Best Reference Books to Have Aboard

[ralay]

I received a book store gift card for Christmas, and though I read a lot, I almost never buy books new or keep them after reading them.  The exception is reference-type books that are used again and again.  Mona doesn't have much of a non-fiction library yet except for Nigel Calder's Mechanical and Electrical Manual.  Does anyone have suggestions on the best reference books to have aboard while cruising on the topics of repairs, navigation, first aid, weather forecasting, etc.?

[Oldrig]

I'd recommend Don Casey's This Old Boat, second edition.
Also, something encyclopedic, like John Rousmaniere's Annapolis Book of Sailing
There are plenty of others, like a heavy-weather sailing guide. I'm sure more Sailfar members will add to this list.

Good luck,
--Joe

[matt195583]

If you have an inboard engine I would suggest the full workshop manual for that, I have one for my 2GM20 and it has saved me a heap of time and money....... although whether you can get one with your voucher is another thing  ;D

[ralay]

We do have a manual for our 3QM30.   Is a "full workshop manual" something above and beyond the regular? 

[boblamb]

Just got this email from Jamestown Dist.  They have various manuals on sale now.

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/search.do?position=1&refine=1&page=GRID&history=wns2r2p3%7Cother%7CfreeText%7Eseloc+engine+manuals%5EresultPref%7Eall%5Epage%7EGRID%5Euser_att_name0%7EUserType%5Euser_att_value0%7ENewUser&campaign=email012013

[rorik]

A few that I have on board:

USCG Navigation Rules & Chart #1
Storm Tactics by L&L Pardey
Riggers Apprentice by Brion Toss
Sailmakers Apprentice by Emiliano Marino
Weather at Sea by Houghton & Sanders
Marine Medicine by Weiss & Jacobs

[matt195583]

A  workshop manual gives you all the information you could ever need in text and exploded diagrams, where an owners manual or the like will give you basic info like capacity's oil types and other general stuff.

The workshop manual for my engine is A4 size and about 1 3/4" thick.

[marujo_sortudo]

A few that I have on board:

USCG Navigation Rules & Chart #1
Storm Tactics by L&L Pardey
Riggers Apprentice by Brion Toss
Sailmakers Apprentice by Emiliano Marino
Weather at Sea by Houghton & Sanders
Marine Medicine by Weiss & Jacobs

Big +1's on the first four.  Highly recommended.  Haven't read the other two so far, so can't comment on them.  Here's some that made the cut to go cruising with us:

Cooking Under Pressure by Lorna J. Sass (if you have a pressure cooker)
Heavy Weather Sailing by Coles and Bruce
Marine Diesel Engines by Nigel Calder
The Glenans Sailing Manual
Self-Steering without a Windvane by Lee Woas (if you can find it)
The Cruisiers Handbook of Fishing by Bannerot & Bannerot
Celestial Navigation in the GPS Age  by John Karl
World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell
The Complete Book of Anchoring and Mooring by Hinz
Voyaging on a Small Income by Annie Hill
Eric Sloane's Weather Book
Instant Weather Forecasting by Alan Watts

A weather eye will find some of these at a good marine consignment store.  We also have just about everything by Lin & Larry on our iPad.

Beyond that, I have a particular affinity for rigging, ropework, and the like, so we carry these:

Ashley Book of Knots by Clifford Ashley
The Arts of the Sailor by Smith
The Marlinspike Sailor by Smith
The Splicing Handbook by Merry

Also, we carry cruising guides for the areas we're in.  The appropriate USCG Light List and NOAA Coast Pilot is wise, too.  These can be downloaded for free to an electronic device.  Make sure you have a plan if the device fails.