Become an expert judge of used sailboats. Step by step, the author of the bestselling "This Old Boat" shows you how to evaluate the condition of an older fiberglass sailboat - the one you own or the one you'd like to purchase. Don Casey's expert advice helps you: assess the condition of a used sailboat in 30 minutes; prioritize maintenance and repair tasks for a boat you already own; catch potential problems early; know where to look and what to look for (and how to interpret what you see). A professional survey is recommended before purchasing a boat - and usually required for financing - but with "Inspecting the Aging Sailboat", you can consider and reject any number of boats before settling on 'the one'.This book will streamline your used-boat shopping while saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in professional survey fees. 'The perfect place to begin, or to continue your education...As a reviewer of both new and used boats, I own many books filled with advice. I strongly suspect that "Inspecting the Aging Sailboat" is the one I will consult most' - "Sailing". 'A complete reference for the boatowner or prospective boat buyer on evaluating the condition of fiberglass sailboats using common sense and proven advice' - GAM on "Yachting Magazine" (Canada). Don Casey is one of today's best and most trusted do-it-yourself boating writers. His nine books include the bestselling "This Old Boat and Sailboat Electrics Simplified". He writes the long-running "Ask Don Casey" column for BoatUS.com and is a monthly columnist for Sailnet.com and a regular "SAIL" magazine contributor.

COLLECTIVE WINNER OF THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE AND SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 'This is the book that has been wanting to be written for decades: the ragged fringe of Britain as a laboratory for the human spirit' Adam Nicolson Over the course of a year, leading historian and nature writer David Gange kayaked the weather-ravaged coasts of Atlantic Britain and Ireland from north to south: every cove, sound, inlet, island. The idea was to travel slowly and close to the water: in touch with both the natural world and the histories of communities on Atlantic coastlines. The story of his journey is one of staggering adventure, range and beauty. For too long, Gange argues, the significance of coasts has been underestimated, and the potential of small boats as tools to make sense of these histories rarely explored. This book seeks to put that imbalance right. Paddling alone in sun and storms, among dozens of whales and countless seabirds, Gange and his kayak travelled through a Shetland summer, Scottish winter and Irish spring before reaching Wales and Cornwall. Sitting low in the water, as did millions in eras when coasts were the main arteries of trade and communication, Gange describes, in captivating prose and loving detail, the experiences of kayaking, coastal living and historical discovery. Drawing on the archives of islands and coastal towns, as well as their vast poetic literatures in many languages, he shows that the neglected histories of these stunning regions are of real importance in understanding both the past and future of the whole archipelago. It is a history of Britain and Ireland like no other.

It began in fine weather, then suddenly became a terrifying ordeal. A Force 10, sixty-knot storm swept across the North Atlantic with a speed that confounded forecasters, slamming into the fleet with epic fury. For twenty hours, 2,500 men and women were smashed by forty-foot breaking waves, while rescue helicopters and lifeboats struggled to save them. By the time the race was over, fifteen people had died, twenty-four crews had abandoned ship, five yachts had sunk, 136 sailors had been rescued, and only 85 boats had finished the race. John Rousmaniere was there, and he tells the tragic story of the greatest disaster in the history of yachting as only one who has sailed through the teeth of a killer storm can. With a new introduction by the author.

Sailors planning a cruise abroad use a pilot book, which gives you all the navigational advice to get you to your destination. Once you've closed the pilot book, this book will help you enjoy all that your destination has to offer. What can you discover within walking distance of the port? Where can you find fuel, laundry and food supplies? The main reason for going on a cruise in the first place is to explore new and lovely places. Sailors won't decide to stop at a port because of an interesting pilotage challenge, but you will for an amazing moules frites place hidden away. General guidebooks won't tell you everything you need to know, and will include a lot of info on places you can't reach. Adlard Coles Shore Guides provide the essential information and ideas to make the most of your time ashore. Paul Heiney, a hugely experienced sailor, journalist and author, is the perfect companion for exploring the pretty harbours and beautiful beaches of the Channel Coast of France. The book is lavishly illustrated with the author's own photos of this alluring coastline's bustling ports and hidden gems. Chapters arranged by region and port will detail why each place is worth visiting, what to see, where to find essentials such as fuel and repairs, transport connections, places to visit, best cafes and restaurants, walks (sailors need to stretch their legs when they go ashore), bike rides, best beaches and activities for the kids, all organised into categories by distance from the port or harbour - 10 minutes' walk, 30 minutes' walk and further afield.

