quick and easy boats

In Ultrasimple Boatbuilding, renowned designer Gavin Atkin shows you how to create elegant, seaworthy plywood boats with a minimum of time, experience, and expense. Using clearly written and illustrated step-by-step instructions, Atkin explains the basics of stitch-and-glue construction, tools, materials, shop safety, and more, as he helps you choose and build the simple boat of your dreams.

The Boatbuilder's Apprentice: The Ins and Outs of Building Lapstrake, Carvel, Stitch-and-Glue, Strip-Planked, and Other Wooden Boa

Greg Rossel

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Learn the Ins and Outs of Building Lapstrake, Carvel, Stitch-and-Glue, Strip-Planked, and Other Wooden Boats

Whether you are contemplating your first-ever boatbuilding project or trying to decide what design you'd like to build next, Greg R�ssel can help. Here's just a glimpse of what's inside this complete overview of wooden boatbuilding:

. .

• How rowing, sailing, paddling, and powerboat designs perform, and how they compare in cost, time, and necessary skills for building.
• How wooden boats are built, including the pros and cons of carvel, lapstrake, dory lap, stitch and glue, strip plank, and other methods.
• How to choose the best boat and building method for your next project.
• How to loft a hull, steam bend frames, scarf a joint, cut a rabbet, laminate stems, and spile planks.
• How to take the lines off an old classic whose plans have been lost.
• How to make oars, spars, coamings, knees, gaff jaws, cleats, and more

. .

Greg R�ssel writes with warmth, wit, and an engaging style. The Boatbuilder's Apprentice is a must guide for anyone planning or even dreaming about building a wooden boat.

.

�Greg R�ssel is a Renaissance man. While there are many talented boatbuilders in the world, only a handful are also good teachers. Even fewer can write or illustrate effectively. Yet this author is highly skilled in each of these areas. . . . The Boatbuilder's Apprentice is a successful blend of technique and wisdom, and is, I believe, destined to become a classic.�-Karen Wales, WoodenBoat Review

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The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific

Paul Theroux

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 56 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Theroux should've stayed home.... 2 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Good grief, if I wanted a tale filled with hours of tooth-gnashing hatred and bitter invective I can just go to work. It's certainly not the sort of atmosphere I enjoy when reading a travelogue to try and escape my workaday existence.

I understand that the South Pacific is not the ideal place, but it is depressing to read Theroux' constant struggle to express any sense of joy in his travels or the people he meets along the way.

For an alternative, more light-hearted, still realistic take on the South Pacific with far less spleen, I highly recommend Tony Horowitz' "Blue Latitudes".

Editorial Review:

In one of his most exotic and breathtaking journeys, the intrepid traveler Paul Theroux ventures to the South Pacific, exploring fifty-one islands by collapsible kayak. Beginning in New Zealand's rain forests and ultimately coming to shore thousands of miles away in Hawaii, Theroux paddles alone over isolated atolls, through dirty harbors and shark-filled waters, and along treacherous coastlines. This exhilarating tropical epic is full of disarming observations and high adventure.

The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook

Shelley Johnson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great comprehensive reference for new sea kayaker 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Prior to getting this book I had one lesson and had paddled five or six times mostly in ocean harbors and estuaries. I have paddled several times since. I have done a fair amount of small boat sailing and canoeing before taking up kayaking.

The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook did a great job helping to fill in my knowledge of kayaking in general and to help "remind" me of some of what I learned in my lesson. It is well put together and has a nice mix of anecdote and information, with more of the latter. The book is specific to sea kayaking which I also appreciated. I am not terribly interested in white water kayaking and didnt want a book that wasted my time with more then casual information on the subject.

Hightlights for me:
- Detailed and well presented information on kayak design and construction.
- Nice explanations of paddle technique I was actually able to apply after I read the book (as a supplement to my lesson).
- Informative chapters on navigation and logistics without belaboring the subjects.
- Interesting side-bars going into more detail on one point or another throughout the book.

I think the best thing about the book is Shelley's easy going yet informative writing style. The illustrations and photos were clear and useful. The tone of the book was that of a very well informed friend rather then some kind of uber-kayaker. This book worked for me. Good luck in your paddles!

