Chrysler Sailors Forum

The book that started it all, for me, was Thor Hyerdahl's Kon Tiki. I was about 14. That was the story that first set my mind to floating on open seas. I remember reading Tania Aebi's book Maiden Voyage and was further inspired. I read Lin and Larry Pardey's book The Self-Sufficient Sailor probably 10-15 years ago. At that time, they completely turned my cruising dream upside down. Until then I had been buying into the glossy magazine hype of bigger, better, most modern is the ONLY way to go. My "dream boat" was a 35' to 40' catamaran. Favorite subscriptions at the time were Cruising World and Multihull Magazine. The Pardey's had a similar attitude toward sailing that I had toward nearly everything else in my life. Smaller, simpler, and self-maintained usually makes Michael happier. (The only place that is not true is my Harley Davidson motorcycle, but that's another thread.)

So I was reading another post here and it flashed that I needed to order my own copy of The Self-Sufficient Sailor. Off I go to Amazon and I wind up ordering four other books as well:

The Capable Cruiser by Lin Pardey
The Care and Feeding of the Sailing Crew by Lin Pardey
The Cost Conscious Cruiser by Larry Pardey
and
Twenty Small Boats To Take You Anywhere by John Vigor

Which brings me to the purpose of this thread. What boat related books have struck the chord in you? What do you consider great reading?

A book I really enjoyed likely because it was written in and about the Pacific Northwest is "The Curve of Time" by M. Wylie Blanchet.

After reading it I was ready to quite my paying job, sell the house, pack Destiny and leave.

I have read other great sailing books but I forget the titles so I'll not post what I "think" they are until I get the true titles.


One interesting book though especially for a nervous partner or a complete romantic is " There be no Dragons" by Reese Palley.
This book is a very realistic look at cruising. Some of the good and some of the reality of it. It will help the nervous person feel better and the romantic to see it is not all romantic!!

Scott

"Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Dana Henry Jr.

Takes ya back to 1834, true story, on rounding Cape Horn, the early days in ports of California and the west coast...

Arrghhh, when men were men

I didn't really read sailing books as a kid, dreamed more of the sky than the water, but did read Two Years before the Mast early on. And John Paul Jones' biography was an early favorite. A book I've been browsing at the local book chain is "The Art of Boat Names: Inspiring Ideas for Names and Designs" . Incredible Transom Art.

For you horizontal airfoils types on the board I'll say that I've worn out copies of Rinker Buck's "Flight of Passage" (first mate found me an autographed copy for Christmas), and over the years completely dog-eared Ernest K. Ganns "Fate Is the Hunter"

I read "Two Years Before the Mast" but it was for the historical aspect more than the sailing. The Time Life series on boats and ships had a book titled "The Age of Sail" and if I was inspired by a book that was probably it. Movies had more of an influence on me than books, when it comes to sailing, but don't ask which ones. It was more the sight of the ships, pirates, the Caribbean, Port Royal, Swiss Family Robinson and the adventure seen by a very young man. The two biggest reasons would be that I dearly love doing things "the old way" and sailng is fairly old, (ya think?), and the quest for knowledge of things I'm totally ignorant of. Besides, it's just a blast to be on the water and now that I'm learning to sail it's even better seein' as how I gave up stink boats 25 years ago and don't use my canoe or kayaks as much as in years pat.

Vic

The short story,

"The Wind From the Sun" by Arther C Clark

I just watched Master and Commander a couple weeks ago. It was good. The book series sounds like one I don't need to get started on til winter....

Vic

This is one of a few instructional books I have on sailing and haven't dove into it to deep but thought a few here would like it

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Absolutely loved the movie. Can't wait to read the books. Thanks for the list alan. But what happened to #20?

That is a good question, looking at the list, they all seem to be there.

I'll check Wikipedia real quick.

Nope they are all there, my numbering is off. Only 21 books in the series. The author died while writing the last book though I think book 20, Blue at the Mizzen was a good ending, I'd tell you what happened but that would ruin the ending.

Thanks
Alan