The maintenance bible for boatowners is fully updated and better than ever! If it's on a boat and it has screws, wires, or moving parts, it's covered in Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual. When you leave the dock with this indispensable resource aboard, you have at your fingertips the best and most comprehensive advice on: Battery technologies, including recent developments in lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells 12- and 24-volt DC systems Electric and hybrid propulsion How to radically improve the energy efficiency of most boats Corrosion, bonding, and lightning protection Generators, inverters, battery chargers , wind and water generators, and solar power Electric motors and electric lights Marine electronics, including networking systems, antennas, and RFI Diesel engines Transmissions, shaft brakes, and propellers Refrigeration and air-conditioning Tanks, plumbing, and through-hulls Pumps and watermakers Steering, autopilots, and wind vanes Stoves and heaters Winches, windlasses, and bow thrusters Spars, rigging, and roller reefing

Most sailing vessels and motorboats have a marine diesel engine. This book will help the owner keep this vital piece of equipment going. It covers; how it works, fuel, air, cooling, lubrication, electrics, installation and winter lay up.

This second edition is fully revised and now covers turbochargers and long-distance voyaging (very demanding on engines).

Don Seddon is both an engineer and a sailor. This makes him uniquely qualified to write this book.

Plans included: Arcipelago di La Maddalena - Southern Group (1:65 000) Golfo di Cugnana (1:50 000) Golfo Spurlatta (1:60 000) Passaggio dei Fornelli (1:60 000) Porto Torres (1:15 000) Approaches to Alghero (1:50 000)

The River Thames is simply a fantastic place to paddle your canoe, kayak or paddleboard, whether touring, training, racing, expeditioning or just 'bimbling'. From its early reaches in the Cotswold Hills, through the Home Counties into London and far out beyond into the estuary, the river's surroundings are remarkably varied and diverse, yet always attractive and engaging. If your mental image of the Thames depicts an urban sewer, be prepared to be amazed; the water is clean, the banks are invariably green and naturalists describe the river's ecosystems as a 'wildlife superhighway'. This natural beauty is equalled by the human story which the Thames narrates; from locks, gardens and parks to mansions, abbeys, castles and palaces, the paddler is continuously immersed in what MP John Burns famously called 'liquid history'. The riverine Arcadia of willow-draped banks, back channels and islands celebrated in Three Men in a Boat and The Wind in the Willows was not a myth, and it still exists.Is a paddler's guidebook to the Thames needed? Britain's best-known river might actually be the least-known by paddlers.The huge paddling population and numerous canoe clubs based along it belie a surprising fact; many of these paddlers aren't sure what is found up- and down-stream from their patch. In a river stretching 347km, this is both understandable and forgivable. However, there are other reasons for the relatively low numbers of paddlers encountered whilst enjoying the Thames. Information about where and how to launch is hard to come by, existing guides and media give the impression that the Thames is the preserve of powerboats and rowers, and finally, the perception often lingers that it isn't actually very attractive or interesting. This book sets out to redress these major omissions and misconceptions, and to reclaim John 'Rob Roy' MacGregor's river for paddlers.Mark Rainsley has spent three decades using paddlesport as a means of avoiding adulthood and responsibility. He is a fanatical paddler who has descended challenging whitewater rivers worldwide, and who is dedicated to exploring every nook and cranny of the UK's coast by sea kayak. He created the UK Rivers and UK Sea Kayak websites and is a prolific contributor to paddlesport magazines and other media.Mark authored other Pesda Press titles.

