The ideal reference book for anyone following the RYA Day Skipper course. With a refreshingly practical approach, illustrated throughout with clear diagrams, worked examples and colour photography, this 4th edition covers all the theory and practical aspects of the RYA Day Skipper Certificate. Fully updated in line with the syllabus, and taking in new technology and navigation techniques (such as thermal imaging and radar), developments in yacht design and multihulls, this is a clear and comprehensive manual for anyone taking the Day Skipper exam or intending to make coastal passages in a small boat, covering: - seamanship - safety equipment - preventing collisions at sea - navigation and chart work - tides and tidal streams - pilotage and passage planning - weather - engine operation and maintenance - VHF radio procedures By the same author as the highly successful Yachtmaster for Sail and Power, this lively, helpful guide is the perfect companion to the course, whether for sail or power.

When mapmakers of the distant past came to the end of the known world, they would inscribe 'Here There Be Sea Monsters.' When Tori McClure attempted to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean in a 23-foot plywood boat with no motor or sail, she had no comprehension of the size of the monsters she would find. In deep solitude and perilous conditions, McClure was a loner determined to prove what one person with a mission can do. When she is finally brought to her knees by the worst hurricane season in the history of the North Atlantic, she must signal for help and go home in what she thinks is disgrace. Back in Kentucky, her life begins to change in unexpected ways. She falls in love. She is obliged to embrace her own vulnerability. And she meets Muhammad Ali, who tells her that she does not want to be known as the woman who 'almost' rowed across the Atlantic Ocean. So with her friends and her lover, she devises a strategy that will carry her to the opposite shore. With a wry sense of humour and a strong voice, McClure give us a true memoir of an explorer who maps her world with rare emotional honesty.

With over two-thirds of the globe covered by water, the ability to navigate safely and quickly across the oceans has been crucial throughout human history. As seafarers attempted longer and longer voyages from the sixteenth century onwards in search of profit and new lands, the tools of navigation became ever more sophisticated. The development of instruments over the last five hundred years has seen some revolutionary changes, spurred on by the threat of disaster at sea and the possibility of huge rewards from successful voyages. As this book shows, the solution of the infamous longitude problem, the extraordinary impact of satellite positioning and other advances in navigation have successfully brought together seafarers, artisans and scientists in search of better ways of getting from A to B and back again.

Canals of Britain is the most comprehensive and absorbing survey of Britain's canal network ever published. It provides a fascinating insight into the linked up waterways as well as the isolated cuts and quiet waters which may not be fully navigable by larger craft. Infinitely varied, it passes picturesque open countryside, wild moorland, coastal harbours, historic industrial buildings, modern city centres, canalside public houses and abundant wildlife. Stuart Fisher looks at every aspect of the canals - their construction, rich history, stunning scenery, heritage, incredible engineering, impressive architecture and even their associated folklore, wildlife and art. Enticing photographs give a flavour of each place and places of interest close to the canals are included. Each canal is intricately mapped. For those who are keen to explore that little bit further, the book goes to points beyond which others usually turn back, with information on little-known parts of the system, offering a new insight into this country's unique, surprising and beautiful canal network. Attractive, inspiring and also a practical guide, Canals of Britain has proved very popular with walkers, cyclists, narrowboaters, canoeists, kayakers and others wanting to get the most out of Britain's canals. This fourth edition has been thoroughly revised to reflect the ever-changing landscape of Britain's canals, and includes many new colour photographs to help bring them to life.

