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This book is on back order. It will ship during the final week of November.
Sailors' Secrets contains over 1,000 tips, suggestions, evaluations, and nuggets of hard-won advice from more than 300 seasoned veterans.
Instructive humorous, biting, and challenging, Sailors' Secrets can be opened anywhere and enjoyed. Its wide-ranging chapters cover routine maintenance, understanding weather, safety at sea, storm strategies, piloting, engine troubleshooting, gear and outfitting, and simple solutions to complex problems.
Just about every sailboat—used and new—can make a good cruiser, but only if the hull-deck structure, rig, and systems meet certain standards. Spurr’s Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat tells you what those standards are, and gives you all the help you need to refurbish and upgrade every structure, surface, fitting, and system on your boat—stem to stern, project by project. This all-in-one guide leads you step by step to a seaworthy, crew-friendly boat with top-notch cruising performance. Not only will you learn what to look for when you buy a new or used boat, you'll also learn how to reinforce your boat’s hull and structural components, redesign and replace rigging, upgrade electrical systems, and much more.
In a book that is sure to become a classic, internationally respected boatbuilder, yacht manager, and delivery skipper Bill Seifert shares his hard-won solutions to a host of boat design, construction, and equipment issues and seamanship dilemmas. Unlike other books on the subject, Offshore Sailing doesn’t just tell readers what to do for safe and comfortable passage making; it shows them how to do it with clear, step-by-step instructions and nearly 200 detailed drawings and photographs.
This inspirational and comprehensive manual leads you step by step through every aspect of choosing, planning, and following the voyager’s life. Using three example boats representing three cruising lifestyles—Simplicity, Moderation, and Highlife—Beth Leonard helps make your bluewater dreams come true, whether you’re sailing on a shoestring or a CEO’s pension. Starting with the things you can’t do without—an enthusiastic crew, a seaworthy boat, and, of course, money—Leonard offers sage advice on how to select crewmembers who are truly committed to the voyage, how to choose the right boat for you, and how to find just the right approach to financing your voyage and making the most of every dollar spent.
Whether you take to the sea under power or sail, bounce around the bay in your runabout, or cross oceans in your cruiser, you’ll find everything you need to maintain, repair, and upgrade your boat’s DC and AC electrical systems with this comprehensive and fully illustrated guide.
Tackle onboard electrical projects and learn how to:
* Meet ABYC standards for both DC and AC wiring * Install solar- and wind-power systems * Add electrical components * Prevent corrosion of your electrical system . . . and more
If it's on a boat and it has screws, wires, or moving parts, it's covered in Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual. When you leave the dock with this book aboard, you have at your fingertips the best and most comprehensive advice on:
* Battery technologies * 12- and 24-volt DC systems * Corrosion, bonding, and lightning protection * Generators, inverters, and battery chargers * Electric motors and electric lights * Marine electronics, antennas, and RFI * Diesel engines * Transmissions, shaft brakes, and propellers * Refrigeration and air-conditioning * Tanks, plumbing, and through-hulls * Pumps and watermakers * Steering, autopilots, and wind vanes * Stoves and heaters * Winches, windlasses, and bow thrusters * Spars, rigging, and roller reefing
Since it first appeared in 1991, Don Casey’s This Old Boat has helped tens of thousands of sailors refurbish older fiberglass boats and has become a revered classic among boat rehabbers.This second edition is revised from first page to last with new information on electrical systems, diesel engines, refrigeration, resins, plumbing and more. Plus, more than 600 newly created illustrations enhance the book’s beauty as well as its utility.
E-Books
Downloadable E-Book
Boating is one of life’s great pleasures, but owning a boat can also be a labor of love. The gelcoat need polishing and waxing, teak or non-skid decks need cleaning, ropes and sails need washing…these can eat-up a lot of time, and money!
But now with this incredible 3-part series from Practical Sailor you’ll learn how to minimize your work and maximize your dollar.
Volume One: Gelcoat Restoration & Maintenance
Reviews hull cleaners, polishes, and waxes, with test-results up to 3 years! Also includes a step-by-step guide on the best method to maintain your gelcoat.
Volume Two: Essential Marine Cleaners
Rates the most common (and uncommon) cleaners on the market for price and ease of use. Everything from deck cleaners to metal polishes to mildew (and barnacle!) removers. Plus, the ultimate guide to bilge cleaners and oil absorbers.
