Cruisin' on Land

I admit it; Gail and I are RVers, and have been for some years now. There's alot of similarities between the RV world and the cruising boat world, even sharing some of the same jargon; things like "dinghy", or "shore power".
This book was written by both of us. And rather than simply rephrase the Trailer Life "heavies" out there, it takes a different tack. The emphasis is on "normal" income folks who want to go cruisin', and what's involved. So far we've cruised our rig to Mexico twice, California a couple times, and we hope soon to circumnavigate North America, catching the fall colors of New England, and then on down to the winter warmth of Florida and the Texas gulf.
Believe it or not, I copied the format Eric & Susan Hiscock used in their classic Voyaging Under Sail, down to A Log Of A Cruise. I hope this book will be as informative to folks thinking RVs as theirs was to me when I first got into boats. You can read condensed chapters if you go Here!

Starting with tools: "... the true crafsman is a rare bird; no more in tune with the Cosmos than you, just more patient..." to instructions for the proper use of alcohol at the launch, this book guides you step by step through the process of building a real sea-going cruising boat. Written from the novel point of view of keeping costs down and having fun, this is, if you'll pardon me, the BEST "how-to" book since "Volkswagon Repair For The Compleat Idiot." There's 160 pages of drawings and photos, and even complete plans ranging from a 28' cutter to a 55' displacement power boat.

International Marine Publishing, 1990

How To Find Where You Are From The Sun (what you need to do when the GPS fails)

The simplest & clearest "how to use a sextant and navigate book" in the known Universe!

Simplistic - a major distributor that refused to carry it.

We hit Hawaii - a satisfied user.

If you can't follow this you best give up and buy a ranch in Nebraska. . . .

With all the emphasis on "Trawlers" as the basis for cruising powerboats, I realized peopled needed to know about the west coast TROLLERS, the best small seaboats there ever was. I believe a "troller yacht" in most cases makes more sense for cruising than a "trawler yacht;" there is a difference! This book talks about systems, design, materials, back-up sail, building, and even the pros and cons of converting an old fishboat. It discusses the concept of the cruising powerboat from a "practical" and even cost conscious, perspective.

Published 1999 by Norton & Co.