Reddit mentions: The best boating books

The Complete Sailor, by Seidman & Mulford.

I'm reading the second edition of the Slight / DK manual at present, and IMO it's quite poor. It features an incorrect theory of aerofoils [more], and the layout is a bit cluttered, but most importantly it's badly written. Sentences are poorly phrased, with repeated and redundant words, whole descriptions are a messy clusterfuck, and the author uses nautical words which it doesn't explain or define (and I'm sure at least once wasn't in the index).

I was impressed by The Complete Sailor when I read it, my first sailing book, but having read two more in the intervening weeks, my opinion has only hardened.

It is a beautifully and elegantly constructed work, and I say that not just because of Mulford's illustrations - he does deserve as much credit as Seidman - but also for the layout and the way topics are handled. Each page or pair of facing pages covers a single topic, and there's something particularly impressive in how it's explained in a way that the reader can understand - the book starts by talking about the wind, and thereafter every term or concept that is used to explain the current topic is one that has been explained already, previously in the book.

I really think that the authors deserve a lot of credit for how they lay a foundation of information and then build upon it - they make everything simple and logical, and any time you think "what does that mean?" you know that it's already been covered, and it's easy to flip back to the right section. The authors have taken a lot of information about a complicated subject, and made it really accessible.

The Complete Sailor also focuses more on the core concepts of sailing and seamanship than the other books do - they make more digressions about types of life preserver, wood vs GRP, details of yacht vs dinghy, and key dates in yachting history.

I haven't read Sailing for Dummies, but Herreshoff's Sailor's Handbook is pretty good, and I'd recommend anyone pick up a secondhand or remaindered copy to set alongside Complete Sailor. There's probably some stuff in the former that the latter skips.

The Dorling Kindersley book, though, just feels a bit like marketing-orientated writing - it's a thick book, full of high quality glossy photos and clean modern illustrations; it probably looks commanding in the store, and it'll probably be bought as a present by mothers and grandmas for teenagers who have developed an interest in the sport. Nevertheless, it's cluttered, hard to read and factually wrong.

I know that I could have expressed this comparison with more clarity, but it's late here, so I can only apologise.

Annapolis Book of Seamanship is the modern equivalent of Chapman's. Highly recommended and a great coffee table book.

This is the Chapman's that people are thinking of, and it's still completely legitimate, but I would recommend ABOS over it. You need to go into ANY reading regarding cruising with this anyway:

1. there's more than one right way to sail
   
   
2. there's always a more modern way of sailing
   
   Chapman's is outdated but it's not wrong. There are better ways of doing many things in it but you're going to do well to know the history as well.
   
   John Kretschmer is my favorite (right now) author as far as long distance sailing and storms. There are lots of good ones out there though.
   
   I recommend this podcast as well. Unbelievably good cruising podcast; Andy and Mia are great. And it will turn you on to a wealth of information.
   
   If you want racing resources or tell me specifically what you want to get into as far as sailing goes I can tailor my response to that.

If you're serious about that, first off I applaud your dream. :) All of the other comments are showing excellent advice, I would add some study as you begin this planning process. The first step in something like this, is education.

You'll want a few things.

The single most important thing for you on any boat is get the absolute best life jacket you can afford. Personally I use this https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B019YDWO0M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Like you, I can't swim, but I spend my summers on the water. This is the type of lifejacket used by professionals. Get one, it's not optional.

Read this https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0071808280/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You're going to come upon a thousand words you don't yet know. Every time you do, google it, wikipedia it, and study it. Vocabulary is the pathway to new knowledge, and the depths of what you don't yet know, will drown you. Take your time, don't get discouraged, and realise that the most important tools for your survival at sea are your wits and your confidence. Don't Panic.

Get this, it's your new bible. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0688148921/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Memorise it, really. If you have to pick any single book to have as a new boater (especially a sailboat), this is it.

This is also one you'll need. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0071829326/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And to begin your engineering education (you'll need it), get this. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0071446443/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I own all of these books, and as we begin the winter this is an excellent opportunity to study and learn and wait for warmer weather.

Keep dreaming. :) You're on the right path. You'll find that most boaters are happy to talk and answer questions. Ask LOTS of questions, listen to everyone, and in time you'll have enough of a collection of knowledge to sort out the good ideas from the bad ones. The more you can learn from other people's mistakes, the easier your boating life will be. The problem with wisdom is that you don't get it until about 5 seconds after you really needed it.

