Make the U.S. Coast Guard your first mate.

The "Small-Boat Seamanship Manual" contains all the information found in the Coast Guard's official 1,200-page training manual, giving you access to the highest standards of seamanship practiced and perfected by professional mariners. In addition to in-depth coverage of boat handling and navigation, youll find instructions for dealing with extreme situations, including search and rescue, towing, firefighting, vessel flood management, righting capsized boats, and maneuvering in heavy surf. Youll also learn about. . Steering with a broken hydraulic line . Close-quarters maneuvering . Using the right lines and knots . Capsize prevention, precautions, and survival techniques . Change-of-course maneuvers to reduce icing and freezing spray . Plugging and patching holes for flood control . Predicting weather . And much more. .

This is the U.S. Coast Guard's primary training resource for boat handling and seamanship in conditions ranging from benign to extreme. Now this accumulated wisdom is yours with the "Small-Boat Seamanship Manual," .

A rare opportunity to benefit from the highest standards of seamanship evolved by the U.S. Coast Guard over the course of its long and storied history."Northern Breezes,"

You're safest on the water when you and your boat are "seaworthy,"

BoatU.S. provides marine insurance coverage to 250,000 American powerboaters and sailors, which makes its collection of claims reports one of the worlds largest archives of boating accidents. For more than 20 years, as writer and editor of BoatU.S.s quarterly publication "Seaworthy," Bob Adriance has sifted and analyzed this rich trove to discover and highlight the profound lessons it contains..

Here is the ultimate boaters guide to preventing, responding to, and surviving accidents under power or sail, including hurricane damage, lightning strikes, collisions, fires, groundings, sinkings, crew overboard, dismastings, and more..

Experience may be the best teacher, but the lessons are a lot less painful when the experience is someone elses. Here is a unique opportunity to use other skippers misfortunes to make your own boat and seamanship safer. .

A boaters guide as important and practical as any Ive read. And if you can ignore the occasional frisson of guilty pleasure, one thats as engrossing to read as "The Perfect Storm,"Tony Gibbs, yachting writer, editor, and novelist.

Hair-raising disasters, hard facts, and helpful advice; "Seaworthy" is a compendium of no-nonsense information on avoiding problems that only a marine insurer could provide. Invaluable for the boater, builder, designer, and surveyor.Dave Gerr, director, Westlawn Institute of Tecnology; author of "The Nature of Boats" and "The Elements of Boat Strength,"

Robert A. Adriance has edited "Seaworthy" magazine and written and compiled BoatU.S.s accident reports for more than 20 years. He is also editor of BoatU.S.'s Technical InformationExchange for Marine Professionals, the co-editor of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarys "Beacon" magazine, and assistant vice president, technical services, for BoatU.S.'s Marine Insurance Division..

Sound woodworking skills are essential when building a boat from scratch or just completing a hull, whether it is made of steel, aluminium, GRP or any form of wooden construction. This highly illustrated book provides help any aspiring boatbuilder decide what materials and tools to use and how to use them. Richard Birmingham's classic text covers the wide range of techniques and skills needed when constructing a boat, from interpreting the plans to hints on working different timbers. He answers many of those puzzling questions which need to be solved in a refreshingly clear and direct manner. This book will prove an invaluable reference to the home builder or newly trained apprentice in a fitting out yard. 'An authoritative work...really excellent...an essential reference and quite the best on the subject.' Yachts & Yachting 'A must for any would-be boatbuilder...a splendid book.' Classic Boat

Off Watch With Old Harry is another delightfully entertaining collection of Des Sleightholme's amusing observations on the nautical scene. The 'joys' of antifouling, the bloody-mindedness of marine engines, the dubious pleasures of sailing on a spring tide, skippers, launching, and novice crew are just some of the subjects aired by 'Old Harry'. Perceptive, amusing and presented in Sleightholme's inimitable style, each episode is enlivened with a cartoon illustration. An ideal bunkside read. 'There are really only two side-splitting yachting journalists operating today - one of them is J D Sleightholme' Dolphin Book Club 'For the best humorous writing, Old Harry still reigns supreme' Yachting Monthly

"Revised and updated don t leave the dock without it "

Here is an excellent overview of both power boating and sailing that focuses on the techniques shared by both. Solid material any boater will need to know on buying a boat and the cost of ownership, marine power and motors, technology and weather, safety, navigation, and boat handling as well as expanded coverage on sailing and a brand new chapter on personal watercraft this is the only boating book to own.

