The Art of Rigging

Rating:
Summary: There so much better available
Review: For your money, you are probably better off spending more and getting something more comprehensive. Yes, it is basically a dictionary, but if you are after a good reference, get the 'Ship model builders assistant', or go the whole hog, 'Anatomy of Nelson's ships'. It contains little in the way of diagrams, and is very limited in its variance of ships.

Rating:
Summary: Hmmm
Review: Not as good as I expected; true there are lots of pictues of knots, running & standing rigging, but it is (to my mind) badly organised.
The contents of the first 2 chapters are arranged alphabetically, but the writer assumes that you are a sailor and are familiar with 19thC terms and so by the 3rd chapter, you have digested both of these and can now go on to preparatory rigging; which is less than useful as the pictures are in plates several pages away from their description, and they are quite small, which makes it frustrating and difficult to quickly find the info you need.

On the other hand, this was written in the 19thC by a sailor at the height of the age of sail, with an intimate knowledge of rigging; so, used as an addition to other works, it is a valuable tool ... but don't expect it to fulfill all your wishes.

Rating:
Summary: Hmmm
Review: Not as good as I expected; true there are lots of pictues of knots, running & standing rigging, but it is (to my mind) badly organised.
The contents of the first 2 chapters are arranged alphabetically, but the writer assumes that you are a sailor and are familiar with 19thC terms and so by the 3rd chapter, you have digested both of these and can now go on to preparatory rigging; which is less than useful as the pictures are in plates several pages away from their description, and they are quite small, which makes it frustrating and difficult to quickly find the info you need.

On the other hand, this was written in the 19thC by a sailor at the height of the age of sail, with an intimate knowledge of rigging; so, used as an addition to other works, it is a valuable tool ... but don't expect it to fulfill all your wishes.

Rating:
Summary: The Art of Rigging
Review: This book contains a detailed explanation of how to rig a sailing ship. Complete with a glossary of terms and line drawings it is written by a 19th century Royal Navy captain. Although a little too detailed and specialised for other than builders of square-riggers I found it most helpful as a reference while I was crewing aboard HM Bark Endeavour. Anybody who has crewed for the first time on a square-rigger will know that it takes a while to sort out the mass of lines and blocks and determine the purpose and function of each rig, while more experienced hands rarely have the time to explain things fully. This handy reference book helps enormously in clarifying this puzzle and speeds up the learning process. For instance, I was unable to understand why the jib boom guy was necessary, or what the difference between a clewline and a clew-garnet was, until I read this book. A very helpful reference, if a bit old-fashioned in its presentation style, for all those who are, or are considering, crewing on a sailing ship.

Rating:
Summary: The Art of Organization
Review: This is a great book poorly organized. I had heard allot about this book from within the wooden, model ship-building circles, and when I found a copy was dissapointed. Primarily, for the retail price, I was expecting allot more book, allot better organized, with much better plates, for allot less money. I decided to wait until I found a inespensive second hand copy and did so for a measely AUD$$$ in perfect condition.

Everything other reviewers have said stands in regards to this work so I won't reiterate those points. The only observation I would like to make is that the next publishers update this work and appoint an editor to re-organize it to the benefit of those who in future wish to purchase it. Until that time this work, notwithstanding it's period, novelty value, will remain short of it's of fullest and most useful potential. Having said all that though, for $7 nearly as new, I am proud to have it on my shelf and recommend it to others at this price.

Rating:
Summary: A Time Machine to the Age of Sail
Review: When you open the pages of "The Art of Rigging," you step back in time over two hundred years. The language herein is that of mariners of the days of wooden ships. You must learn the language to fully appreciate the treasure that is this book.
The author or, more properly, reviser, Captain George Biddlecombe, Royal Navy, died in 1878. This book, first published in 1848 by another author, Charles Wilson, was based on a rigging manual published in 1794. It was again revised and published in 1925.
If you are expecting modern terms, word usage, and grammar, forget it! This is the real stuff, exactly as done and recorded by the men of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
If you are expecting an easy read on the order of "Dick & Jane and Their Dog Spot," forget it! This book is hard work, even the pictures can be difficult, but it is a varitable gold mine of information if you're willing to dig.
Here is a quotation that I found particularly opaque until I translated it into modern English: "Burton pendants are triced up by the girtlines, and placed over the top-mast-head, that the thimbles may hang on each side, to hook the burton-tackles in."
Poetry! I leave it to you to perform your own translation!
If you believe that there is no gain without pain, this book is for you. If you want your pablum spoon-fed to you, you'd best be advised to buy a plastic model.(...)