The Cost Conscious Cruiser

Rating:
Summary: It Helped Me Select Gear for My Sailboat
Review: I bought my first sailboat, a Catalina 30, in 7/02. The boat did not have much equipment. This book helped me in the selection of the appropriate level of equipment for the type of sailing I intended. In particular this book helped me avoid spending more than I would otherwise have spent and feel good about it. As an example, I followed the advice to avoid buying the very expensive "offshore" foul weather gear. However, I still spent much more that the Purdey's would say is necessary. The book helped me make better spending decisions. The writing is clear. The tables are helpful. The stories from their vast experience taught me a lot. The book is less helpful to someone who is looking to use their sailboat for just racing or day sailing.

Rating:
Summary: These people have done their homework
Review: I don't have a small boat, in fact mine is 38 feet long. But I definitely agree with the majority of what I read in this book. Not only that, I enjoyed reading stuff like the pros and cons of tiller vs wheel even though I would never give up my wheel (first because it came with the boat, second because I don't like using tillers.) The Pardey's have hooked me and I plan to read more of their books. In fact I gave my sailing partner their Care and Feeding of the offshore Sailor book and she complained because I kept reading it. Good solid advise with a good bit of humor. Their ultra simple life style appeals to me, but I don't plan to duplicate it. On the other hand, they don't seem to expect people to - but they do remind potential voyagers that taking care of a cruising boat/home is not easy when you get away from stateside facilities. Good read, good info and logical presentation.

Rating:
Summary: Is cost conscious ugly?
Review: If you follow the Pardey's way of life you may save money, but this book is non-motivational. This book is mostly a listing of why cruisers don't need 90% of the high tech gizmos that people imagine they need to stuff into or tie onto their boats. But from the mud-brown cover to the coarse paper to the few poor photos, this book is visually unappealling and not something you will want to pick up to read again.

Rating:
Summary: These people have done their homework
Review: This and all the other Pardey books are the core curriculum for the particular cult of sailors that believe that the most important thing in sailing is to be small and self sufficient. After all, the whole point of sailing is to use the inexhaustible wind to drive you along. So why clutter up your already cramped boat with gadgets that (1) you don't need in the first place and (2) you can't repair when they let you down? Their advice that, if you can't fix it then it probably shouldn't be on the boat, is some of the sagest crusing wisdom around. And the fact that they have covered the globe in safety and comfort without an auxiliary engine is inspirational. For those who poo poo this, listen to the Pardey's spin you some tales of some of the hundreds of heartbroken sailors they have seen, up to their elbows in a diesel engine, missing out on paradise because of engine failure. Too often these unfortunates can't sail their boat well enough to do without the engine (in other words they can't get it out of the marina) and therefore are stuck in a hell of their own making. And it isn't just engines: it's radios, electronic systems, electric anchor windlasses, roller furling, refrigerators, all the doodads we are told we can't sail without. Nonsense. The Pardey's will innoculate you against such tragedy.

Rating:
Summary: Get out there...
Review: This and all the other Pardey books are the core curriculum for the particular cult of sailors that believe that the most important thing in sailing is to be small and self sufficient. After all, the whole point of sailing is to use the inexhaustible wind to drive you along. So why clutter up your already cramped boat with gadgets that (1) you don't need in the first place and (2) you can't repair when they let you down? Their advice that, if you can't fix it then it probably shouldn't be on the boat, is some of the sagest crusing wisdom around. And the fact that they have covered the globe in safety and comfort without an auxiliary engine is inspirational. For those who poo poo this, listen to the Pardey's spin you some tales of some of the hundreds of heartbroken sailors they have seen, up to their elbows in a diesel engine, missing out on paradise because of engine failure. Too often these unfortunates can't sail their boat well enough to do without the engine (in other words they can't get it out of the marina) and therefore are stuck in a hell of their own making. And it isn't just engines: it's radios, electronic systems, electric anchor windlasses, roller furling, refrigerators, all the doodads we are told we can't sail without. Nonsense. The Pardey's will innoculate you against such tragedy.