A practical and user-friendly guide to the collision regulations, with full interpretations of the rules and clear diagrams. A thorough understanding of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (ColRegs) is essential for a wide range of professionals as well as amateur mariners. Written in legal text rather than easy to understand terminology, it is not a surprise that the Colregs are subject to gross misunderstanding and confusion. This makes this a difficult area for the thousands of mariners who need to learn, understand and remember them. This handbook is the answer. Expert marine training director Simon Jinks provides straightforward explanations of the complex situations that the Regulations discuss. He gives simple and comprehensive interpretation of the ColRegs rule by rule, giving students and professionals the clarity they need for exam prep and dealing with real-life situations. Colour illustrations of all lights and shapes, and clear diagrams provide additional support for students. The handbook also includes chapters on bridge watch-keeping, radar plotting and techniques for answering ColRegs questions in MCA exam conditions. It shows you where other maritime regulations work hand-in-hand with ColRegs. Simon Jinks is an experienced teacher of ColRegs to students who are studying for MCA Masters, OOW, Boat master and Chief Mates exams, plus those who are studying for RYA Yachtmasters and IYT Master of Yacht Qualifications and want to have an in-depth knowledge. The book adapts the author's teaching notes, developed over many years, with added extras around the subject to help in greater understanding.

From the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Coast Guard, the official, legally required handbook for every boat owner-covering safety, collision avoidance, towing and pushing, and more. Navigation Rules and Regulations fulfills the legal requirement to have a copy of these guidelines on your vessel at all times. Updated to accommodate the most recent changes to marine law and standard operating procedure, this handbook provides the Coast Guard's official rules for operating your boat in international and domestic waters. It will serve as a complete reference for: Steering and sailing in all levels of visibility, including how to avoid collisions Conduct when another boat is in sight, including navigating in head-on and crossing situations Requirements for flags, shapes, and lights, and how to identify other vessels Sending and receiving sound and light signals from other ships, such as distress signals The Inland General Rules included in this handbook require that "the operator of each self-propelled vessel 12 meters or more in length shall carry, on board and maintain for ready reference, a copy of these Rules." Operate your vessel safely and legally with the latest Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook.

Reeds Skipper's Handbook, now in its 6th edition, has been a bestseller since first publication 20 years ago. Now for the first time, here is the Reeds Crew Handbook for skippers to hand to new and aspiring crew. It will give them all the essential knowledge they need to undertake the tasks traditionally handled by crew aboard any size of yacht, including: * Steering (both with a tiller and a wheel) * Raising, dropping and reefing a sail * Boat handling (using tide, wind, etc) * Handling lines (throwing, coiling, lassoing, etc) * Tying up a boat on a pontoon and against a quay wall * Attaching bow and stern lines and springs * Handling an anchor * Using the radio * Basic first aid * Essential knots Presented in bite-sized topics in a very accessible and undaunting fashion, and packed with colour illustrations to guide crew through each task, Reeds Crew Handbook will prove an invaluable primer for new crew before going to sea, and a handy pocket-sized aide-memoire for experienced crew when under sail.

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.

A pocket database containing everything a busy skipper needs to know but might find hard to remember. It is easy to take for granted how much a skipper needs to know : Navigation, how to pilot the boat into a new harbour, using the radio, checking the engine, keeping an eye out for things that need repair, monitoring the weather, feeding the crew and much, much more! This pocketbook is designed as an aide-memoire with checklists to make life easier for busy skippers and a must-have reference for first-time skippers. It should also prove an invaluable reference book for the RYA Yachtmaster syllabus. The book has been helping skippers for nearly 20 years and has now been edited and thoroughly updated by Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner, Sara Hopkinson. (RYA and Yachtmaster are registered trademarks of the Royal yachting Association.)

The #1 New York Times-bestselling story about the American Olympic rowing triumph in Nazi Germany-from the author of Facing the Mountain. Soon to be a major motion picture directed by George Clooney For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times-the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington's eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys' own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man's personal quest.

This is a must-have compact travel guide to the Canal du Midi, a picturesque waterway in Southern France, popular for boating trips and holidays. The Canal du Midi is recognised as one of the most beautiful and popular waterways in Europe. It is an UNESCO world heritage site and attracts many visitors every year. It's widely regarded as the perfect boating region for wine tasting, sightseeing at medieval villages and cities, and visiting cafes and restaurants. This up-to-date, comprehensive travel guide covers all the practical information and sightseeing opportunities boaters need to know about during their holiday on the canal, including: -Highlights and itinerary for Canal du Midi trips for easy planning -Insider travel tips for your boating holiday: where to stop off, sightseeing highlights, recommended restaurants to visit along the way -Essential practical nautical information such as how and where to charter, locks, bridges and berths and so on -Concise English-French dictionary with the most important vocab -Fantastic photography and useful route maps

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.