Award-winning journalist rafts down the Green River, revealing a multifaceted look at the present and future of water in the American West. The Green River, the most significant tributary of the Colorado River, runs 730 miles from the glaciers of Wyoming to the desert canyons of Utah. Over its course, it meanders through ranches, cities, national parks, endangered fish habitats, and some of the most significant natural gas fields in the country, as it provides water for 33 million people. Stopped up by dams, slaked off by irrigation, and dried up by cities, the Green is crucial, overused, and at-risk, now more than ever. Fights over the river's water, and what's going to happen to it in the future, are longstanding, intractable, and only getting worse as the West gets hotter and drier and more people depend on the river with each passing year. As a former raft guide and an environmental reporter, Heather Hansman knew these fights were happening, but she felt driven to see them from a different perspective-from the river itself. So she set out on a journey, in a one-person inflatable pack raft, to paddle the river from source to confluence and see what the experience might teach her. Mixing lyrical accounts of quiet paddling through breathtaking beauty with nights spent camping solo and lively discussions with farmers, city officials, and other people met along the way, Downriver is the story of that journey, a foray into the present-and future-of water in the West.

For readers who relish the image of clinging to a sinking makeshift raft while fighting off sword-wielding and delirious mutineers wrenching the last cask of water from a sailor's sun-scorched hands (while sharks circle in famished anticipation), "Shipwrecked! Adventures and Disasters at Sea" is an irresistible read. A heady voyage through human suffering at the hands of unforgiving oceans, cruel captains, and implacable fate, this latest collection of Evan Balkan's impeccably researched true adventures details 14 major maritime disasters. Included are such legendary stories as the 1629 maiden voyage of the "Batavia" that ended in mutiny and murder, and the dramatic destruction of the majestic three-masted barquentine "Endurance" in ice-clogged Antarctic waters in 1912. A vast spectrum of human emotion and activity is featured in these exciting profiles, from deadly incompetence and brutish cannibalism to surprising self-sacrifice and quiet heroism.

If youve never experienced the tension of failed equipment aboard or had to explain to guests why there is no more fresh water or panicked when thick fog closed in just after you had forgotten to make note of the last two buoys, you probably dont need to keep a log. But for those more human, its not a bad idea.

Developed and refined endlessly over three decades by longtime cruiser Dale Nouse, The International Marine Log Book is flexible enough to allow to record anything from bare piloting details to names and anecdotes that are valuable and/or enjoyable to recall. It will encourage good piloting, train you to be a careful observer of weather, stimulate you to run through a vital maintenance checklist, and serve as a compendium of interesting information about your boat.

The International Marine Log Book--complete, compact, and durable--will make all others obsolete. Here is a legal record of your boats cruising history; vital navigational aid; concise and accurate weather-forecasting system; daily checklist of your boats mechanical systems; permanent record of your boats important data; journal of your happy times afloat.

The complete guide on how to trim sails and tune rigging for all conditions to make the boat sail faster and safer. A well-trimmed sailing boat is not only faster - it heels less, balances better and is more comfortable. Wear and load is reduced and expensive gear lasts longer. The risk of damage or rig failure is significantly lower when you know how to take care of your rig and sails. This book provides a clear understanding of the dynamics of rig and sail and how to get them working together in harmony with the elements. With hundreds of colour photographs and illustrations throughout, the text is concise and precise, divided into sections to make it easy to find exactly what you need. Research was carried out with professional riggers, sailmakers and international elite sailors as consultants resulting in a book that should be part of every sailor's basic kit. This book appeals to every level of sailor - those with limited experience will find much to learn and the experienced sailor can develop competence and knowledge as the different aspects of trim are treated in depth.

Anyone going to sea needs an understanding of maritime flags, and this handy book is the perfect pocket-sized reference. Concise but comprehensive, it includes: - National maritime flags - Special ensigns, jacks, burgees, official and defence flags, and code flags - Yacht club burgees - Signal flags (including naval codes, distress signals and racing codes) - Flag etiquette and usage (from positions to salutes to timing and more) Expanded and updated for its third edition, the book now includes masthead burgees, as well as new advice on changing rules in European waters and beyond, and more information on the use of and etiquette surrounding local, regional and other unofficial flags. If you have ever put to sea wondering about the different types of flag, how they are made up, and the dos and don'ts as well as traditions and myths of flying flags then this will be both a fascinating read and a useful on-board guide.