Volume Three: Specialty Marine Cleaners
Reviews the products that only a sailor would need – black streak removers, line, rope and rigging cleaners, degreasers, even waterspot removers. Also includes a special section on sail cleaning and care.
Using the right cleaners the right way will get you off the dock faster and back on the water (and isn’t that where you want to be?) So take advantage of this special offer and order this one-of-a-kind downloadable series today!
Downloadable E-Book
KEEP HER CLEAN!
Mildew removers, bilge cleaners, metal polishers - the sheer number of supplies you need to keep your boat clean seems endless. But now, thanks to Practical Sailor’s Essential Marine Cleaners, you can keep your bronze burnished and your teak tip-top without spending a fortune on unnecessary cleaning products.
With this concise publication you’ll discover:
-Which bargain cleaner rated EXCELLENT on fiberglass, rubber, vinyl, and formica
-Why a 2-part teak cleaner should be used only when absolutely necessary
-What metal polisher works fast and easy on bronze and stainless
-How the right bilge absorber can be the most important gear on your boat
So don’t let grime and grunge, blood and beer, or coffee and ketchup keep your boat from sparkling. Learn how to keep her clean inside and out, by getting this special publication today!
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 3 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 2! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
Downloadable E-Book
WHY YOU NEED TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!
Your gelcoat is cleaned and waxed. Those nasty stains have been removed from your deck. And your bronze shines like new. Your boat is spotless – or is it?
How are your fenders looking? Is your vinyl beat-up? Are your ropes and rigging in good condition (and are they safe)? These items are often overlooked but go a long way in keeping your boat clean and protected. And with Practical Sailor’s Specialty Marine Cleaners you’ll learn why it’s not just your hull that needs to be kept clean.
Black Streaks?
There’s a cleaner that’s cheap and effective (and we’ll show you where to find it).
Clear Vinyl Need Attention?
If you’re using these common products you’re making things worse.
Got Grease?
This bargain de-greaser is the best of the bunch, and it’s in your hardware store!
Plus there’s a special section on the care and cleaning of your ropes (keep a pillowcase handy but DO NOT use bleach!) and sails (please don’t hang them to dry), as well as ratings and reviews of the newest “green” products.
So finish cleaning your boat the right way without breaking the bank. Order your copy of this unique publication today!
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 3 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 2! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
Downloadable E-Book
IS YOUR HULL HEALTHY?
Protecting your boats exterior is an absolute necessity, but it can be a time-consuming and muscle-straining job. But with Practical Sailors Gelcoat Maintenance you’ll save time, energy, and money by using the right products the right way.
In this detailed new publication every type of cleaner, wax, polisher, and restorer is tested (some for results up to 3 years!) and reviewed – the Practical Sailor way!
DID YOU KNOW?
- Wax offers little UV protection (regardless of these manufacturers claim!)
- There’s a good reason you should NOT use an acrylic coating on a new boat
- To scrub-away a waterline stain, find a cleaner with a low PH
- The best product to remove salt deposits is right in your kitchen cabinet
Plus, you’ll get a step-by-step regimen in topside maintenance that will keep your boat clean and shining, all for less than $50 a year in materials!
So keep your gelcoat in great shape, and stop wasting money on products that don’t do as advertised. Get this time (and money) saving publication today!
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 3 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 2! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
Downloadable E-Book
Owning a boat and being on the water can be one of life’s most relaxing and rewarding experiences. But are you prepared for possible nautical emergencies? In this ground-breaking 4-part series from Practical Sailor you’ll learn what you need to have on board to remain safe.
Choosing The Right Life Raft - Learn which life rafts were the safest and easiest to operate (is automatic deployment really safer?). Includes a special Life Raft Value Guide.
Ditch Bags and Emergency Gear - Make sure you have all the supplies necessary for emergency survival (yes - you do need a compass, and only one Kit supplied one!). A comprehensive guide to what you’ll need, and what is available, if you must abandon ship.
Onboard First Aid - A complete guide to the basic, and not-so-basic medical supplies you need to have onboard. Reviews near-shore and off-shore kits (is yours water-tight?) and what you’ll need to supplement them.