Dave Wheeler has been on boats for more than forty years, living aboard and cruising for over half of those forty years. In that time he has encountered every conceivable problem that can and will arise. Fortunately for boaters he has also found solutions to those pitfalls and explains them clearly, concisely and often with a little humor.

Dave has written hundreds of magazine articles for your favorite boating magazines but After Forty Years, is his first book on the subject of boats and boating.

After Forty Years combines all the knowledge of his articles in one, easy to understand, book with many helpful, simple solutions explained in detail. This is not another project book that has only a few projects, most not suited to your boat. This is a book that will be helpful and informative to every boater at every skill level.

“I take a stroke and lean back, gazing up into the jet skies, bejeweled by the moon and the galaxies of stars. The hull glides in silence and with such perfect balance as to report no motion. I sit up for another stroke, now looking down as the blades ignite swirling pairs of white constellations of phosphorescent plankton. Two opposing heavens. ‘Remember this,’ I think to myself.”

Few people have ever considered the eastern United States to be an island, but when Nat Stone began tracing waterways in his new atlas at the age of ten he discovered that if one had a boat it was possible to use a combination of waterways to travel up the Hudson River, west across the barge canals and the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, and back up the eastern seaboard. Years later, still fascinated by the idea of the island, Stone read a biography of Howard Blackburn, a nineteenth-century Gloucester fisherman who had attempted to sail the same route a century before. Stone decided he would row rather than sail, and in April 1999 he launched a scull beneath the Brooklyn Bridge to see how far he could get. After ten months and some six thousand miles he arrived back at the Brooklyn Bridge, and continued rowing on to Eastport, Maine.

Retracing Stone’s extraordinary voyage, On the Water is a marvelous portrait of the vibrant cultures inhabiting American shores and the magic of a traveler’s chance encounters. From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where a rower at the local boathouse bequeaths him a pair of fabled oars, to Vanceburg, Kentucky, where he spends a day fishing with Ed Taylor -- a man whose efficient simplicity recalls The Old Man and the Sea -- Stone makes his way, stroke by stroke, chatting with tugboat operators and sleeping in his boat under the stars. He listens to the live strains of Dwight Yoakum on the banks of the Ohio while the world’s largest Superman statue guards the nearby town square, and winds his way through the Louisiana bayous, where he befriends Scoober, an old man who reminds him that the happiest people are those who’ve “got nothin’.” He briefly adopts a rowing companion -- a kitten -- along the west coast of Florida, and finds himself stuck in the tidal mudflats of Georgia. Along the way, he flavors his narrative with local history and lore and records the evolution of what started out as an adventure but became a lifestyle.

An extraordinary literary debut in the lyrical, timeless style of William Least Heat-Moon and Henry David Thoreau, On the Water is a mariner’s tribute to childhood dreams, solitary journeys, and the transformative powers of America’s rivers, lakes, and coastlines.


From the Hardcover edition.

Hard Aground with Eddie Jones is a collection of cruising and boating stories, offering a "stuck up" look at the underside of cruising and the frustrations we "land-cuffed" sailors experience when our plans for coastal exploration and tropical destinations run aground on the shoals of family, finances and failing health. These columns first appeared in Carolina Cruising and Coastal Cruising Magazine. "If there is a better nautical writer when it comes to relationships and family interactions on the water than Eddie Jones, we don't know about them." -Claiborne Young, author of Cruising Guide to North Carolina "Thanks for your latest Hard Aground column, Eddie. Mel was wondering why I was laughing so early in the morning." -Tom Neale, Cruising Coast and Islands "Eddie has an excellent ear for words and is one of North Carolina's nautical treasures."-Dave Martin, Cruising World Magazine

The 12-Volt Bible for Boats is a clear, nonthreatening introduction to the 12-volt electrical systems used on small boats to power everything from reading lights to bilge pumps. This second edition is thoroughly updated with respect to modern batteries, breaker and panel design, alternative energy sources, and troubleshooting equipment, but it retains the fundamental simplicity that is the source of its enduring popularity (more than 100,000 copies sold).

