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.

A, B, Sea is an entertaining, comprehensive guide to the language and lore of 21st-century seafarers. This playful mariner s glossary of nautical terms includes definitions for and cross-references to everything from aft to zenith, brass monkey to tuna tower. This second edition includes many new entries, some purely from the swashbuckler vernacular, and others for serious sailors. Packed with practical advice, this is a dictionary with a difference: many words are illustrated by passages from classic books of the sea, others by the author's experiences aboard an American schooner with a European engine and two boxes of tools. Sample entries from this informative and entertaining dictionary include: Bermuda Triangle: Given a choice between alien creatures and bad weather combined with inept seamanship and navigation, you should vote for the latter every time. The US Coast Guard certainly does. carry away, to: when any part of the standing rigging or a spar breaks it is said to have "carried away." What you say is probably unprintable. seasickness (mal de mer): a form of motion sickness usually brought on by a feeling of well-being and euphoria. Reputedly comes in two stages: during the first you fear you might die, during the second, you fear you might not. The most reliable cure: Stand under a tree."

Shantyboat is the story of a leisurely journey down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. For most people such a journey is the stuff that dreams are made of, but for Harlan and Anna Hubbard it became a cherished reality. In the fall of 1944 they built a houseboat, small but neatly accommodated to their needs, on the bank of the Ohio near Cincinnati, and in it after a pause of two years they set out to drift down the river. In their small craft, the Hubbards became one with the flow of the river and its changing weathers. An artist by profession, Harlan Hubbard records with graceful ease the many facets of their life on the river-the panorama of fields and woods, summer gardening, foraging expeditions for nuts and berries, dangers from storms and treacherous currents, the quiet solitude of the mists of early morning. Their life is sustained by the provender of bank and stream, useful things made and found, and mutual aid and wisdom from people met along the journey. It is a life marked by simplicity and independence, strenuous at times, but joyous, with leisure for painting and music, for observation and contemplation.

Here is the inspiring story of a man who overcame childhood polio to live an adventure-filled life as captain of Maine's most famous windjammer, the schooner Adventure, now a National Historic Landmark in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Captain Jim shares his adventures afloat, his battles with bureaucracy, and even how he created one of Maine's most unusual restaurants.

The inside story of the drug cartels on our public lands - and the game wardens taking them on Americans may disagree over the legalization of marijuana, but not when it comes to the pot plantations fast turning once-pristine corners of our public lands into environmentally ravageed war zones. Guarded by armed gangs, who are willing to kilL innocent hikers and law enforcement personnel to protect their profits, these illicit wilderness farms pollute and destroy the ecosystems wildlife relies on. Whose jurisdiction is this? Game wardens, the unsung heroes of our national wild lands, are the first line of defense. In "War in the Woods, " California Game Warden John Nores and James Swan recount in riveting detail the perilous job of eradicating pot plantations. It is a chilling read - and one that finally turns our focus to the issue and the law enforcement teams leading the charge.

With a focus on the navigational tools invented by each age and civilization, Launer traces the evolution of humankind's navigational skills from the Kamal of the Arabs and the Lead-line first used by the Romans to the radio and satellite communication devices available to modern sailors. He pays homage to the Polynesians who, in the absence of a written language were able to pass down their navigational skills through generations, and to the adventurous Vikings, who managed to find their way from Scandinavia to England, Iceland, Greenland and beyond; but he also covers the practical applications of the complex technologies found on most boats today, such as GPS. Generous illustrations help readers envision the tools in use.

Navigation Through the Ages will appeal to sailors and lay readers alikeanyone with an interest in the history of science and the exploration of our world.

'No cure, no pay'- those are the terms under which a salvor operates, and in doing so he takes on an onerous responsibility. If he is defeated by the elements he is not paid. He receives nothing, however much money, effort, sweat and tears he has put in. Salvage is not a business for the faint-hearted. Ian Tew joined Selco Salvage of Singapore in 1974, and spent over a decade on the front line. Already an experienced master mariner, he learnt the salvage trade in the busy waters of the Far East before rising to command some of the world's largest supertugs, eventually becoming a roving salvage master. In his odyssey he roamed the world, from the coast of Cornwall to the Southern Ocean, from the Gulf of Suez to the dangerous reefs of the South China Sea. This is a vivid account of those ten tough years - successes, failures, tows and rescues - a barge adrift in a hurricane in the English Channel - a freighter aground on a reef hundreds of miles from land with a tropical storm approaching - a trawler battered by the surf on a coral reef, its bottom ripped out - a tanker hit by a missile in the Gulf during the 'Tanker War' of the 1980s. The tugs themselves play a big part in the story, as do the crews and captains the author worked with. This gripping account of drama at sea is a tribute to the seamanship, courage and resourcefulness of the salvor, and an insight into the technical, commercial and human issues behind the headlines.