Stay safe, but live dangerously. :)

I've kind of amassed a library. I'm a rank amateur, but here's what I've found helpful in at least orienting myself so far (I'm still working my way through these on a "total readthrough" basis, but I've flipped through and skimmed all of them) in the order that you should probably read them. Also, I've spent the last six months skulking around every sailing forum on the Internet.

I've found the greatest barrier of sailing for someone trying to get into it for the first time is understanding the language, and the second greatest is understanding the mechanical workings of the rig and how it physically interacts with the wind. These books have been super helpful in that respect. I can't speak to how much in the way of practical skill they may have imparted, but I know infinitely more about the subject than I did a few months ago.

• The Complete Sailor, Second Edition (mentioned already)
  
• The Sailing Handbook
  
• Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual
  
• The Sailmaker's Apprentice
  
• The Complete Rigger's Apprentice
  
• The Gaff Rig Handbook
  
• Hand, Reef, and Steer
  
  Those last two are because I despearately want a Gaff rig. If you're not planning on ever dealing with a Gaffer, you don't need them at all. If you only want to buy one of the books on the list, make it The Complete Sailor.
  
  There's also a bunch of online resources, such as about.com's "how to sail a small sailboat" article and ESPECIALLY the boating section of Animated Knots which can teach you a ton of knots.
  
  Hope that helps!

I wasn't thinking of wind exposure on the large windows, more like what can happen when a really big wave hits them :)

It really comes down to personal comfort. For myself after I do some island hopping I've been looking at maybe getting a Tayana 37 cutter for ocean hopping. Small windows, full keel, small cockpit, plenty of sail and fuel, a proven world cruiser.

You might consider buying this book: http://www.amazon.com/Seaworthy-Offshore-Sailboat-Essential-Features/dp/007137616X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342194688&sr=8-1&keywords=offshore+boat

Basically learn up on the sort of features you need and then make a call on whether or not your boat can be modded to get it to the point where you'd be comfortable make the trip.

But at at certain point, to me, it becomes better to buy a different boat. For example I have a Pearson 323 now and I could mod her for an Atlantic trip. Re-inforce the rigging, maybe add another compression post in the cabin to add structure, toss on a liferaft and rig her up for a drogue.

But considering she's worth 20k and for 50k I can get a nice Tayana 37 it doesn't make much sense to toss 20k into her to rig her up for a trans Atlantic trip. Especially when you consider that any buyer looking for an offshore boat isn't going to be shopping for a heavily modded coastal cruiser. I'd basically be tossing "offshore boat" money into a "coastal cruiser" market. I'm better off buying that Tayana and putting offshore money into her.

But maybe you don't need to add much to your boat for a 1 off Atlantic trip. In that case it may make sense to get to the bare minimum of your comfort level, wait for the best time of year and then head on out, enjoy yourself and come back home.

I'd just really research up, learn the risks and just talk with your significant other what level of risk you're comfortable with. That's really the important part and everyone is different in that regard.

This isn't an answer to your specific question, but maybe it's helpful: The Complete Sailor, 2nd Edition has good sections on leaving from and returning to moorings and docks. Understanding the strategy and practicing in a safe place seems like the best way to learn.

Caveat: I've never sailed before. I'm just preparing to learn.

2 months ago. I just lightly tossed the conversation her way. I watch youtube videos all the time.

2 months ago I got "I would never give up my house to live on a boat full time"

Friday i brought it up again and it changed to. "That sounds interesting. I could see us going on like a 3 month long cruise to see if we like it.

From reading the Voyagers Handbook and watching MANY other videos this is how it goes. Women are always more resistant because they like security.. but it all changes when you leave the dock and start living it.

I dont know how many people I have watched that said.

"Yea we put stuff in a storage locker.. I dont think we will ever go back to that stuff"

It is funny reading both books and seeing that this is how this goes. Initial resistance and then.. they get more gung ho about it than you when they start seeing it is possible and you can actually live closer/better.

There is a reason there was like 10 youtubers last year and now there is like 300 and more every week..

all jokes aside.. I bought this last saturday

http://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Handbook-Essential-Guide-Cruising/dp/0071437657/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452195215&sr=8-1&keywords=voyagers+handbook

and it isnt like a how to cruise book. This is a book that details the WHOLE process of how you go from working 9-5 to how you get you and your wife to sell everything and full time cruise. It is like a damn walkthru..

based on your posting you should get the book and we could compare notes.



that 35 footer is gorgeous.. and.. looks like "move in" ready shape.

That's awesome to hear, and once you get one welcome to the club. If you were anywhere near West Michigan I would invite you to join us but I'm guessing your not.