Wooden & Fiberglass Boats, Running GearYearly Commissioning & DecommissioningWooden & Fiberglass Boats: Through hulls, Zincs, Props, Shafts, Logs, Struts, Rudders, Cutlass bearings, Refastening, Strut blocks, Plank blocks, Bottom painting, Minor wood repairs, Sand blasting, Gel coat blisters, Primer coats, Bottom paints. Running Gear: Removal and replacement of shafts and props, Cutlass bearings.Commissioning: Getting the vessel ready, Flushing the systems, Airing out the interior, First start of the engines. Decommissioning: Water and waste systems, Engines, Interior, Exterior.Appendixes: Addresses and phone numbers for Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers; Tools and supplies needed; Thorough glossary of boating terms. Illustrated.

AC Electrical, DC Electrical, Water Supply and Waste Removal, Air Conditioning and Heating, RefrigerationAC Electrical: Calculating shore power requirements, Calculating genset power requirements, Panel sizing, Running the wire, Installing the devices. DC Electrical/House Power: Calculating power requirements, Panel sizing, Type and quantity of batteries, Battery charging, Running the wiring, Installing the devices.Water Supply & Waste Removal: Supply: Tankage, pumps and filters; Types of tubing and fittings; Running the tubing; Installing the fixtures at the point of use. Waste: Types of systems, Types of hoses and fittings, Placing the components, Running the hoses, Points of discharge.Appendixes: Addresses and phone numbers for Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers; Tools and supplies needed; Thorough glossary of boating terms.

There are literally thousands of questions that run through your mind when you start the search for your first or next great boat. Fortunately for all, Art Edmunds has put his many years of experience as a naval architect, engineer and surveyor into this book, Buying A Great Boat. This book will answer those questions and more. Regardless of your boating knowledge, this book should be the first stop in the quest for your next boat.

Art begins with the type of boat that is proper for your type of use, whether it is diving, fishing or cruising. He then moves on to all the facets of a boat, its power and its systems. This will insure you have the understanding needed to choose the correct boat for that usage.

As you read further, you will learn what makes the difference between a poorly built boat and a well built boat. Many of the glossy boat brochures fail to mention more than the eye appealing details of the boat. Art explains what the brochures can't: the methods of manufacturing, what works and what doesn't. Art will be the first to point out that just because a boat looks good doesn't mean it is good. When you are finished with this book, you too will know the difference.

Illustrated

Anyone who has spent time at an anchorage, a marina, beside a channel or at a harbor entrance quickly realizes a great many people operating power boats are relatively new to the sport and are still coping with the learning process.The need to know why boats handle as they do and how those conditions can be overcome or used to an advantage is the reason for this book. Starting with the basics - every action has an equal and opposite reaction - and working up through thrust, windage, currents, center of gravity, hull shape and beyond, Practical Seamanship provides the knowledge in simple terms and clear illustrations.David's goal is not to make every reader a blue-water cruiser, but to provide the basics to help them handle their boats in a knowledgeable, responsible manner, backed up by a recognition of what the boating community expects from them (and why) while they are on the water. The text touches upon lines, rigging, equipment, boat design, rules and courtesy, but only where they impact the main theme, becoming a good and safe boater.Trailer BoatsGOTTA HAVE ITBrush Up On Boat HandlingHow many boaters suffer embarrassment, or worse, due to lack of boat-handling experience? Anyone hanging around a marina or public dock for very long knows this is an all too common problem.Now from Bristol Fashion Publications comes Practical Seamanship: How to Handle Your Boat Like a Pro, the latest book by Trailer Boats columnist David S. Yetman. This time the prolific author is out to help novice boaters gain mastery over powerboating -- and become better and safer boaters overall. According to Yetman, many boat-handling problems stem from inexperience and lack of familiarity with the mechanics ofit.Chock-full of basic information, the illustrated, 116-page book addresses issues pertinent to inboards with single or twin screws, outboards and sterndrives. Other chapters outline heavy-seas handling, docking and anchoring. This sturdy, laminated book is constructed to accompany you onboard.

Thorough treatment of traditional and electronic [sailing] methods by an expert.--WoodenBoat

Want a full course in navigation? A whole toolbox of little-known tips and shortcuts to deal with real-life navigation situations without resorting to a slide rule? You get both in Boat Navigation for the Rest of Us, second edition, a guide to pleasureboat navigation that shows you how to combine electronic aids like radar and GPS with visual observations, simple chartwork, and common-sense piloting. In plain, simple language, it explains how to find where you are and get where you want to go with a minimum of fuss. You’ll find many little-known, low-tech methods specifically designed for use aboard small powerboats and sailboats. This edition brings you up to speed on the many changes to navigation systems and equipment that have occurred over the past six years, including dramatic improvement in GPS accuracy, the proliferation of electronic charts and plotting systems, and the growing importance of the Internet as a navigation tool.

