Editorial Review

The appeal of Dava Sobel's Read more

Reviews (235)

Stunning Tale of Old Whaling Days
I just finished this last night...wow! The narration is lively and keeps the pace of the story while the author imparts a great deal of information that could have been dull but is not. The prose is so vivid that I could not eat while reading the passages about dismembering the whale; I could almost smell the burning oil and feel the slick decks. Amazing that men made a living this way! I can hardly wait to start Philbrick's MAYFLOWER.

The short reveiw
Here is all you need to know so as not to spoil the story:
Excellent Account and Audio Read
This review refers to "In The Heart Of The Sea" by Nathaniel Philbrick, Unabridged Audio edition, read by Scott Brick
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Subjects:  1. Essex (Whaleship)    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. Latin America - Mexico    6. Maritime History    7. Pacific Ocean    8. Ships & Shipbuilding - History    9. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks    10. Shipwrecks    11. United States - 19th Century    12. History / United States / 19th Century   

Reviews (11)

How innovation changed an industry and the world...
This book not only offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of shipping but also a fascinating look at how disruptive innovation can be. You get a front row seat to changes wrought by the mighty shipping container. In this very well researched book the author provides wonderful glimpses into the labour aspects, international trade aspects, finanace, technical aspects, and actual ship design & contruction. The book is destined to become a classic in detailing how innovation can radically change an industry and the world.

Boxing in goods unleashes globalization: The world is not flat
In "On the waterfront," perhaps the saddest point of the film is where Fr. Barry eulogizes K. O. Duggan, killed off by the mob. But Marc Levinson has located a larger villain, the real force that killed off so many longshoremen's careers: the standardized shipping container. While a highly trained crane operator working today's docks earns $120,000 a year, their numbers are few and few of them are former longshoremen or sons of longshoremen. And cargo handling costs have dropped over 90%. Yet this is only the start. The shipping container reducedspoilage, theft, insurance costs, delays, and the entire cost of going global. Not for anyone who doesn't work in logistics
If you work in logistics, buy this book.It is well worth trudging through the tedious parts to get to the gems.With some severe editing, pictures and diagrams it could be a best seller.But the presentation is more like that of a sterile textbook than popular writing.As someone who worked in logistics I found it interesting.But it is certainly not a book that anyone will read again and again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1913-2001    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Containerization    6. Economic History    7. History    8. Industrial Design - Packaging    9. McLean, Malcolm Purcell,    10. American History    11. Business & Economics / Economic History    12. Economics    13. Maritime / nautical trades    14. Transport industries   

Reviews (4)

dated
This is a very old book as far as fiberglass boats go.Must later prcedures,and products not included. There is some usefull info in the book

Ready, Set, Fix
This book was not only very informative, but also a very great read.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down once I started.Quickly I now have the knowledge I need to continue my work on my project boat.I would recommend this to anyone looking to work with an old boat of any kind.True enough, some tricks here will save you money.

I think there are better books out there . . .
This is a good book.It is complete, to be sure.For the expert fiberglass repair person, I cannot speak, but it is certainly difficult to read for an amateur.Generally, a bit much to swallow.I think that other books have similar information more elegantly stated.The fault is not with the content, but the presentation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - Boatbuilding    2. Boating - General    3. Boats and boating    4. Fiberglass boats    5. Maintenance and repair    6. Ship Maintenance And Repair    7. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    8. Small Ship Design And Construction    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Boating    12. Shipbuilding technology & engineering    13. Ships & shipping: general interest    14. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Editorial Review

When Read more

Reviews (13)

Bible of Boating, but maybe you just need a little prayer.
If you could only buy one book on boating, this would be it, but it's overkill for a beginning recreational boater. The newcomer to boating will get lost in all the detail if he tries to use this as a practical manual. With all the books on boating, it might be better to label this as an intermediate-advanced reference book. Sure, it's got everything, but most weekenders don't need to know everything, just the basics.

an absolute boater's neccessity
Chapmans is the must-have for any boater who wants to do things the right way. I regularly go to this book. Easy to read, organized and practical. A bit big to bring onboard, however.

Don't Leave Home (or the Dock) Without It!
Our most frequently asked question: "What's the one book you'd recommend for a boater?"Our answer every time: "Chapman's."Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating And Sailing    2. Motorboats    3. Navigation    4. Pilots and pilotage    5. Sailing - Navigation    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - General    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Transportation   

Editorial Review

First launched in 1983, Read more

Reviews (20)

One Hand For Yourself, One Hand For The Ship
THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP by John Rousmaniere is the ur-text on sailing used by virtually every sailing school as its primary educational source. Now in its third edition, this eminently readable and well illustrated book is encyclopedic in its scope, crammed full of practical information about sailing vessels, the mechanics of sailing them, and the traditions of sailing. It's a measure of the excellence of THE ANNAPOLIS BOOK OF SEAMANSHIP how familiarly Rousmaniere presents this largely alien topic with its many very specialized terms of art.
Has good info...
This book has some pretty good info and is quite comprehensive and well laid out.If you're going to buy 1 book, let it be this one.That's if you ever get around to reading it (it being so comprehensive and all) it's almost easier to go out sailing than trawl through it's many pages!But a worthwhile reference.