In response to a few things I have read while skimming this thread:

Hobie 16 are not hard to recover from a turtle. I would not recommend using a bob (giant float at the top of the mast) because I had heard of people suffering from a lost of speed due to wind resistance. Unless you and your crew are both tiny people or you will only be sailing it in lakes less than 20ft deep righting a 16 is fairly easy. All you have to do is release all of the sheets, pull out as much slack as you can on the main sheet, and then get all of your weight on the back of one of the pontoons. This will cause the bow of the opposite pontoon to rise and you can get it back to being on its side where you can do a normal recover. On that note I highly recommend a Hawaiian style righting system.

Yes they are big to trailer, but without going to a mano-slug with a drop keel or a bigger catamaran you won't find any dingy with that much sail area and or power to weigh ratio.

The one down side of any type of multi-hull that that they can almost always be out pointed by a mano-slug. If you are unfamiliar with pointing that is how close to straight into the wind you an go while still producing thrust with the sails. With a Hobie 16 you can get in the ball park of 45* off straight into the wind where with a mano-slug you can get about another 10 to 15 degrees closer. Where multi-hulls make up for that is in the speed. To make it to an upwind mark we may not be able to take a more direct route, but we can cover more distance faster. Plus, on a reach we can blow anything else out of the water.

Tacking (changing direction with the bow passing through directly into the wind) is more difficult than on a mano-slug, especially having to cover more of a change of angle thanks to not being able to point as well. This can be compensated with good technique. The basics of that are to keep the jib on the same side until and then let it back wind for a moment to let the wind push the bows through the dead zone and then bringing the jib over on the new tack. This can also be assisted by crew weight distribution to bring the new leeward bow out of the water so there is less resistance to turn.

You absolutely want to sail with a jib. While there are other designs of cats like the Hobie 14 (non turbo) that don't have a jib, the 16, as someone else mentioned, uses the jib as the forestay when when the jib is up. The jib and the main work in tandem by controlling the air moving over the main that helps generate forward force, and without a jib you are really SOL when it comes to tacking as the main alone is just going to act like a giant weather vain.

The name of the book may make it seem comically outdated but Catamaran Racing for the 90's is still often referred to as the Bible of cat sailing
http://www.amazon.com/Catamaran-Racing-For-Rick-White/dp/1880871009

If you have any other questions you are more than welcome to send me a PM. I have sailed little sail boats, raced big sail boats, and I have owned a Hobie 16 for about 4 years now (my girlfriends name for it is "The Mistress").

I think this is possibly the best: The Complete Sailor. Cleanly written, beautifully illustrated, and I learn something new every time I open it.

Btw, professional lessons are a relatively new invention. People have been learning to sail from their friends and neighbors for thousands of years, and all of the sailors I know are happy to pass that knowledge along. You might be better off, and save a ton of money, by joining a sailing club. Plus that way once you have a boat you'll have a group of peers to crew with you, go on cruises together, etc.

Try buying her one or both of these books:

http://www.sailingforwomen.net/SailingInBalance.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Womans-Guide-Doris-Colgate/dp/0070067201

And look: women are, generally, much more hesitant about sailing because they've got the rougher end of the stick most of the time.

Women are more sensitive to smell and cold; they haven't got the upper body strength which is so useful, they get more seasick; hygiene can be a real drag; they're usually crew and galley slaves and cleaners more often than captains, and they almost always get yelled at by their male partners who act as captain.

And, frankly, the comments in this thread, which for the most part seem to consist of: 'Dump her, you pussy, or get a girlfriend.', are characteristics of the whole ass-hole macho mind-set of a lot of sailors that get them their longed-for divorces and, later, see them sailing alone and wondering why no female wants to join them.

If your wife won't even talk about it, but can't come out with why, she's frightened. She's not unjustified - there are a lot of things to be frightened about.

What I would suggest is get good at sailing yourself - really good; good enough that you can sail without having to shout or get into a flap. Join a club or group of friends, enjoy your hobby, take the kids, persuade your wife to come to events, and ease her into the life slowly.

I was pretty much you last summer. Land locked state, no sailing club close by, no relatives or friends who sail, and a burning desire to get out on the water.