Retired Coast Guardsmen Denis Noble captures the stories of the brave crews who man the U.S. Coast Guard's small boat stations. Each year, these everyday heroes respond to over 37,000 calls for assistance and save more than 4,000 lives. Lifeboat Sailors bears witness to the courage of these unique men and women, and sounds the alarm for the rescue of this cherished American institution.

Genset, Diesel Engines And Transmissions, Gasoline Engines And TransmissionsOutboard EnginesGenset: Types, sizing and usage; Advantages of each.Diesel Engines And Transmissions: Cooling systems, Fuel controls, additives and filters, Exhaust systems, Proper engine room ventilation, Engine electrical system, Power take-off, Oil changes, Tune up, Types of transmissions, Transmission cooling systems.Gasoline Engines And Transmissions: Cooling systems; Fuel controls, additives and filters; Exhaust systems; Proper engine room ventilation; Engine electrical system; Power take-off, Oil changes; Tune up; Types of transmissions; Transmission cooling systems.Outboard Engines: Maintenance concerns and common repair problems relating to engines up to fifty horsepower.Appendixes: Addresses and phone numbers for Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers; Tools and supplies needed; Thorough glossary of boating terms.

A treasure chest of information, ideas, projects, and maintenance hints for the hands-on boat owner, Modern BoatWorks is novel in that it covers a wide variety of topics, including mechanical, electrical, communications, and maintenance information. It is not just another do-it-yourself text, although it includes some DIY projects. Its purpose is to stimulate, inform, and assist boat owners who have an interest in technology and the hands-on aspects of operating, maintaining, and improving their boats. Many of the chapters of this book started out as magazine articles which were intended to explain some of the newer technologies and their benefits. Others are directed toward helping the reader to use the technologies, or, in some cases, be prepared when they let you down.Modern BoatWorks offers details on improvement projects including the correct tools to use and hints to make the job easier and safer. There are also several chapters on the fine art of maintenance and some suggestions for innovative tools and methods to help take the mess and drudgery out of the tasks. Even though not all readers will own a diesel engine, install a hatch, rework an electrical system, or need to customize an instrument panel, they will still find valuable information in every chapter. Modern BoatWorks is a potpourri of practical knowledge that will lead to a better understanding of boats in general - knowledge that can be applied in a wide range of situations, help solve a multitude of problems, and enhance the boating experience. The chapters are grouped by a tenuous commonality, but the book is meant to be browsed at the whim of the reader. Enjoy And remember, the best things in life are afloat. Illustrated.

Have you ever listened to a weather forecast stating there may be a slight chance of showers but the rain is coming down so hard you are seriously considering a lifejacket while standing on the dock? During such times, one suggestion to the forecaster runs through everyone's mind: "Look out the window!!" That is certainly one of the most accurate methods to forecast the immediate weather.

Everyone knows the look of the sky when a thunderstorm or squall is moving in, but few know how to determine what is in store more than a few hours ahead.

Frank has taken the mystery out of weather forecasting in his book Marine Weather Forecasting. He explains how to tell more about the weather, for hours and days to come, than any broadcast. But you must know what to look for when you go on deck. The wind, clouds, moon and sun all tell the story and Frank explains how to read these signs.

Anyone can understand Frank's detailed descriptions of forecasting and the illustrations add to the ease.

Caution: After reading this book you may never rely on another broadcast report.

Illustrated

After years of writing award-winning articles for major boating magazines, David S. Yetman had compiled over one thousand nautical terms and phrases every boater should know. The next logical step: writing an excellent reference book containing these terms and phrases. This book contains the phonic pronunciation for the appropriate entries and many illustrations to further explain the text.

During the past several hundred years, the boating community has developed a language all its own. This book is not intended to list every obscure term, but it will give the reader a broad cross-section of those which arise in the course of boating.

Most people use at least a few of these terms or phrases in everyday conversation without realizing their nautical nature. The first entry in the book is a prime example -- we are taken aback by an unmanageable condition. Sometimes, we take a sounding to see how much leeway we have and grant a wide berth to those who may be off-course.

Reading a boating-related magazine or having a conversation on the dock will be much less puzzling after reviewing the entries in this book. Regardless of your familiarity with boats, you will find this to be an excellent reference tool to add to your boating library. Enjoy the knowledge! Illustrated.