Setting Sail tells the 10,000-year story of mankind's quest to cross the world's oceans. It is a remarkable saga that moves from island to island, between nations, and eventually across continents as various peoples share skills and technologies that advance their sailing skills. The book accompanies a four-part television program which is currently airing on the Discovery Channel's High Definition network. A DVD of the program is included with the purchase of this book. Author Luc Cuyvers looks first into the prehistory and the Polynesian diaspora that began before the Christian era. At a time when most sailors refused to venture beyond the sight of land, Polynesians were the first 'bluewater' adventurers, exploring the western Pacific Ocean across an area greater than twice the size of the American continent. Setting Sail considers the advances and techniques that allowed Arab Traders to pursue the first ocean going trade routes. By 750AD, Arab traders regularly sailed to India, Ceylon, and onward as far as China and Korea. Seven centuries later, new centres of exploration were stirring. The Chinese began to travel on voyages of discovery and Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator sponsored the first of many voyages that would change Europe's understanding of the maritime world. The story Setting Sail tells is fascinating and visually exciting. The text is supplemented with more than 100 colour photographs of places, people, and ships that illustrate the story of ocean exploration.

Key places featured include Sowerby Bridge, Wakefield, Castleford, Selby, Goole, Leeds, Bingley, Skipton, Burnley, Blackburn, Wigan, Leigh, Burscough and Liverpool.The Canal Companions have been chugging along 'the cut' for over thirty years; conveying facts and figures, insight and entertainment, wit and wisdom: from Brentford to Burscough, from Shardlow to Sharpness, from Tipton to Todmorden. All manner of folk have been encouraged to explore the inland waterways using these guides, which have become as much a part of tradition as their subject matter. Updated for 2022.

Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is an accessible and practical guide to understanding what is going on with your boat's engine, how to look after it, spotting the signs when all is not well, and how to fix it. Learn how to change a filter and impeller, how to ensure the engine doesn't overheat, and much more. This visual and jargon-free book covers all the essentials for looking after your engine, in one place, including: - Basic principles of how an engine works - Fuel, cooling and air systems - Engine electrical systems - Gearboxes and drives - Checklists (e.g. before starting and once running) - Most common causes of breakdown - Troubleshooting Like the other titles in Duncan Wells' bestselling 'Stress-Free' series, the information is presented in an accessible, manageable way, with the use of diagrams, quick reference tables, box features, QR videos, clear explanations, top tips and checklists, making maintenance and basic repair of your engine straightforward, and with minimum stress. There are also plenty of amusing anecdotes and useful lessons learned. If you find the prospect of fixing anything to do with the engine daunting, then this is the book for you. Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is a key addition to any boat's bookshelf, ready to remind the skipper how to deal with problems and keep everything running smoothly.

For any seafarer, splicing rope is an essential skill. But the traditional 3-strand rope is fast disappearing. So how do you splice braided rope? This is the definitive guide to this crucial skill. Most of the techniques are quite easy to master - and also fun to do. See why splices are better - and stronger - than knots or shackles for joining or shortening rope, and follow the step-by-step photographs and clear instructions to find out how to splice efficiently. Learn how to * make strong, reliable splices in braided rope * select ropes in the materials that best suit your on-board requirements * customise your ropes to make your setup easier and safer * optimise your deck layout and save weight on board * taper your sheets for ease of handling * splice an extra cover on your ropes to give better grip in clutches, avoid chafe and make them last longer While a knot can reduce the strength of a rope by as much as 50%, a well-spliced rope loses only 5-10%. The techniques, insights and suggestions within these pages will be invaluable to all boaters, whether recreational or commercial.

