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Rating: 
Summary: Everything you probably can't afford in a cruising yacht
Review: A behemoth of a book about cruising yachts from dreamland. If you can actually afford the type of yachts they concentrate on then you can probably afford the crew and engineers to sail & fix it for you. Still, there's a tonne (1.1 tons) of information in here & it is worth reading - once. Try borrowing it from a library if you anticipate a more down-to-earth cruising budget. If you're still dreaming - buy it & read the bits about how much all this costs, behold the gradual realisation that this is how Bill Gates would cruise. from page 1092..."I have only one major regret: That we waited so long. While it's always hard to look back and say one should have done this or that, I firmly believe that selling my car and few possessions and buying a Folkboat, or some such machine, and heading off into the South Pacific, would have been more rewarding in the long run, than banging our heads against the walls of our economic system in order to accumulate the wealth I thought was necessary to go cruising in the 'proper' style. ... The sooner you go and the simpler you do it, the better off you will be" So, if you really don't want a glossary of the West Marine catalogue, try Jim Trefethen's "The Cruising Life", Herb Payson's "Blown Away" or Tania Aebi's book or the Pardy collection. KISS never went out of style. What this book contains is beyond the realms of most of us mere mortals. Who wants to be reminded of that ? I bought a folkboat (I'm not claustrophobic). Who knows...if I made a mistake then at least it's only a small one. Personally, I don't think I made a mistake. We'll see :-) Ewen
Rating:
Summary: Everything you probably can't afford in a cruising yacht
Review: A behemoth of a book about cruising yachts from dreamland. If you can actually afford the type of yachts they concentrate on then you can probably afford the crew and engineers to sail & fix it for you. Still, there's a tonne (1.1 tons) of information in here & it is worth reading - once. Try borrowing it from a library if you anticipate a more down-to-earth cruising budget. If you're still dreaming - buy it & read the bits about how much all this costs, behold the gradual realisation that this is how Bill Gates would cruise. from page 1092..."I have only one major regret: That we waited so long. While it's always hard to look back and say one should have done this or that, I firmly believe that selling my car and few possessions and buying a Folkboat, or some such machine, and heading off into the South Pacific, would have been more rewarding in the long run, than banging our heads against the walls of our economic system in order to accumulate the wealth I thought was necessary to go cruising in the 'proper' style. ... The sooner you go and the simpler you do it, the better off you will be" So, if you really don't want a glossary of the West Marine catalogue, try Jim Trefethen's "The Cruising Life", Herb Payson's "Blown Away" or Tania Aebi's book or the Pardy collection. KISS never went out of style. What this book contains is beyond the realms of most of us mere mortals. Who wants to be reminded of that ? I bought a folkboat (I'm not claustrophobic). Who knows...if I made a mistake then at least it's only a small one. Personally, I don't think I made a mistake. We'll see :-) Ewen
Rating: 
Summary: Authoritative source on sailboat systems and design
Review: If any nautical reference book can be worth the nine year wait between editions, this is it. There is simply no other book that comes close to it in terms of covering sailboat systems and design issues. The Dashews guide you through all the options that confront cruisers and their boats discussing how things work and why. Nor are they bashful about naming names and making recommendations where appropriate. There is much to be said for their KISS philosophy where minimal, reliable systems are always preferred to those that are just the latest gadget. I especially liked the in-depth discussions on electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems which are some of the best I have ever seen and all integrated into the context of the total cruising boat. I would like to have seen the authors opt for color photography rather than the so-so black and white reproductions used throughout the book. This is one of the few flaws in an otherwise fine effort. This is the most expensive nautical book in my growing library, but well worth the price. It is a must have item for all cruisers.
Rating:
Summary: Authoritative source on sailboat systems and design
Review: If any nautical reference book can be worth the nine year wait between editions, this is it. There is simply no other book that comes close to it in terms of covering sailboat systems and design issues. The Dashews guide you through all the options that confront cruisers and their boats discussing how things work and why. Nor are they bashful about naming names and making recommendations where appropriate. There is much to be said for their KISS philosophy where minimal, reliable systems are always preferred to those that are just the latest gadget. I especially liked the in-depth discussions on electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems which are some of the best I have ever seen and all integrated into the context of the total cruising boat. I would like to have seen the authors opt for color photography rather than the so-so black and white reproductions used throughout the book. This is one of the few flaws in an otherwise fine effort. This is the most expensive nautical book in my growing library, but well worth the price. It is a must have item for all cruisers.
Rating: 
Summary: TONS of INFORMATION- Literally.
Review: OK this is the heavist book I own with more than 1200 pages! It has exhaustive information covering everything. Pick a topic it's in there. Why not 5 stars? Well this book is definitely based on the DASHEW way. Big boats, lots of equipment, big money. If I had the budget it would be great but honestly how many can afford to cruise around in a 80 foot custom built boat? Now I didn't say I wouldn't like to, it's just for my budget it sometimes is lacking in the simple cheap way to do it. Also I find the book a little preachy some times. As in this is the only way to do it because that's how we do it and we know everything. But this comment applies to a lot of cruising books so I can't single out the DASHEWS. But for the simple life look elswhere- like the Pardeys, Casey and Payson. Gee- I didn't mean to be so negative. This book is expensive, but has tons of information, a superb index and broad and thourough coverage of just about everything. I definitely use this book as a reference for new projects. Like need a new dingy- 11 pages of information. Or a dodger-15 pages. Or cruising with kids- 15 pages. The book is organized I.M.O. on the premise of building a boat from the ground up. What are the best designs, construction materials, techniques, systems etc. Although pricey, this book is a good addition to my library. I agonized over making this purchase for some time- what if the book just didn't suit me? But even for the price it is worth it. Would I buy it again? Yes! There is information hear you will not find anywhere else and it is well organized.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive guide to offshore cruising boats
Review: This massive compendium of knowledge gleaned from decades of offshore cruising is a must for the neophite or expert. Extensive discussions cover all aspects of the offshore vessel - from mast to keel - along with the many practical aspects of life aboard (and abroad). Topics range from practical considerations underlying design of rigging and mechanical propulsion systems to the many aesthetic nuances of cabin layout and outfitting. Extensive use of photographs and diagrams bring even the most esoteric elements graphically to life. In summary, if I had to set sail with only three books, the Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia would be on board next to Chapman and my cruising guide.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive guide to offshore cruising boats
Review: This massive compendium of knowledge gleaned from decades of offshore cruising is a must for the neophite or expert. Extensive discussions cover all aspects of the offshore vessel - from mast to keel - along with the many practical aspects of life aboard (and abroad). Topics range from practical considerations underlying design of rigging and mechanical propulsion systems to the many aesthetic nuances of cabin layout and outfitting. Extensive use of photographs and diagrams bring even the most esoteric elements graphically to life. In summary, if I had to set sail with only three books, the Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia would be on board next to Chapman and my cruising guide.
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