I was able to learn to sail in four steps:

1. Read a beginners book on how to sail. The book I chose to read was The Complete Sailor by David Seidman. http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Sailor-Second-Edition/dp/0071749578 This was a fantastic book that was only $10 bucks for the pdf version. It is well written and contains some fantastic illustrations. Talks about everything from keeping a sailors eye on the wind and weather, to docking and anchoring, and even has a chapter on trailering your sailboat if I recall correctly. Also Inspecting the Aging Sailboat by Don Casey was a fantastic read to help a brand new buyer have some idea of what to watch out for and what questions to ask when buying a used boat. http://www.amazon.com/Inspecting-Sailboat-International-Marine-Library/dp/0071445455/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449298309&sr=1-1&keywords=inspecting+the+aging+sailboat
   
   
2. Buy a small, cheap boat. I decided to start small and limited myself to getting a dinghy sailboat that was under a thousand dollars. I have heard that starting on a dinghy is ideal. Learning sailing theory in small, responsive craft will help you when/if you move up to larger keel boats where it isn't as obvious that you are making small mistakes. A thousand dollars is easy to make at a summer job. The repairs on small boats are really cheap and if things break your not usually out much money. You will learn the fundamentals in an environment where mistakes like bumping into the dock are not overly disastrous.
   
   
3. Watch YouTube videos. I ended up purchasing a Hobie 16 after reading the books. I had the gentleman I purchased it from help me step the mast and raise the main before I finally bought the boat. No test sail, just did it right there in his front yard. Most people will be more than happy to help you rig it up the first time if you just ask. Afterwards I hit Youtube and watched videos on how to rig the boat to make sure I had it right. Searched for more videos about "How to sail a Hobie 16" and watched all the videos I could find.
   
   
4. Practice, practice, practice. After I had watched several videos, read the books, and set the sails up in the yard it was time to get out on the water. I literally just picked a day with 2-3 mph of wind, put the boat in the water and went for it. Once I was actually out and sailing, the details worked themselves out. I watched even more videos and asked Reddit the occasional question.
   
   I was able to go from no sailing experience to flying hulls in 20~ mph wind inside of a summer with this method. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c105II-L8OA Far from perfect, but we are having a blast. I think a teenager would be able to pull of a similar feat with no problems. You will find fumbling around on the water is far better than dreaming from the shore.
   
   
   
   
   

Judging by your username it sounds like you already psyched yourself out of going so I'm not going to try to convince you otherwise.

However, I will recommend "Breaking Seas: An overweight, middle-aged computer nerd buys his first boat, quits his job, and sails off to adventure" by Glenn Damato. It's truly a great read and his story is so similar to yours. It may give you the courage and confidence you so desperately need.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A6542M6?ie=UTF8&redirectFromSS=1&pc_redir=T1&noEncodingTag=1&fp=1

Boat Race before last the bowman of the winning boat was 5'10", huge heart and lungs, and weighed in the mid 80's (KGs) if I recall, so built pretty solid.

To go sub 6 is the elite standard, but don't forget weight adjustment, there's no point going sub 6 mins if you weight 200kg, no one's going to enjoy dragging a hippo in thier boat if he's not pulling his own weight and then some, the calculator and an explanation of weight adjustment are available here http://www.concept2.com/us/interactive/calculators/weight_adjustment.asp
Train on sliders, or take out a single, there is 10x the chance of an injury in land training than on the water.
long steady pieces are also good, don't even go for distance, just sit on an erg for 30 mins, an hour or even 90 mins, it won't wreck you because it shouldn't, but it will improve your times.

READ: You're going to have to live and breath rowing, I'd recomend the following (Not that I've read them all, but i've ordered them and almost finished the original print of Rowing Faster)

http://www.amazon.com/Rowing-Faster-2nd-Volker-Nolte/dp/0736090401/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314681440&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/High-Performance-Rowing-John-McArthur/dp/1861260393/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b http://www.amazon.com/Lactate-Threshold-Training-Peter-Janssen/dp/0736037551/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314681471&sr=1-1

You're gonna need to know more about rowing and training than anyone on the team, because the hours you'll be putting in will make you your own coach.

I highly recommend "Sensible Cruising: the Thoreau Approach" if you're wondering whether you can afford cruising. It doesn't need to be expensive and chances are you're richer than you think once you eliminate car/lodgings/starbucks expenses from your budget nd instead live on a (potentially frugal) boat. How frugal depends on you.

Great great book.

Btw "OP" or dude in pictures posted about his costs. About $15k/year

> o idea what "main the rails" even means? Is there a way to learn this stuff that doesn't cost a fortune?