Regards,

Chris

Editorial Review:

SEA KAYAKER POCKET GUIDE

Instant Boatbuilding with Dynamite Payson

Harold H. Payson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Down to earth boatbuilding for starters 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Although I enjoy so much woodworking, my mayor motivation to buy a boatbuilder's book was to go sailing in a budget. This is not my first try, but it is the most down to earth for a curious do-it-yourselfer. Others told me to use mahogany plywood, full epoxy and fiberglass covering to obtain a 10 footer with just $700. I can buy a fine second hand boat for less than that!
Payson says hat I can build a boat that I can be proud of with some reasonably cheap plywood and polyesther and go sailing for a reasonable $200 or even less. And he's right! I am halfway to my boat in just 20 hours or so and can not be more satisfied.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to try his skills at woodworking and go sailing in a budget. The only reason I don't give it five stars is that the plans are too small and I had to put some working to scale then properly. But the results pretty much are worth the effort.

Editorial Review:

From the acknowledged master of the “instant boat”—tips, techniques, and designs for quick-and-easy plywood boatbuilding

Dynamite Payson offers you a new guide to building 15 exciting boats from master designer Phil Bolger. Instant Boatbuilding with Dynamite Payson includes plans and instructions for a multipurpose skiff for sail, oar, and power; a pirogue for single or double paddle; a big pram dinghy; a maneuverable peapod; a long, fast, rowing dory; a rugged outboard-powered work skiff; and more. You will enjoy the commonsense advice, step-by-step building instructions, and tips on tools and materials that have made Payson a hero of amateur boatbuilders worldwide.

The Nature of Boats: Insights and Esoterica for the Nautically Obsessed

Dave Gerr

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Boat noodling. Boat lovers suffer universally from this benign affliction. In its mildest form, boat noodling is nothing more than wondering why that sloop in the next slip is faster than yours. In a more significant manifestation it could mean serious daydreaming--drifting off for extended periods, sketching design ideas on the back of an envelope. Chances are, if you've picked up this book just to see what's in it, you're beyond help.

Naval architect Dave Gerr offers the perfect antidote, a browser's reference to understanding how boats tick: all you've ever wanted to know about boats--power and sail, racer and cruiser; dinghy and motoryacht.

In the clear, friendly, nontechnical style that has made his column for Offshore magazine so enduring and popular, Gerr explains everything from how thick a hull should be to why one sailboat tips less than another, from choosing an engine to designing a rig for your trawler yacht, from building a dinghy to simple rules of thumb for dozens of design quandaries.

Gerr writes for the boat noodler in all of us--those seriously interested in learning and dreaming about all types of watercraft. There is no better way to become a better sailor, equipped to handle any contingency. And there's no better place to start than right here.

Understanding Boat Design

Ted Brewer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

For new boating enthusiasts--even if they've been at it awhile--there are scores of burning questions. If one boat has a round bottom and another's is veed, what difference does it make in the way they perform? What are the advantages of a cutter rig over a sloop? Why does one sailor swear by a full keel, while others won't have anything but a fin keel? Why does one powerboat have more flare in its topsides than another? And what is flare? Why do some hull shapes look "right"? How big an engine and propeller will it take to move that powerboat? What elements make a boat safe, or comfortable?

Understanding Boat Design has been the place to look for quick, uncomplicated answers since 1971. Founder of the Yacht Design Institute, a highly respected designer for more than 30 years, and a frequent contributor to SAIL, Cruising World, and other magazines, Ted Brewer has again revised his classic primer. This new volume has been greatly expanded and contains information on many aspects of design that were not even thought of twenty years ago.

Understanding Boat Design has eased tens of thousands of readers into the complex world of small-craft design. It is the ideal introduction for backyard boatbuilders, students of boat design, or someone looking to buy a first boat.

"This tight little book should be required reading."--Soundings

"A natural for those embarking on a first purchase, or the amateur builder."--Sailing

"One of the cleanest and clearest expositions on the elements of yacht design ever published . . . by a naval architect who knows what he is talking about."--WoodenBoat

How Boat Things Work

Charlie Wing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

“Anyone who contemplates any onboard do-it-yourself work should have this book at his or her elbow.”--Cruising World

“This book reduces a boat to its most rudimentary parts in simple drawings and clear explanations. Fascinating to read, it’s a perfect teaching tool.”--Ocean Navigator

Whether you’re a new mariner or a lifetime veteran, How Boat Things Work is a resource you can’t afford to be without. With intricate two-color cutaway drawings of eighty different systems and devices, as well as detailed explanations of how they’re assembled, how they work, and how they can go wrong, this book covers every primary component of your boat's inner workings.

This guided tour “under the hood” of your sailboat or powerboat includes:

• Engines, transmissions, bearings, stuffing boxes, propellers
• Steering systems, autopilots, windvanes, compasses
• Rigging, splicing, line handling, block and tackle, sail controls
• Anchors and windlasses
• DC and AC electrical systems
• Pumps, toilets, seacocks, freshwater systems