This manual takes both novice and experienced boatowner through minor to major repairs of electrical systems, engines, electronics, steering systems, generators, pumps, cookers, spars and rigging. When it was first published in 1990, the Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual broke new ground. It was hailed as the first truly DIY manual for boatowners and has sold in its thousands ever since. There have been significant changes in boat systems since then, particularly electrical systems, and this fourth edition has been fully updated to reflect these developments and expand its predecessor's worldwide popularity. 'Probably the best technical reference and troubleshooting book in the world' Yachting Monthly 'It deserves to come standard with every boat' Yachting World

Through the French Canals has probably tempted more people to explore the beautiful waterways of France than any other book. First published in 1970, it's been the key authoritative title on cruising the French canals ever since. The revised new edition is the essential comprehensive planning guide for anyone wanting to cruise through the French waterways or take their boat from the English Channel through to the Mediterranean via the inland route. It includes: over 50 routes fully described and illustrated, with positions of locks, towns and villages through routes from the English Channel and Atlantic to the Mediterranean, plus distances, and assessment of suitable boats for the canals. It also provides dimensions of locks and operating times, details of bridge heights, canal depths, fuelling points, waterway signals, a guide to the cost of living, shopping and stores, sources of weather information, haltes for overnight stops, and ports de plaisance. As well as new photography, the new edition is updated throughout with new information on local facilities, new haltes and ports de plaisance, new VNF License fees, revisions to cruise hire companies, updated references to holding tanks, the availability of diesel and costs of cruising and much more.

This work is significant. It is the first to include a method of assessing structural strength in the context of the modern marine environment.
--Commander M. C. Cruder, U.S. Coast Guard

Acclaimed author and naval architect Dave Gerr created this unique system of easy-to-use scantling rules and rules-of-thumb for calculating the necessary dimensions, or scantlings, of hulls, decks, and other boat parts, whether built of fiberglass, wood, wood-epoxy composite, steel, or aluminum. In addition to the rules themselves, The Elements of Boat Strength offers their context: an in-depth, plain-English discussion of boatbuilding materials, methods, and practices that will guide you through all aspects of boat construction.

Now you can avoid wading through dense technical engineering manuals or tackling advanced mathematics. The Elements of Boat Strength has all the formulas, tables, illustrations, and charts you need to judge how heavy each piece of your boat should be in order to last and be safe. With this book, an inexpensive scientific calculator, and a pad of paper, youll be able to design and specify all the components necessary to build a sound, long-lasting, rugged vessel.

What reviewers have said about Dave Gerrs books:

Propeller Handbook

By far the best book available on the subject.--Sailing

The best laymans guide weve ever read.--Practical Sailor

Dave Gerr and International Marine made a complicated topic understandable and put it into a handbook that is easy to use.--WoodenBoat

Without doubt the definitive reference for selecting, installing, and understanding boat propellers.--Royal Navy Sailing Association Journal

The Nature of Boats

If you are not nautically obsessed before reading this book, you will most certainly be afterward.--Sailing

Fascinating potpourri of information about todays boats, modern and traditional.--WoodenBoat

Tales of escape and adventure on Britain's waterways; In The Pull of the River two foolhardy explorers do what we would all love to do: they turn their world upside down and seek adventure on their very own doorstep.; In a handsome, homemade canoe, painted a joyous nautical red the colour of Mae West's lips, Matt and his friend James delve into a watery landscape that invites us to see the world through new eyes.; Over chalk, gravel, clay and mud; through fields, woodland, villages, towns and cities, they reveal many places that otherwise go unnoticed and perhaps unloved, finding delight in the Waveney, Stour, Alde/Ore, upper and lower Thames, Lark, Great Ouse, Granta and Cam, Wye, Otter, Colne, Severn and the Great Glen Trail.; Showing that it is still possible to get lost while knowing exactly where you are, The Pull of the River is a beautifully written exploration of nature, place and friendship, and an ode to the great art - and joy - of adventure.

Most of us never realize how many words and expressions used in everyday English have a fascinating nautical origin. This charming pocketbook explains the practical ship-board beginnings of over 200 such phrases--colorful, bizarre and surprising--and how they came ashore. For anyone with an interest in the sea & its traditions--landlubbers, boaters, historians, linguists.