Totally - there's tons of books and online learning about sailing:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/673.The_Complete_Sailor

https://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Womans-Guide-Doris-Colgate/dp/0070067201

(despite the title it's really well regarded on an intro to sailing)

And of course loads of info on www.USSailing.org

Man the rails, is a polite way of saying you are movable ballast on a boat to help keep it upright : )

But knowing the basics on how to man (and operate) a winch etc is a good place to start, if it is something you want to get into. Also in summer quite a few places offer introduction to sailing if you are interested for not a huge amount. *(And you'll learn if it's for you)

Also (depending on your age) there are quite a few community programs to get young people onto the water. Sailing a yacht, especially in windy conditions is great for fostering highly coordinated team work.

http://www.sailchicago.org/community-outreach/

http://www.carpeventus.com/

http://www.discoverboating.com/boating-courses/youth-boating-programs.aspx?page=48&age-group=0&youth-program-type=0&season-coverage=0&radius=0

Start HERE. There are a dozen other sites on how to do this on a budget. I just put a track mounted Bimini on my boat using this site. Looks real nice. Going to prevent a lot of sunburn. I spend a lot of time on Minnesota lakes and after a few days in the sun a Bimini will be worth it's weight in gold. I've added half a dozen control lines and many other goodies.

This book will get the gears grinding and inspire you to greater things. It's your boat, run amuck.

According to Larry and Lin Pardey three things are necessary for cruising. Cockpit cushions, a stern rail and a Bimini top.

Ebay is your friend. There are tons of parts for Catalina 22's available cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Track-Sailing-Learn-Three/dp/0071615199/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1J4DZ3N7YF0RQ&coliid=I2B25B3Z0DNFA9

http://www.amazon.com/Annapolis-Book-Seamanship-Edition-Revised/dp/0684854201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345094921&sr=8-1&keywords=Annapolis+seamanship

As former instructor and 45+ years of sailing...2 good books for beginners. Colgate's Fast Track gives a very concise, clearly written 3 day program. A better 3 day jump start than any other I've found. Focuses on the core skillset to survive your first few missions. The Annapolis book is your in-depth comprehensive reference for all sailing related subjects. Way to thick to read straight through. Use it like an encyclopedia.

Knot books:
This book is great for the basic, every day kind of knots. I'd suggest this one to get the basics down.
If you have a lot of time/money/desire to learn knots, this is the knot bible. It is awesome. I found a used copy in good condition for cheap, so if you have a used bookstore, I'd suggest poking around in there for a copy. This book is HUGE (600+ pages) and incredible. However, it is somewhat excessive, with a lot of knots you'll probably never use.
As for sailing books, I like this one for explaining the basics. It not only explains how to do certain maneuvers, but why. The example on proas tacking is one of my favorites.

I'd recommend signing up for a basic class at a sailing school. Hands on learning will get you where you want to go much faster.

Additionally I'd recommend High Performance Sailing by Frank Bethwaite which is absolutely great even for beginners that only have a basic understanding of what a boat is made up of. This is probably why I say additionally, because you'll want to combine it with a class. Learning by doing is still a mantra even if you're a very theoretical person.

The book has a lot of information on wind, trim (sail shape and position), handling, and a bunch more things and presents it in a clear way on top of that. It's also a bit more in-depth than other books I've read that just preach old ideas about trim, this actually explains it.

I read dozens of books before starting the voyage (perhaps half sailing stories and the other half practical books), but this one was probably the most helpful in terms of understanding what voyaging was all about. http://www.amazon.com/The-Voyagers-Handbook-Essential-Cruising/dp/0071437657

Good luck and swing by my IAMA at 1pm EST if you have any more questions!

http://www.amazon.com/Cruisers-Handbook-Fishing-Scott-Bannerot/dp/0071427880

It's offshore focused but has great details on how to successfully fish from a sailboat.

I know you said books are not right because of time, but I still want to highly recommend The Complete Sailor, Second Edition.

Amazing intro book on sailing. Amazon Prime in just a few days if you can wait that long!

I just finished Confessions of a Long Distance Sailor, and it was interesting. When I told my father I wanted to sail around the world, he recommended Once Is Enough. I'm half way through We The Drowned and Two Years Before the Mast at the moment and enjoying both. Master and Commander is next on my list. Chapman Piloting and Seamanship is always good for leafing through and studying up on technical skills.

If you want to race in a straight line in strong wind then yes wider is better. But races for small sailboats are usually conducted on short courses with many turns, and if the boat is too wide it becomes too slow to turn.

This book has a section explaining this: https://www.amazon.com/High-Performance-Sailing-Faster-Techniques/dp/1408124912

If you haven't already check out this book. It offers a very, very comprehensive view on the sort of things you need to know for sailing around the ocean, what type of boat to buy, and how much everything will cost. It should give you a pretty good estimate of how much money you need to save up.