Smooth sailing
Unlike some reference books that I have seen, the Annapolis Book of Seamanship is clearly written and understandable for this novice. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Navigation    4. Sailing    5. Sailing - General    6. Seamanship    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Boating    10. Marine engineering    11. Reference works    12. Ships & shipping: general interest    13. Sports & Recreation / Sailing   

Reviews (16)

Terrific Book
This text is great and the CD-ROM which lets u take and review practice tests may even better. I was surprised at the effectiveness of the text. All the material was presented in sufficient detail to answer your questions, but no not so detailed as to be burdensome as a college degree. The end result for me was a perfect score on all four sections of the test, but I took a LOT of practice tests. YOU NEED THIS BOOK & CD!

Get Your Captain's License, Third Edition
This new 3rd edition is better than the fist two. It is not a complete guide to all you need to learn to test for a USCG License, but it is a good base.There are still a few corrections needed in the rules that should have been updated for this 3rd edition and not all the study text agrees with the USCG questions.The CD tests is okay for review and gives a good feel of what needs to be studiedfor the USCG exams. Over all makes a great referance and should help anyone looking for a lower level license.

Get Your Captain's License Ed. 3
I received this volume in the mail about two weeks ago and have been hard at work using it to prepare for my exam.While not yet licensed, I have boated and sailed much of my life and am familiar with most of the material in it already.
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Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Careers - Other Specific Fields    3. Examinations, questions, etc    4. Licenses    5. Navigation    6. Professional - General    7. Seamanship    8. Ship captains    9. Ships & Shipbuilding - General    10. Sports    11. Sports & Recreation    12. Study Guides    13. United States    14. Boating    15. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (8)

Good information from very experienced people
It's wonderful to keep this dream alive for those of us with moderate means. I'd recommend this book, along with FitzGerald's Sea-steading, as basic reference volumes for simple sailing.

modern man is loosing his ability to use his own hands
I read this book fifteen years ago, then bought the new edition because someone borrowed my old one. Yup, as the previous reviewer said, the Pardyes have only updated this edition, adding maybe 30 percent new info. But their message is as modern as today. Only by knowing how to get along without al the fancy gadgets can you be have a chance to feel completely in charge of your cruising life. You may never need to get along without your engine, or without your electronics, but if they do fail you will not feel stuck,if you think through what they say.By the way, I happened to go to their website and am amazed at the wonderful life they have made for themselves, a small but grand cruising boat and a boatyard and home in New Zealand that makes a perfect safe haven that I would love to have for my later years.

Outdated
This book is so old it should not be sold anymore.The so called "updates" are simply token and the whole book is too old to be of help. Also, the people are so spartan they really don,t relate to the modern cruiser..ie.. they spend time on the merits of kerosene lights.When they finally retire to land I sure they will end up in a trailer park. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating And Sailing    2. Sailing - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sailing    6. Ships & shipping: general interest   

Reviews (1)

best advice i've had in along time
having already read this book , I found it was filled with wisdom from the introduction to the very end , being on the water a lot for a living myself this book pointed out some of the more obvious rules of thumb that applytoo mariners.And some very good ones i'd never heard of , but as itstates in the book " good advice is so very hard to come by when itcomes to rules of the ocean , and the black box theory is some thing i willdo my utmost to adhere to as it is all very true done with the witty senceof humor that would appeal to more than most fisherman allthe way toseasoned sailors its a very handy book ,A must for all serious Boaties! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Boats and boating    4. General    5. Sailing - Navigation    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Transportation    9. Boating    10. History / General    11. Marine engineering    12. Ships & shipping: general interest   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Social Science    3. Sociology    4. Business & Management    5. Shipping industries    6. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (12)

This Old Boat
Covers everything from dings to diesels.A must read for apprentice boatsmiths.This reading gives you the confidence and knowledge to fix up & repair most every defect in your used boat.

Before you buy that old boat - READ THIS BOOK!
This book is entertaining to read and really is an eye opener as to what you're getting yourself into re wooden boats.Really is a prmer on the topic or Wooden Boats 101 - when you are done reading it you'll know your up to the task or not.