With the used boat market growing and becoming more complex, here is the book that all boat buyers have been waiting for: John Kretschmer's Used Boat Notebook has long been one of the most popular features in Sailing Magazine where Kretschmer provides a hard hitting, detailed review of a well-known boat each month. In this new collection, Kretschmer dedicates each chapter to an individual boat, providing the same fine details and updated information that made his magazine column a success. The thoroughly researched reviews of the 40 most popular boats include owner insights, a guide to common problems and suggestions on where to find parts, advice and support. There are plenty of books that offer general information on what to look for in an offshore boat, but only this book focuses on the specifics a prospective buyer is looking for.

Plan Your Next Adventure Now available in a completely revised edition, The Connecticut River Boating Guide continues to be the classic, authoritative guide for boaters, canoeists, and kayakers on the Connecticut River. This third edition covers the entire waterway from its source at the Canadian border to Long Island Sound, dividing the river into twenty-eight reaches with accompanying GPS-compatible maps. Practical information on boating facilities, ramps, access areas, mileages, difficulty, sources of flow information, and portages makes it easier than ever to plan your next adventure along the river.
Featuring:
Guaranteed binding -if this binding fails, thepublisher will replace the book for freeGPS-compatible mapsMile-by-mile directions that point out key land-marks, navigational hazards, and optional put-ins and take-outsInformation on camping, fishing, and wildlife-viewing opportunities Sidebars on the river's natural history, human history, flora, and fauna
This book was authored by, and published in cooperation with, the Connecticut River Watershed Council, the river's primary watchdog and steward. Council members John Sinton, Elizabeth Farnsworth, and Wendy Sinton thoroughly revised the guide, basing the new maps and text on their latest survey of the river and on the expertise of numerous local river experts.

Seasoned by Salt is the fascinating account of a one-year cruise, from Connecticut to Grenada and back, undertaken by a sailing couple. The book alternates throughout between their two complementary voices as they relive their journey. They are not your average tourists. Their story is brimming with humor and high adventure, and reflects a deep understanding of the history, people, and economy of the many islands that they visited. During their journey, they develop an understanding of the historical bond between North America and the Caribbean, particularly their intertwined colonial past and their shared legacy of slavery and racial division. This book is a romance, a comedy, a search for personal meaning, and above all a wonderful sailing story that finds subtle parallels between individuals' relationships and nations' and explores the crucial and continuing ties between the sea and history.

This handbook presents the bewildering array of electrical and electronic devices found aboard modern trailerable fishing boats. With Payne's help, every bass and sports fisherman should be able to make the right choices for his boat's equipment. The book covers the following topics: outboard electrics; trolling motors; downriggers and ion systems; trim tabs; batteries and battery charging; boat wiring; sonar and fish finders; VHF and DSC radio; GPS; charts, radar and autopilots; and more. Thorough and well organised and written with clarity and insight, this book aims to enhance the skills of any small-boat fisherman through a better understanding of the installation, troubleshooting and repairs of any electrical system associated with rod and reel.

This new series features easy-to-understand yet thorough treatments of technical issues facing every boat owner, sail or power. Each volume is fully illustrated with photos and technical drawings. Author John C Payne is one of the foremost international authorities on marine electronics and the author of two major handbooks. Book 1, Understanding Boat Batteries and Battery Charging, includes the following subjects: lead acid batteries; AGM batteries; gel batteries; general battery information; battery ratings and selection; safety, installation, and maintenance; charging, alternators, and regulators, and more.

'What a fun book! Reading Sea Fever is enticing and intriguing, like watching floating treasure bob past your nose.' Tristram Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator Can you interpret the shipping forecast? Do you know your flotsam from your jetsam? Or who owns the foreshore? Can you tie a half-hitch - or would you rather splice the mainbrace? Full of charming illustrations and surprising facts, Sea Fever provides the answers to all these and more. Mixing advice on everything from seasickness to righting a capsized boat with arcane marine lore, recipes, history, dramatic stories of daring-do and guides to the wildlife we share our shores with, even the most experienced ocean-dweller will find something in these pages to surprise and delight.

The Captains' Guide to Liferaft Survival contains everything a castaway needs to know to survive in a liferaft and get rescued as quickly as possible. Filled with useful experience from the author's 20 years as a captain, the book draws on the latest research in equipment, techniques, and emergency medicine.

All boaters need to have a repertoire of reliable knots and splices they can call upon in many situations, both on board and at the dockside. This handy pocket guide, part of the bestselling Reeds Skipper's Handbook series, is a quick aide memoire for experienced sailors, but also provides novice sailors with all they need to know to master the most useful knots and splices they will need on a regular basis when going to sea. Each knot gets a double page spread with a clear photograph showing what the finished knot should look like, and step-by-step diagrams accompanied by straightforward instructions about how to tie it. Helpful text also describes each knot's use, when and why to use it, how strong it is, how quickly it can be tied (and untied), and what type and thickness of rope can be used to tie it with. This is the perfect pocket companion.

The cruising tale is full of the sights and sounds, the fragrances and native customs of foreign lands, especially Central American and the Caribbean. It is a story of a leisurely sail through the Gulf of Cortez and on through Panama Canal to the Azores and England. Cruising in Seraffyn is also a carefully thought out guide to living aboard a small boat, with fun and economy as the guide principles. Four appendices provide data that is vital for anyone comtemplating long distance cruising.