It's going to run you about $20k a year to cruise around on a 40' catamaran, assuming that you work on a budget and don't expect too many frills (e.g. no water maker, freezer, washer/dryer, etc.) So you're going to want at least $500k after you buy your boat and make any necessary repairs/alterations. So you're probably going to need at least $600k total. You're going to have to make a choice between saving a boatload and completely retiring in 20 years, or saving a boatload and semi-retiring in 10-15 years.

Sensible Cruising is both incredibly practical and timelessly wise. Don Casey, one of the authors, has written some of the best manuals on sailboat maintenance and repair in existence. If you want to extend your cruise, this is your book

The RYA books are good, but better exists once you reach Yachtmaster level. The RYA's Yachtmaster material is far too brief, or at least it was for me when I was doing it.

I never get on a boat without my Reed's Skipper's Handbook. Truly essential. Yachtmaster for Power and Sail got me through my exam first time and I didn't get asked anything that wasn't explained clearly and concisely within it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reeds-Skippers-Handbook-Malcolm-Pearson/dp/1408124777

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yachtmaster-Sail-Power-Alison-Noice/dp/1472925491/ref=pd_sim_14_14?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1SZTBHGP5TBDENET1P26

Oh wow, I have not read that one - I'll have to get a copy.

I've gotten much enjoyment out of reading Royce's Sailing Illustrated, Capable Cruiser by Lin & Larry Pardey [along with everything else by them], and the Annapolis Book of Seamanship, among others.

1. Very, very few houseboats are designed for the open seas. But plenty of cruisers are.
   
   
2. Cruising is a code word for 'fixing your boat in exotic locations' so eventually you will learn how to fix everything. Many people start knowing very little. A lot of people seem to start by buying a fixer-upper and then learning to fix a lot of stuff before they ever set sail.
   
   
3. Are you going to sail solo? or have a small crew? Do you need stable, long term relationships? Or is hanging out with a wide variety of interesting strangers fine? You'll be able to communicate when at port.
   
   
4. Are you doing ocean crossings or coastal cruising? Are you sailing solo or with a crew? How long is your boat? Are you going anywhere near pirate territories? How skilled are you as a sailor? Is your boat really ocean worthy? Sailing is not super dangerous, and people tend to try to plan their crossing to avoid bad weather. But there is always a risk of bad weather, pirates, etc. You can control those risks to a degree but never eliminate them.
   
   You might watch this series:
   
   https://www.youtube.com/user/WhiteSpotPirates
   
   Which features a young, single female solo sailor with limited experience. It is, to some degree, an example of how to do everything wrong and still succeed.
   
   By way of contrast, S/V Delos is an example of a larger, more experienced crew on a much larger boat:
   
   https://www.youtube.com/user/briantrautman
   
   This is a pretty good YouTube channel that will give you an idea of the many, many things you can repair on your boat,
   
   https://www.youtube.com/user/madsdahlke
   
   A well regarded book if you get serious is:
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Handbook-Essential-Guide-Cruising/dp/0071437657/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1458677598&sr=8-8&keywords=cruising
   
   Ultimately, there are many ways to cruise, and you need to design the style that works for you. And then be very realistic about funding, planning, etc.
   
   
   
   
   
   

The Complete Sailor is an awesome book - use the Look Inside feature to check out the illustrations - they give the book a lot of character so it's great for a coffee table or for casual reading. Might be a little too novice for a 1-year sailor, unless your dad hasn't had much formal instruction.

As mentioned already, Chapman's is good - it's the bible for any waterman. However, it has so much stuff there's very little on sailing (only 40 pages on the topic). It won't tell you much about sail trim, for example. But it covers a lot - I read it cover to cover last year and if I retained anything (I didn't) I'd be a damn genius.

I can't wait for The Annapolis Book of Seamanship to come out with it's much needed 4th edition in January. I hear this is the bible for sailors, but I haven't picked it up since I'm waiting for that new edition. But only because it has more electronics/GPS mentions - I'm sure all the actual sailing stuff is the same between the two.

I'm quite seriously considering a sailing wander about early retirement/escape. I recommend r/sailing. There are some experienced sailors there, and sometimes the discussion addresses cruising. I'd also recommend The Coastal Cruiser: A complete guide to the design, selection, purchase, and outfitting of auxiliary sailboats under 30 feet--with a portfolio of successful designs , . Twenty Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere , and Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 66th Edition

Highly highly recommend The Complete Sailor by David Seidman. Not sure why but I find myself reading and re-reading this one more than Chapman (which is another must have). Happy hunting!