Survival Electronics - Discover why these devices are a must have for any sailor. Evaluates the usability and functionality of the wide-range of man-overboard devices now on the market. It’s imperative you have the right device onboard.
Choosing the proper emergency items can be a life and death decision. Eliminate the guesswork and order this downloadable landmark series today!
Downloadable E-Book
Lifelines, jacklines, tethers, nonskid decks, and good man-overboard procedures - these are a given for every good sailor, but that hasn’t stopped an alarming number of fatal man-overboard occurrences. Now, with Practical Sailor’s Survival Electronics, you’ll discover how to fully protect yourself and your crew.
With the wide array of man-overboard devices now available (beacons, alarms, trackers, etc.) it’s no wonder there’s confusion. Practical Sailor will help you cut through the clutter and tell you:
- Which OB alarm had an MOB mark with a quarter-mile discrepancy!
- Why a Sat Phone can be an excellent backup to an EPIRB
- Which beacon is capable of being detected from a full-mile away
- It’s not only which OB alarm but how it’s worn
Maritime safety should always have the highest priority, and with the vast majority of alerts being false alarms (96%!) a solid working knowledge of how the IMO’s worldwide rescue network works is essential.
So keep yourself and your crew as safe as possible, order your copy of this vital publication today!
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 4 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 3! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
Downloadable E-Book
As a sailor you know that being prepared for an emergency is vital. Your life raft comes with supplies, but are these sufficient? With Practical Sailor’s Ditch Bags and Emergency Gear, you’ll learn what your life raft might be lacking, and what you’ll need for a separate abandon-ship bag.
With this essential publication you’ll discover:
- How to determine the correct supply of drinking water
- Which is the only raft-kit to contain smoke canisters
- What vital piece of equipment all standardized packs failed to include
- Why an EPIRB is worth its weight in gold
- Which important items are most often overlooked (e.g., copy of your passport)
Also included is a special section on staying hydrated at sea. Sure, you have plenty of water and energy drinks on board, but there’s something even more effective (and it grows on trees!)
So order your copy of this important publication today, and ensure that you are fully equipped for even the most serious emergencies.
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 4 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 3! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
Downloadable E-Book
An accident can happen anywhere, but when it happens on your boat your access to medical treatment often is not close by. With Practical Sailor’s Onboard First Aid, you’ll learn which items you need to keep onboard for both minor and major injuries.
In this new publication, concise evaluations were conducted for both near-shore and off-shore kits, and the results were surprising. Many kits were missing essential elements (one day kit lacked basic aspirin!) and some were stocked with more than many sailors would need (one includes a full oxygen kit – but at a cost of almost $5,000!)
From contents to construction to price, all types are examined, and you’re sure to find the one kit that best suits your voyaging needs (and you’ll also learn about the one first aid item that is an absolute must!)
So order your copy of this essential publication today, and make sure you’re prepared for boating medical emergencies.
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 4 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 3! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
Downladable E-Book
When you abandon ship lives are at stake, so choosing the right life raft is literally a life and death decision. With Practical Sailor''s Survival at Sea – Life Rafts, you will be better equipped to make the right choice.
- With this new publication you’ll learn:
- Which feature an ex-naval officer ranked as a raft’s most important
- Which standards the major players are scrambling to meet
- Which brand is the ONLY raft allowed for extreme ISAF Category 0 races
- Which raft does not have reflective tape on the bottom
- Which zippers failed to operate properly
Also included is a 6-Man Life Raft Value Guide, which rated everything from weight to launch to floor, for 8 of the most popular life rafts sold today. The life raft evaluation conducted by Practical Sailor mirrored those done by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the results were telling.
So prepare yourself, and your crew, as best as possible for this emergency situation. Order your copy of this essential publication today.
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 4 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 3! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
Inside Practical Sailor Blog
Eco-friendly Bottom Paints 2012
February 01, 2012
There are very few times when the door to my office is closed. Bottom paint rating tabulation time is one of them. For the past week I’ve been poring over bottom paint data collected earlier this month – three Excel tables representing more than 300 data points. Although mammoth data tables are not what drew me into this business, the bottom paint program is still one of my favorite projects. I’ve spent enough time scrubbing and scraping and painting to appreciate the importance of what we do.
