Rating: 
Summary: The Difference is in the Detail
Review: A required book for your nautical bookshelf and worth three times the price. But don't expect to read it in just a few evenings.The 63rd Edition should tell you something. This is a huge text that has been revised and improved many times. I have three different editions spanning 35 years--including a recent one which had been moderized especially in the area of electronics. Many people might be daunted by the amount of information in this book. It is presented by topic and not necessarily by the order you should learn this material. If you think of it as a reference and take it one bite at a time, and work your way through the book, you will be a better seaman for it. The text is suitable for both power boaters and sailors, who own or operate small to large yachts. Having trouble docking? Confused about anchoring? Buy this book. The explanations for the use of spring lines alone are worth the price of the book, and will help you keep your vessel intact. We don't want to smash the boat up with 50 people watching do we?
Rating:
Summary: The Difference is in the Detail
Review: A required book for your nautical bookshelf and worth three times the price. But don't expect to read it in just a few evenings. The 63rd Edition should tell you something. This is a huge text that has been revised and improved many times. I have three different editions spanning 35 years--including a recent one which had been moderized especially in the area of electronics. Many people might be daunted by the amount of information in this book. It is presented by topic and not necessarily by the order you should learn this material. If you think of it as a reference and take it one bite at a time, and work your way through the book, you will be a better seaman for it. The text is suitable for both power boaters and sailors, who own or operate small to large yachts. Having trouble docking? Confused about anchoring? Buy this book. The explanations for the use of spring lines alone are worth the price of the book, and will help you keep your vessel intact. We don't want to smash the boat up with 50 people watching do we?
Rating:
Summary: An Old Friend
Review: Chapman's is probably on more boater's book shelves than any other nautical text. While I refer to the navigation sections most often, readers will find comprehensive sections on boat handling, safety, equipment, and marlinspikemanship. Chapman's gives alot of bang for the buck.
Rating:
Summary: Always has been and still is the best.
Review: Chapman's is still most read, referenced, and by all other means used book on general boating available today. If you could take a class called Boating 101 this would be the textbook. From navigation to knots, protocol to docking, it covers just about every part of seamanship except maybe what to wear. And I wouldn't be surprised if there is a section on that which I just haven't read yet! Overall an excellant book for the new comer to the "old salt."
Rating:
Summary: Always has been and still is the best.
Review: Chapman's is still most read, referenced, and by all other means used book on general boating available today. If you could take a class called Boating 101 this would be the textbook. From navigation to knots, protocol to docking, it covers just about every part of seamanship except maybe what to wear. And I wouldn't be surprised if there is a section on that which I just haven't read yet! Overall an excellant book for the new comer to the "old salt."
Rating:
Summary: an absolute boater's neccessity
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Beginners - This is a must have...
Review: I just started in the world of boating and really was quite clueless to the whole terminology used. I have since read about 3 books and find that I use Chapman's the most. The others were good to get my feet wet, but Chapman's is the one I actually use consistenly. Easy to understand and really the only reference / learning book I have found that covers every aspect of boating I needed to learn. Excellent purchase and I would suggest it to anyone who is just starting out. Can't imagine learning all this without it...
Rating:
Summary: Beginners - This is a must have...
Review: I just started in the world of boating and really was quite clueless to the whole terminology used. I have since read about 3 books and find that I use Chapman's the most. The others were good to get my feet wet, but Chapman's is the one I actually use consistenly. Easy to understand and really the only reference / learning book I have found that covers every aspect of boating I needed to learn. Excellent purchase and I would suggest it to anyone who is just starting out. Can't imagine learning all this without it...
Rating:
Summary: We Cannot Recommend A More Important Book About Boating
Review: I know the cost is high, but you cannot go without this book. Go and look at it in the library if you need to in order to be convinced, but save yourself the time and just buy it. I was taught sailing at the old age of 19 by one of my 12 year-old YMCA campers. Since my first 5 minutes on the water I have been hooked. Since then, I have sailed, raced, motored and flated thousand of miles on all types of boats and in all kinds of conditions. My advice, buy this book and read it. Then read it again. It is not the kind of book you can sit down and read straight through. You need to have it handy so when you are wondering about something, you can get right to it and learn. Just try not to do it when you are wondering if you have the right of way...
Rating:
Summary: We Cannot Recommend A More Important Book About Boating
Review: I know the cost is high, but you cannot go without this book. Go and look at it in the library if you need to in order to be convinced, but save yourself the time and just buy it. I was taught sailing at the old age of 19 by one of my 12 year-old YMCA campers. Since my first 5 minutes on the water I have been hooked. Since then, I have sailed, raced, motored and flated thousand of miles on all types of boats and in all kinds of conditions. My advice, buy this book and read it. Then read it again. It is not the kind of book you can sit down and read straight through. You need to have it handy so when you are wondering about something, you can get right to it and learn. Just try not to do it when you are wondering if you have the right of way...
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