Sir Ben Ainslie won his first two Olympic medals (silver, then gold) in the Laser Class. After winning the gold medal he wrote down the secrets that won him that medal in this book. This new edition is published to mark the 20th anniversary of that first of his four Olympic gold medals. It features a brand-new introduction by Ben reflecting on his victory 20 years ago. It is the only how-to book that the world's most successful Olympic sailor has written and so, while he and the Laser class have moved on, this is the only place where you can gain access to Ben's skills and thought process. It is an invaluable guide on how to perform at the top of the Laser class or, indeed, any single-handed sailing dinghy. From psychology, goal setting and getting the boat right to speed, fitness and training - this book illustrates how to win a championship. Brimming with photographs, it is a colourful, detailed account of how to dominate in your fleet.

Being able to communicate with the local people is very important – whether it is to ask for a berth, a spare part or where the nearest chandlery or supermarket is. So, with this book, even if your pronunciation is a bit out, you should still be able to make yourself understood, quickly and efficiently, which makes this dictionary a vital part of your cruising kit. The pocket dictionary is centred around clear, colour, annotated diagrams, such as parts of the rig and engine, in each nautical subject area, and makes it very easy and convenient to translate between nine languages (English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Portuguese and Greek). The diagrams can easily be used to show someone what is meant (or what is broken!) without having to worry about the language barrier. It covers general terms, such as 'port' and 'starboard', as well as technical words relating to engine and rigging repair and maintenance. Other topics include navigation, weather, seamanship, requesting help, medical emergencies, safety equipment, numbers and time. Whether you’re a keen offshore sailor, motorboater or even an armchair boating enthusiast, Reeds 9-Language Handbook is a handy reference tool that will help expand both your ability to communicate and your horizons.

The lifesaving guide to treating any accident or sudden illness at sea

When someone is injured or becomes ill while on a boat, help may be miles and days away. "First Aid Afloat" is the onboard guide to taking control of any medical emergency. Illustrated with photo sequences showing exactly what to do, and written in language that is short and simple, this book will allow anyone to act quickly, stabilize the casualty, and provide the appropriate treatment at sea.Aimed at the novice first-aider and adopts a "no experience necessary" approach to first aidCovers bleeding, burns, musculo-skeletal injuries, environmental injury, illness and medical emergency, and treating childrenInstructions on moving a casualty, resuscitation, and getting help

With advice on what to look for when buying a first aid kit as well as how to be medically prepared when onboard, "First Aid Afloat" could save someone's life. No boat should be without it.

The Honourable Mrs Victor Bruce: record-breaking racing motorist; speedboat racer; pioneering aviator and businesswoman - remarkable achievements for a woman of the 1920s and '30s. Mildred Bruce enjoyed a privileged background that allowed her to search for thrills beyond the bounds of most female contemporaries. She raced against the greats at Brooklands, drove 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle and won the first ladies' prize at the Monte Carlo Rally. Whilst Amy Johnson was receiving global acclaim for her flight to Australia, Mildred learned to fly, and a mere eight weeks later she embarked on a round-the-world flight, becoming the first person to fly solo from the UK to Japan. Captured by brigands and feted by the Siamese, Japanese and Americans, she survived several crashes with body and spirit intact, and became a glittering aviation celebrity on her return. A thoroughly modern woman, she pushed similar boundaries in her unconventional love life and later became Britain's first female airline entrepreneur. This is the story of a charismatic woman who defied the conventions of her time, and loved living life in the fast lane.

This is the second edition of the guide book 'White Water Lake District' which was first published in 2003 - the author Stuart Miller has completely revised and updated this new edition so that the information is as current and as accurate as possible. The new title better shows the wide coverage of the guide book. The first edition soon built a reputation as being the 'must-have guide to paddling in North West England'. Described as being 'comprehensive, well organised and very readable' it achieved five star status in book reviews. The book covers some 110 rivers with 700km of river descriptions from the Scottish Border to Greater Manchester. It covers just about every river or stream that can be paddled - from gentle family trips on scenic friendly rivers to extreme white water gorges - all in one of the most beautiful and popular tourist regions of Great Britain. A key feature of the book is the quality of the 150 detailed maps. The book also includes a full section of advice, summary tables, information sources, etc. This new edition has been re-designed to take advantage of full colour printing and there are now many more excellent new photographs that make for a book that is inspiring and a joy to read!

