A nautical reference library

---

Unless you are very wealthy and can afford to pay someone else to maintain your boat, you will have to become at least a semi-expert in dozens of fields: rigging, plumbing, electrical, engine/mechanical, sail mending, medical, hull repair, metallurgy, the list goes on and on.

General reference |  Food |  Maintenance, General |  Diesel engines |  Fiberglass |  Electrical and mechanical |  Rigging |  Medical |  Navigation |  Weather |  Cruising |  Cruising, California |  Cruising, Mexico |  Inspiration, recreation and motivation

General reference

• Chapman Piloting - One of the ultimate reference books for boaters. It seems to cover every conceivable topic. Not the greatest bedtime read, but worthwhile to have handy near the chart table.
• Annapolis Book of Seamanship - An excellent reference on how to sail.
• Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia - I'd recommend borrowing a copy before buying. This is the type of book that you'll either love or hate and if you disagree with the author's perspective, there's nothing in it to recommend. On the other hand, you could find it a valuable resource, as many people do.
• Catalogs - you'd be surprised at what you can learn from a product catalog. Some of them have sidebar articles (e.g. West Marine Advisor) which provide good introductory information. I keep copies of the big suppliers: West Marine, Boat/US and Defender handy. I also have a growing collection from manufacturers including the likes of Harken, Ronstan, Schaefer, Garhauer. Anything and everything that I might buy. It makes it easier later on when I need a part number. If you don't want to be terribly weighed down, most respectable marine chandleries will have a rack of catalogs available for reference.
• Product documentation - I never throw anything away that came with a part. It has saved my bacon on several occasions. It doesn't help to leave them at home if you need to refer to the rebuild or tuning instructions several days out. Remember my perspective: I plan to be completely self-sufficient.

  Food

• West Coast Seafood Recipes
• Cruiser's Handbook of Fishing - Scott & Wendey Bannerot. The Bannerot book shows and tells you how to fish without spending hundreds of dollars on gear. They have obviously "drug a line" many nautical miles. I like this book inspite of the fact that it's a bit pricy (at $34.95 list) and rather thick.

  Maintenance, General

• Nigel Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual - aka "Calder" aka "The Bible" If you only have one book on board, this is it. It covers almost every major mechanical system on your boat, with photos and clear instructions. I've read it cover to cover 2 or 3 times just so I can absorb the material.
• This Old Boat - by Don Casey. I'd put this right next to Calder. After you read this book, you'll feel like you can build a rocket ship with toothpicks and bubblegum. If there's one thing to take away from the book is that boot maintenance and repair is not rocket science and you do not need a PhD.
• Inspecting the Aging Sailboat - by Don Casey. While Calder will tell you what to fix, Don's book is more about what to look for. I self-survey my boat every year at the haul-out. It has also enhanced my "eye" for looking at other boats.
• Sailor's Sketchbook - This is an idea book for all sorts of things you can do to improve your sailboat. That is, if you ever get through the "essential, must do" projects. There are several others of this genre, including one from Sail Magazine and one by Don Casey; I'd shop them at your local bookstore and see which ones you like. Also great for a gift to a boating friend.
• Boat Cosmetics Made Simple - The title caught our attention first. It is well written and humorous.

  Maintenance, Diesel engines

• Marine Diesel Engines - also by Nigel Calder. The general book will get you through most day to day maintenance tasks. If you're on your own, or can't find a qualified mechanic, then this is a starting point.
• Your own boat's engine service manual. If you don't have one, you can usually order one. Be sure to get the parts manual, too, for reordering parts.

  Maintenance, Fiberglass

• Sailboat Hull & Deck Repair - by Don Casey, an easily understood book on a complicated subject. If you've got a glass boat, you'll eventually have to repair something on it; a port, rebed a stanchion. Don's book will tell you how to do it right.
• Gelcoat Blisters, Diagnosis Repair and Prevention - Gougeon Brothers. Makers of West System epoxies. A lot of this documentation is freely available at their web site.

  Maintenance, Electrical and mechanical systems

• Living on 12 Volts with Ample Power - This is an advanced book for people who plan to live "off the grid" such as cruisers living on the hook.
• Compass Book - a how to guide on maintaining your compass.