My dad and I taught ourselves how to sail, my dad handled the boat buying so I don't have any advise on that, but we used this book to learn the sailing part. It keeps it simple enough that its easy to pick up, but it also has more in depth details for when your ready to learn more: http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Track-Sailing-Learn-Three/dp/0071615199

The Complete Sailor, Second Edition, by David Seidman is the best beginner book I have found. It covers a lot of ground and is very clear in what it covers.

Unfortunately there are no tricks. But all it needs is a bit of practice. It looks complicated at first but really is rather simple. And remember that it is always the same steps you have to do. What helped me is writing down these steps on a clean sheet of paper.

 

Maybe one of those videos can help also help you, not sure how good they are though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfkwKTyYqeI
RYA Day Skipper: The Height of Tide
Leith Nautical Sailing Academy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=793F-Ha4T2U
RYA Coastal Skipper: Secondary Port tidal height corrections
Leith Nautical Sailing Academy

 

And this book also helped me with my theory. It has step by step instructions for all tidal calculations
Yachtmaster for Sail and Power Hardcover
by Alison Noice
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yachtmaster-Sail-Power-Alison-Noice/dp/1472925491

 

The secondary ports here are subordinate stations btw.

A fantastic resource for all types of fishing:

The Cruiser's Handbook of Fishing

Don't be turned away by the focus on cruiser fishing. It covers fishing from land, big boat, small boat, all types of environments, etc.), all types of fishing, gathering other types of seafood, health/safety issues, etc. Highly recommended.

One caveat: it doesn't really cover fresh-water fishing. But many of the lessons learned can be applied to fresh water

"The Sailor's Sketchbook"- a great little idea book but more than just that. It's one of those books that you can flip through and feel inspired.

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned [Chapman Piloting and Seamanship](https://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Piloting-Seamanship-68th/dp/1618372432/ "Amazon link"). Pretty comprehensive, and also serves as mobile ballast if you need to adjust trim.

Chapman Piloting and Seamanship is a great resource. At times it is almost too thorough and might be a little much to carry with you. I recommend taking someone with experience with you instead of relying on a manual for the first time or two though.

I find there's a lot of information on forums for popular boats regarding their mechanical and construction deficiencies. E.g. Discussion on certain boats getting blisters, or needing bulkhead replacements. However, there's basically no information on design deficiencies, and most of the discussion you do find is pure speculation. The reason for this is because boat design is more of a tradeoff of different qualities. You want to research these qualities as much as possible. For instance: displacement, sail area, keel type, hull construction, cabin layout, cockpit size and layout, water line length, ability for the boat to right itself and how it affects stability, etc. Most of the information on these subjects is available on books and not necessarily easily accessible on the web. Here are some good books:

• http://www.amazon.com/Inspecting-Sailboat-International-Marine-Library/dp/0071445455
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Small-Sailboats-Take-Anywhere/dp/0939837323
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Seaworthy-Offshore-Sailboat-Essential-Features/dp/007137616X/ref=pd_sim_b_1
  
  Now, these books are slanted on offshore sailing which is what I'm interested in. You didn't specify where you'd be sailing or how you'd be using it. My guess is general weekend cruising.
  
  So no, I haven't seen any discussion on the differences between boats like that. You have to make an informed decision on the data available (e.g. of sailboatdata.com, class association sites, owner postings on forums, etc). Best thing to do is ask people who have knowledge once you've narrowed it down. The truth of the matter is, no matter what boat you get you will have to deal with the tradeoffs. Some guy saying that "X" boat is slow or fast is completely subjective and doesn't mean a damn thing to you. You have to figure out what the qualities you want are first and find the boat that best fits those qualities.
  
  Lastly, if this is your first boat please go small and with something that you can easily sell again. Chances are your wants and needs will change, and dumping a whole bunch of money into the wrong boat may be a big mistake. Get something simple that is easy to maintain, so you can learn how to properly maintain a sailboat. The mistakes you will make will not be a big deal on a small boat, but if you buy a 40 ft Catalina a small mistake can balloon very quickly.

Please buy and read this. Too many people on the water with zero knowledge. This is the bible of boating. In addition, a Coast Guard Power Rangers course is a great idea.

https://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Piloting-Seamanship-68th/dp/1618372432/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

I have enjoyed these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756689694/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071350993/

Edit 1 to add: Also, for entertaining reading, Joshua Slocum's book and Voyage for Madmen

Breaking Seas is a great one about not making it.

Lionheart & True Spirit about the two youngest Aussies to do it.

As someone else noted, The Long Way by Moitessier (should be avail in French somewhere), A World of My Own by Knox Johnston or Voyage for Madmen which covers all the racers will take you through the first round the world race.