"English Canoe Classics" is an illustrated guide to some of the finest tours of northern England's waterways, from the North Tyne in Northumbria to the Shropshire Union Canal in the West Midlands. Scenic lakes, placid canals and broad rivers, as they can only be seen from a canoe or kayak. Eddie and 'Wilf' have chosen the best inland touring routes. They are described in great detail and illustrated with numerous colour photos and maps. The selected routes are suitable for open canoes, sit-on-tops and touring kayaks. Many of them can be tackled as a single voyage or a series of day trips, with campsites en route. The journeys are all accessible but highly varied, taking place on lakes, sheltered coastline, rivers and canals. A wonderful book for planning voyages and inspiring dreams, or sharing your experiences with others. Eddie Palmer bought his first kayak over 50 years ago. It was a wood and canvas one in which he set out to paddle rivers in his part of middle England and Wales. Since then, he has kayaked and canoed extensively in the UK, Ireland, western and eastern Europe, the USA and Canada and southern Africa. His passion over the past few years has been for long-distance canoe-camping. After a competitive career in slalom and whitewater racing, he still paddles whitewater. Eddie is a Board Director of the SCA and is the co-author of Scottish Canoe Touring, author of Scottish Canoe Classics and co-author of Irish Canoe Classics (all published by Pesda Press). Nigel Wilford has been involved with canoeing for most of his adult life, paddling throughout the UK, mainland Europe, Canada, USA and New Zealand. Born in northwest Leicestershire, his first canoe experience was on the gentle River Soar. Not long after, he moved to Yorkshire to attend university. The enjoyment he found while paddling the rivers of the northeast firmly established canoeing as his activity of choice. In 1991 he joined the British Canoe Union's coaching service, helping others to improve their canoeing or to become better coaches. Nigel has held various roles within the BCU including Local Coaching Organiser and English Whitewater Safety Coordinator. He is a BCU Level 5 Coach and member of Team Pyranha.

Sam Cottle grew up in a fishing family and, thanks to the inspiration of his grandfather, "Cap," who nearly single-handedly created the port of Point Judith in southern Rhode Island, he became a successful captain in his own right. Here are Sam's first-hand accounts of his life at sea, from the terror of a vessel sinking in the middle of the night, to the excitement of dragging up unexploded depth charges and great white sharks in the nets, to the grueling toil and ultimate satisfaction that comes with an honest day's haul. Captain Sam introduces a whole host of colorful characters-from loving grandmothers to eccentric neighbors-all of whom played a role in shaping Sam's life and seafaring career.

The ultimate guide to paddling whitewater in the western Carolinas, Carolina Whitewater has guided paddlers to the best creeks and rivers in the Tar Heel and Palmetto states for over 30 years.Detailed creek and river profiles include: Topographic-based maps Shuttle directions Gauge locations Kayakers and canoeists will find expanded and updated information for the classic rivers, like the Nolichucky, Nantahala, and French Broad, as well as for several new steep runs, such as Rockhouse Creek, Hurricane Creek, the Gragg Prong, and Big Hungry River. You'll also get vital information on clubs and organizations, state water trails, and national and scenic rivers. Waterway data for each run includes: Class of difficulty Length of the run Time to paddle Water level needed to paddle Permits required (if any) Gradient of each run Ratings for scenery David and Bob Benner have been paddling the Carolinas for decades. David resides in Morganton, NC. Bob Benner is retired and also lives in Morganton.

This beautifully produced compendium gives you a knot challenge for every day of the year. With hundreds to choose from, all colour coded by use, you can work through the book from start to finish, gradually building on your knowledge as you go, or alternatively dipping in and out for your daily knotting fix. Covers: - all the essential knots - useful hitches, bends, whippings and splices - handy knots for making outdoor items: plant hangers, harnesses, tree swings, rope ladder - mini knot craft projects: cool keyrings, friendship bracelets, belts, mats - magic 'trick' knots: escapology knots, vanishing knots, travelling knots - freestyle knots: have a go at the 'thrown bowline' (an old cowboy trick) - everyday fashion knots - new ways to tie your shoelaces, scarf, or even your tie! You won't escape this book without learning something, and you won't put it down without picking up an interesting fact or useful technique. Give it a month and you'll be a knot tying fanatic; give it a year and you'll be a knotting supremo!