  Maintenance, Rigging

• Rigger's Apprentice - If you talk to a rigger, they'll talk about this book like diesel mechanics talk about Calder: yeah, it's okay, but a lot of it is "wrong." This is a general reference, it is a little tough to read, but after a couple of passes, you'll start to get it.
• Morrow Guide to Knots - affectionately known as "Knots and knotting"
• Splicing Handbook - by Barbara Merry. This book has many useful things to recommed it, but mostly because of one: a long rope-chain splice for marrying anchor chain to rope rode.
• The Ship's Log for Kids - by Sandra Travis-Bildahl. A wonderful log book for kids. Not only are there the traditional spaces for recording location, course, speed etc. There are also pages for recording and identifying marine life and other fun things.
• Canvas Work & Sail Repair - also by Don Casey (can you tell I'm a fan?)
• The Complete Canvasworker's Guide - by Jim Grant
• Sail & Rig Tuning - by Ivar Dedekam. This book (booklet almost) is a fine learning and quick reference tool for any sailboat. It's color pictures clearly explain each topic.

  Medical

• Where there is no doctor - This book was written for people living in the third world, but it applies to cruisers.

  Navigation

• Navigation Rules for International and Inland Waters - aka COLREGS. Required on board for all vessels 12 meters or more in length, but everyone should be familiar with them. I paid $8 for my copy. At 70 pages, it is not a heavy read.
• USA Chart No. 1 - Symbols Abbreviations and Terms. This is the complete reference to all symbology on nautical charts in the US. At $2.50, a bargain. DMA Stock no. WOBZC1
• One Day Celestial Navigation - A fairly direct book about navigation that old fashioned way. GPS's may fail, batteries may die and the radio will refuse to work, but as long as you have a sextant, a clock and set of tables, you can figure out where you are. Most people buy this and tell themselves they'll learn how to use it once they are "out there." As good an excuse as any I've heard. It would be better if you learned before you left the dock, though.

  Weather

• Instant Weather Forecasting - a basic "flip book" of cloud types with associated weather patterns. A useful hint to general trends.
• Mariner's Weather Handbook - recommended by others, I haven't read it yet.
• Fastnet, Force 10 - Worth the read for the lessons learned, but read something fun by Tristan Jones immediately afterwards or it is a great way to scare yourself out of blue water sailing.
• Heavy Weather Sailing - A classic, recently updated (October 1999). You might even be convinced that you can survive on more than just luck.
• Drag Device Database - The authoritative reference on using parachutes, sea anchors, drogues etc. with case studies. The use of these devices is not without some degree of risk, and it helps to research what the options are before making your choice. Essential material before investing in ~$2,000 worth of equipment that you'll hopefully never use.

  Cruising

• World Cruising Routes and World Cruising Handbook - If all you want is a routing reference, then the handbook is probably all you need. You might be able to borrow a copy from a friend or your local yacht club.

  Cruising, California

• California Guide to California Channel Islands - by Brian Fagan. Where to go (where the crowds aren't).
• Cruising Guide to San Francisco Bay - The guide I use to places inside the Gate.
• Latitude 38 magazine - okay, so this isn't a book that you can add to your library. Latitude is one of the best of the sailing rags on the West coast and the newstand price is $0.00, which is just right for the cheapskate sailor. Stock up on past issues before your next cruising adventure, ex patriots will trade beer and other essentials for word from back home.

  Cruising, Mexico

• Charlie's charts of the western coast of Mexico - an essential chart guide
• Baja Boater's Guide - by Jack Williams. Be careful, you want the boaters guide. There is also a Baja guide for the land based among us. Volume II covers the East coast of the Baja.
• Mexican Slang - This book is good to have so you'll have some chance to know what people are saying about you.

  Inspiration, recreation and motivation

• Saga of a wayward Sailor by Tristan Jones. Every cruiser should lay in a library of books for nothing more than sheer enjoyment. Tristan Jones is required material
• Sailing Alone Around the World - Arguably the first solo circumnavigation and a ripping good yarn. Joshua Slocum has been the inspiration for thousands to go to sea "just because."
• Anything by Jimmy Buffet. Man can not live by the written word alone. Turn up the tunes.
• My Old Man and the Sea - A father and son sail around Cape Horn. My brother gave it to my father and my father gave it to me and now I'm giving it to you.
• Anything by Bob Marley. Get Legend if you don't have it.

In association with