Absolutely a MUST for your boat -- you need this book.
You're familiar of course with the numerous lists of necessary books to have aboard your boat. Boat Owner's comes to mind by Nigel Calder as one. HOWEVER, I believe you will find more useful information within the 408 pages. Also, it's book size (won't be a pain to store aboard) will be welcome.
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Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Sailing - General    3. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Transportation    7. Boating    8. Shipbuilding technology & engineering    9. Ships & shipping: general interest    10. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (11)

Top Flight Calder
The book gives you the tech you need, in terms you can understand.Calder is very impressive in his ability to impart knowledge to the layman.Don't however, assume this is just fluff overview, because it truly is the down and dirty of how it works and how to maintain it.

A Cruiser's Engine Atlas
This book provides the reader with a broad overview of most of the basic problems that can occur and offers simple solutions.I have recommended/loaned my copy of this book to several Diesel sailboat owners.The all remarked on how simple their repair was according to the book and how it save them $$.
Know Your Diesel
My copies of this book has grease stained fingerprints throughout. A lot of folks have told me they think this book is redundant, because much of the info is covered in Mr. Calder's Mechanical & Electrical Manual but this smaller book is easier to work with when working around your engine and the material is presented differently enough that the book is one I believe you should have if you live on a boat. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automotive - Repair & Maintenance    2. Boating - General    3. Diesel engines    4. Maintenance and repair    5. Marine Engines    6. Marine diesel motors    7. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    8. Ships & Shipbuilding - Small Boat Maintenance and repair    9. Transportation    10. Engines & power transmission    11. Marine engineering    12. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. Military - Naval    3. Military Science    4. Reference    5. Ships & Shipbuilding - Pictorial    6. Yearbooks & Annuals    7. 21st century    8. Naval forces & warfare    9. Weapons & equipment    10. Yearbooks, annuals, almanacs   

Editorial Review

Do yourself a favor: if you own a boat, you should also own theRead more

Reviews (27)

Indespensible boat manual
I'm not talking about yachting type books. I have owned and operated commercial fishing boats in Alaska, for over 30 years.And this book demystifies bonding, grounding, AC boat wiring, lightning protection, a whole chapter just on batteries, and that's just the electrical part of the book. If your unsure about some aspect of your boat's electrical system or machinery, and are walking the docks trying to find out something about them, GET THIS BOOK. Some of that BS one hears on the dock can sink you.

a very usefull manual
covers many important areas where problems usually arise. easily understood explanations and instructions to find and resolve problems. great resource to keep on the boat.

excellent book
i am a marine student in nz, i was doing a assigment of boat battery. i went to libarary for this book and i read through the first chapter of the book which gives me from basic to depth ideas about battery. it's worth to own a book like this if you are a real boatie. perticularly for trouble shooting. cheers, enjoy ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - Boatbuilding    2. Boats and boating    3. Electric equipment    4. General    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Maintenance and repair    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Ship Maintenance And Repair    9. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    10. Technology & Industrial Arts   

Subjects:  1. Ocean liners    2. Ocean travel    3. Passenger Ships    4. Pictorial works    5. Ships & Shipbuilding - History    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Pictorial    7. Transportation    8. Photography / General    9. Photography; travel; history    10. Ships & shipping: general interest   

Reviews (1)

Great Source of Information of Countries and Ports of Entry
This is a well structured book that provides a one stop source of information on port of entry procedures among other thing. However with that said. I have just returned from the Leeward Islands and found the entry procedures have completely changed. No longer do you fly the Q flag and wait, but the skipper can proceed directly to customs and immigrations. This is no doubt due to the increased yacht traffic.So talk with other yachts going to or coming from your destination to get the latest information on entry and clearance information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Pilot guides    4. Sailing - Navigation    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Travel Guides    8. Motor / power boating & cruising   

Reviews (27)

A must read if considering cruising
Beth Leonard made the cruising lifestyle come alive for me from
An Excellent Book
Just finished reading this excellent book on voyaging. The last few reviews left me wondering if the author would really have the experience to write about cruising. SHE DOES!!!
Worth reading
This author has copped criticism for being an inexperienced "yuppie" whose early lifestyle - a lifestyle she now decries as meanginless - helped pay for some easy cruising. This opinion is small minded. The simple fact the book is written by an honest woman gives it a rare and compelling resonance. Any man trying to honestly sell the cruising dream and any woman seeking a fair appraisal of what to expect from that dream will benefit from Bluewater Cruising. Does this book cover its topic exhaustively leaving no stone unturned? Not always - but none truly do. Does the book present our favourite subject in a different and useful way? Yes, I believe it does. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Boating And Sailing    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Ocean travel    5. Reference - Guides (General)    6. Sailing    7. Sailing - General    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Motor / power boating & cruising    11. Ships & shipping: general interest    12. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (6)

Not just for boat building!
I bought this book because I wanted to prepare myself for building a boat in 2007, next year.In reading through it, I learned that what is covered is not just how to build a boat, but really more about how to finish a boat.
A useful lecture
I found in the book a useful collection of practical information. It is an usefull lecture before starting the construction of a boat and even before selecting a design plan.

