Rating: 
Summary: Strange
Review: Anybody who does anything that remotely involves public exposure almost always can count on some sort of strange negative feedback. Bill Clinton is a prime example, but on a very lesser plane there is no better example than the "review" by Joe Snell, of my book. Mr. Snell who so far besides his mouthings about MY book, has enlightened us with his brief comments about 3 CDs, has chosen for some reason known only to him to make flip and ignorant statements about my book that I can only assume: 1) he never read it, or 2) knows nothing at all about boats. Giving him the benifit of the doubt I suspect 2). If this was 100 years ago I would challenge him to a duel for what he said. Today, the consequences of doing so, unfortunately, ain't worth it. But I want to state in rebuttal that PROVEN ideas are never "antiquated," and, that inded the book goes into great detail about its subject. Cruising powerboats.
Rating:
Summary: Strange
Review: Anybody who does anything that remotely involves public exposure almost always can count on some sort of strange negative feedback. Bill Clinton is a prime example, but on a very lesser plane there is no better example than the "review" by Joe Snell, of my book. Mr. Snell who so far besides his mouthings about MY book, has enlightened us with his brief comments about 3 CDs, has chosen for some reason known only to him to make flip and ignorant statements about my book that I can only assume: 1) he never read it, or 2) knows nothing at all about boats. Giving him the benifit of the doubt I suspect 2). If this was 100 years ago I would challenge him to a duel for what he said. Today, the consequences of doing so, unfortunately, ain't worth it. But I want to state in rebuttal that PROVEN ideas are never "antiquated," and, that inded the book goes into great detail about its subject. Cruising powerboats.
Rating:
Summary: Great concepts book for those interested in a troller
Review: Disgusted with the cost of a modern production troller, the author recommends constructing your own vessel. For circumnavigation potential with a two to four man crew, he recommends a 38' to 50' vessel. The book goes on to describe what said vessel would entail and is a starting point for either building it yourself or commissioning it. Its great reading even if you aren't planning on building a vessel but are interested in the concept. He claims the 38' he focuses on can be built for between $35,000 and $120,000 (1998) depending on how much you do yourself. The author has a decent webpage and sells a number of plans thru the website. After reading "Voyaging Under Power" (ISBN 0071580190 - also highly recommended) which extolls the virtues of a $600,000 vessel, this was the other extreme. Wouldn't mind locking this author in a room with "Voyaging Under Power"'s editor and letting them fight out some middle ground. Oh, by the way, I tried to find someone with the vessel described in the greater Los Angeles area and failed.
Rating: 
Summary: I wondered too, George...
Review: Down here on the Gulf Coast, hundreds of people still make their livings piloting wooden power boats out into open water, staying a few days, and then coming back with holds full of seafood. I know some of these folks. They don't inherit fortunes to buy boats, they aren't millionaires stepping off into the latest trendy adventure, they're people who use boats, well and practically built, to make a living. George's book is about the Northwestern versions of these people and their boats. George asks why people like me can't find proper boats. Why people who want a good, spacious, long-legged cruising vessel but who didn't have a dear rich uncle or a winning lottery ticket to pay for it. Why forty feet should be $750,000.00. And he answers the questions. He answers well. He steps on toes which need to stepped on, and tells us that dreams can come true. He took my little piece of a dream and expanded it. What more can one ask of a book?
Rating:
Summary: I wondered too, George...
Review: Down here on the Gulf Coast, hundreds of people still make their livings piloting wooden power boats out into open water, staying a few days, and then coming back with holds full of seafood. I know some of these folks. They don't inherit fortunes to buy boats, they aren't millionaires stepping off into the latest trendy adventure, they're people who use boats, well and practically built, to make a living. George's book is about the Northwestern versions of these people and their boats. George asks why people like me can't find proper boats. Why people who want a good, spacious, long-legged cruising vessel but who didn't have a dear rich uncle or a winning lottery ticket to pay for it. Why forty feet should be $750,000.00. And he answers the questions. He answers well. He steps on toes which need to stepped on, and tells us that dreams can come true. He took my little piece of a dream and expanded it. What more can one ask of a book?
Rating:
Summary: Things the yachting industry never told you.
Review: Having lived with this book and "Buehler's Backyard Boatbuilding" now for several months, and having purchased a set of Mr. Buehler's plans, what strikes me as the most salient aspect of this whole deal is that most of us are terribly misinformed about boats in general. Just because boats are sold for a quarter-to-half a million bucks and designed to burn $500 in diesel a day, doesn't mean they HAVE to. I think Mr. Buehler realized one day that the right kind of power boat is much more liveable, straight-forward (no tacking) and probably cheaper than an equivalent sailboat. His sailboat-design experience provides him the insight to design powerboats that take a tiny fraction of the power needed by "trawler yachts", the big craze these days. There's an informal network of builders forming and you're welcome to join us!
Rating:
Summary: Things the yachting industry never told you.
Review: Having lived with this book and "Buehler's Backyard Boatbuilding" now for several months, and having purchased a set of Mr. Buehler's plans, what strikes me as the most salient aspect of this whole deal is that most of us are terribly misinformed about boats in general. Just because boats are sold for a quarter-to-half a million bucks and designed to burn $500 in diesel a day, doesn't mean they HAVE to. I think Mr. Buehler realized one day that the right kind of power boat is much more liveable, straight-forward (no tacking) and probably cheaper than an equivalent sailboat. His sailboat-design experience provides him the insight to design powerboats that take a tiny fraction of the power needed by "trawler yachts", the big craze these days. There's an informal network of builders forming and you're welcome to join us!
Rating:
Summary: A very good book on practical and affordable cruising.
Review: Mr. Buehler provides a ton of practical info. on power voyaging in his usual common-sense, humorous approach. Would-be builders or owners of either steel or wooden power cruisers owe it to themselves to check this book out. Be forewarned, though: after reading The Troller Yacht Book, you may decide to jump in and build one and hop off on a lifetime cruising adventure.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: Mr. Buehler's book is an excellent read, and an extremely handy guide for those of us interested in its subject matter but without the bottomless pockets required to enjoy today's production boats. Can you build a boat using just this book? No. Can you plan your round-the-world cruise using just this book? Again, no. However, with chapters on the concept of a proper cruising design, affordability, safety, construction, outfitting and other relevant items, the book is an excellent primer on the concept of safe, affordable cruising for the everyday Joe who loves boats and the water.Mr. Snell may not have found what he was looking for; personally, I suspect he was offended by Mr. Buehler's attitude toward production yachts and their inadequacies.
Rating:
Summary: Get one for your bookshelf!
Review: Should be mandatory reading for anyone considering living aboard or cruising as a lifestyle. This book is an excellent primer explaining, in easy to understand terms, why certain boat designs may be more suitable for those of us with "realistic" budgets, custom vs. production boats, powering, design, construction materials, etc. Reading this book has completely re-oriented our focus away from production boats to begin the process of design selection and having our own custom live-aboard built! Thanks, George.
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