Modern Cruising Under Sail

Rating:
Summary: Well worth the money and the time
Review: Dodds is pretty opinionated about most things; he always seems to have a strong view (it must be nice never to be uncertain about anything), but he packs a lot into his book. And of course the reader can always make up his/her own mind.

I found the book enjoyable and thought-provoking as Dodds often challenges the "conventional wisdom".

I'm very much in the dreaming and planning stages of going cruising, so still have a lot to learn. When someone gives me a new slant on things, as Dodds has, I appreciate it.

I'd recommend the book to anyone who is interested in extended cruising. You'll read arguments both for and against, and then a range of advice on what and how to do it.

One topic not often covered well in other books is the big questioni of what it costs, which models work best for funding your boat and cruise etc. Dodds doesn't shy away from these areas either.

Overall, a very good read and highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Well worth the money and the time
Review: Dodds is pretty opinionated about most things; he always seems to have a strong view (it must be nice never to be uncertain about anything), but he packs a lot into his book. And of course the reader can always make up his/her own mind.

I found the book enjoyable and thought-provoking as Dodds often challenges the "conventional wisdom".

I'm very much in the dreaming and planning stages of going cruising, so still have a lot to learn. When someone gives me a new slant on things, as Dodds has, I appreciate it.

I'd recommend the book to anyone who is interested in extended cruising. You'll read arguments both for and against, and then a range of advice on what and how to do it.

One topic not often covered well in other books is the big questioni of what it costs, which models work best for funding your boat and cruise etc. Dodds doesn't shy away from these areas either.

Overall, a very good read and highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and Hard Hitting
Review: I found the book provide considerable information about cruising that is not found elsewhere. Most books are written by people who glorify the experience of cruising. The author has ignored the old adage, if the truth conflicts with the legend print the legend. This book tells it like it is. Some of what is said will upset the starry eyed skippers with there eyes firmly fixed on the horizon. Some of what is said also conflicts with conventional thinking. Where conflict occurs the points are well supported and offers another side of the issue. I found chapters 2 and 3 very informative. Also the chapters on selecting the boat and rig have considerable information presented in a clear easily understood form. The later chapters are worth the price of the book alone. The author has a relaxed style that works for people who like to read, very similar to his other book "Modern Seamanship." It is not a picture book, but I found the illustrations adequate.

Rating:
Summary: Libertarian gives rave review.
Review: I knew I liked this book after reading the first few pages. It is quite different from similar products I've purchased. I found it refreshing, practical, and useful. I smiled a lot while reading it and feel much more comfortable planning my own escape. I feel it is much more honest than the rest. The humor in this book is not just an ambient lament, it conveys the seriousness of the material presented and sends it home in a most refreshing way. It provides the material provided with a staying power that is unique. This book says what few books will. I learned a lot. I'm not a writer- I am a book consumer, and will leave the writing and my money with Don Dodds. Thanks Don, good work.

Rating:
Summary: Some instructive material, but short on insight
Review: Modern Cruising Under Sail sets out to "realistically present the facts about cruising." Unfortunately, the book comes across as a pedantic exercise by a self-styled sailing scientist that is a lot like a trip to a sushi restaurant - no matter how much you eat, you still come away feeling empty. My main complaint about this book is that it is under illustrated and has only 24, often poorly selected photographs in the book's 384 pages. As a result, the book suffers heavily from its inability to communicate the intended points. Another minor issue is the book's layout which is double-spaced and utilizes a serifed font that I found tiring to read. I got the impression from the spacing that the author was trying to pad the length of this book just as a college student might a term paper.

Much of the early part of the book is wasted on discussions about the scientific method and what constitutes valid conclusions. The book is nicely referenced with respect to other sailing books and publications as well as various conclusions borrowed from other writers. Compared to Steve and Linda Dashew's "World Cruising Encyclopedia" which I feel is the best book available on the subject of cruising, Modern Cruising Under Sail is short on insights and does little to enlighten one about sailing or sailboats.

I did like the discussions about the various ratios that are used to predict boat performance and stability and there were some nice graphs in this section. The section on rigging was somewhat informative as well, but all in all, the book delivered less than it promised.