New to boat building
Great reading. This book answered all of my questions and then some. I would recommend this book to new boat builders. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boatbuilding    2. Boating - Boatbuilding    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Sailing - General    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Repair & Maintenance    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Transportation    9. Wooden boats    10. Boating    11. Marine engineering    12. Ships & shipping: general interest    13. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (1)

A well-written, wide-ranging book
This is a well-written book which ranges in presentation of shipwrecks and their treasures from ancient wrecks to a few 20th century ships (Titanic, Bismark). Lots of adventure and tales of the search for treasure ships without getting bogged down in minutae. The ships range through time since man began plying the seas and across the world. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to you. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I would have liked MORE pictures. It is loaded with pictures, but there was plenty of space to include more! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Archaeology    2. General    3. History    4. History: American    5. Ships & Shipbuilding - History    6. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks    7. Transportation    8. History / General    9. Shipwrecks    10. Underwater archaeology   

Reviews (12)

Good book but missing key information
This book has LOTS of really good information.But it is missing some significant stuff, Brion.PLEASE PLEASE do another addition and include SOME information about the following:
The Thoughts of a REAL RIGGER
As a rigger myself, i thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it most informative and useful for my trade. However, there was little or no mention of brews OR 3 leets - surely this is an integral part of being a RIGGER? Also, there is only one rigger. The only thing like it for traditional craft
Brion Toss has become "da man" in modern rigging in many ways, and a lot of that is attributable to this great book.It's a big, thick thing, loaded with information, not all of it easily absorbed on the first read.It's meant to give you a firm grounding in what rigging is, what it does, and how to inspect and maintain your own rig, how to adjust it, how to replace worn sections.Will it tell you everything you need to know to design a rig from the ground up on a serious racing yacht?Heck, no.It isn't meant to.What this book does is give you the tools you need to approach your own rig without fear and trembling - to realize that, after all, it's just a bunch of parts, and that you can comprehend and work with those parts, understand their roles, and get the most from your boat.Will you be forever independant of professional riggers?Probably not.But it goes a long way toward making that a realizable goal, if you apply yourself.And it should be known that this book is especially strong on traditional rigs, the more traditional the better.You'll learn how to worm, parcel, and serve, how to lace deadeyes, and why galvanized is great and stainless isn't stainless. And if that last sentence frightens you, you're probably not in the intended demographic.Rod rigging and carbon fiber masts are mentioned, at best, in passing, and largely for comic relief.Keep that in mind.Makes an absolutely perfect companion to Marino's "Sailmaker's Apprentice." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Sailing - General    3. Ship Maintenance And Repair    4. Ships & Shipbuilding - Engineering    5. Ships & Shipbuilding - Repair & Maintenance    6. Sports    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Transportation    9. Boating    10. Marine engineering    11. Sports & Recreation / Boating   

Reviews (4)

Biger and at One Third the Price is Pretty Convincing
Sub-Title: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World) ==There are only two books like this published in the world, so it is inevitable that they have to be compared. Jane's Fighting Ships is now in its 107th edition. The Naval Institute's Guide to Combat Fleets has been published every couple of years since 1977. In any case that's enough for both of them to have become established and to have developed a solid background/format/procedure for gathering the information about ships and for publishing it in as accurate a maner as possible. They are both excellent works. Neither is perfect, because some information is difficult to get (The Naval Institute book says: "Data for North Korea are only marginally reliable."), and there is a time lag between freezing the writing and the delivery of the finished product. ==So what is left to compare. They are both huge books, 7+ pounds of paper. The Naval Institute book has about 150 more pages than Janes, and it is about one third the price. Yes, one third of the price, not one third less. ==This book has 1104 pages, 4450 photographs. I also find it easier to read, easier to find what I need to know.

Almost perfect alternative to Jane's Fighting Ships
I bought this book because the price of Jane's Fighting Ships is simply impossible for me and many defence workers. I was very satisfied with this alternative and happy to know that there's an alternative to Jane's at a much cheaper price.
"AYear of Compromise"
This is the title of Eric Wertheims 2005 World Navies in review article found in USNI's Proceedings Magazine.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - Aviation    5. Military - Naval    6. Military - Other    7. Navies    8. Warships    9. Naval forces & warfare    10. Shipbuilding technology & engineering