This varies largely by the size of the boat. Small boats that are still big enough to sleep in covered and dry are way cheaper than vans, larger boats -- well you can spend as much as you have.

The subject has been given considerable thought and an excellent resource about it can be found in the book Sensible Cruising: The Thoreau Approach : A Philosophic and Practical Approach to Cruising

EDIT: a word

I am 6'1" and liveaboard a 45' Gibson houseboat. It's pretty tight but I have about two inches of space above my head. My knowledge of boats is limited but I have been on a few larger vessels that had about 7' ceilings so they do exist.

It's mostly okay but sometimes it can feel a little bit claustrophobic.

Here are some must have books that will help with the mechanical end of things:
http://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Piloting-Seamanship-Edition-Handling/dp/1588169618

http://www.amazon.com/12-Volt-Bible-Boats-Miner-Brotherton/dp/0071392335/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1457992044&sr=1-1&keywords=12+volt+bible+for+boats

I have a copy of that book - I don't remember it as being very good.

David Seidman's The Complete Sailor - it's so good that it defies words; it's hard to explain how clear and well-structured it is.

In addition to the other great advice, I'd suggest reading The Complete Sailor, and to emphasize, sail as much as you can.

I taught myself to sail with this book.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0684854201

Read it, bought a boat, and started practicing. Have fun!

> I've designed Tiny Houses.

Boats. Trust me.

It looks like a non-affiliate link according to this.

--

For a cleaner URL: amzn.com/0071437657

I've also read almost all the way through this book and found it very helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Sailing-Manual-Third-Edition/dp/0756689694/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380854523&sr=8-1&keywords=the+new+complete+sailing+manual

Bethwaite's High Performance Sailing is the bible of dinghy sailing.

I also found Helming to Win to be helpful

I recommend the Voyager’s Handbook by Beth Leonard... taught me a lot and will stay on my future boat!

The Voyager's Handbook: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071437657/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rmgEDbWHN8RN5

I've got the Sailing Bible. I hear the Annapolis Book of Seamanship is a must have as well.

this is the book you are looking for

I don't have any experience... but the most recomended book I have seen is "Cruiser's Handbook of Fishing by Scott and Wendy Bannerot"

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cruisers-Handbook-Fishing-Scott-Bannerot/dp/0071427880/

Also of course the internet is full of info which needs caution to take :D

http://www.yachtingworld.com/video/bluewater-sailing-techniques-fishing-on-board-67163

Some feel that rods are just extra hassle and handlines are the way forwards.
https://www.sailboat-cruising.com/handline-fishing.html

This one?

Read this book. It has almost everything you need to know about boats. (Sorry about formating, on mobile)


Chapman's boating and seamanship.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1588169618/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_5GT2wb82GNEB5

Voyagers handbook by Beth Leonard
http://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Handbook-Essential-Guide-Cruising/dp/0071437657/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1459294127&sr=1-1&keywords=voyagers+handbook

Everything you need to know is in this book.

Buy it, read it, and go from there.

The Annapolis Book of Seamanship

http://www.amazon.com/Annapolis-Book-Seamanship-3rd-Revised/dp/0684854201

High Performance Sailing by Frank Bethwaite link

Although targeted at racers (specifically dinghy and high-performance racers) there is so much good info about how wind works, how sails work, how to approach waves in different scenarios, why some boats that look fast aren't...

The voyagers handbook covers A LOT if you're planning to travel.

https://www.amazon.com/Voyagers-Handbook-Essential-Guide-Cruising/dp/0071437657

The grand-daddy of them all: Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship

I really enjoyed Breaking Seas: An overweight, middle-aged computer nerd buys his first boat, quits his job, and sails off to adventure.

Coast Guard Auxiliary has courses and information, too. Or get yourself a copy of Chapman's Piloting & Seamanship. You should be able to pick up a used copy for under ten bucks, and it has all the info you need. Anybody who's serious about the maritime arts should own a copy.

Every sailboat is rigged differently, although there are many common basic features. So, there's no way for anyone to provide much of a response to an overly broad question. But, if you are just getting going, there's plenty you can do to get a bit more know-how.

When I began, before I started taking some lessons, I read a lot. My brother got me this for Christmas and I read it through and through:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Sailing-Manual-Third-Edition/dp/0756689694

That should get you going. The next step is to find instruction and get on the water.

Things you can do while you figure out how to get on the water:

• practice bowline and hitch knots, you use them every sail basically so get good
  
• get your gear together: knife, PFD, shoes, wet gear
  
• watch some videos
  
  But, there is no substitute for getting out on the water. What city are you in?