5 stars (The big book of boat systems) - This book nominally covers everything there is to do on a boat of an electrical or mechanical nature including diesel engines. But the vast majority of the book is on electrical equipment. After all, most of the things on the boat sooner or later wind up being part of the electrical system. Many boats have two electrical systems in parallel. There's the basic DC system, usually 12 volt, sometimes 24. Then there's an entirely separate circuit for 115 volt AC power used when the boat is docked at appropriate places. This book covers it all. The first chapters are on the battery itself and the circuitry around the boat. Then it gets into battery chargers, inverters, wind and water generators, solar cells, everything you ever wanted to know. There are chapters on corrosion, lightning protection, radios and antennas and on and on. About half the book is on purely electrical devices. The remaining half has chapters on engines, toilets, air conditioning and so on, but this also includes a lot of electrical devices such as autopilots, bow thrusters, and so on that may require electrical power. Basically this is the bible on how to fix things on the boat. You'll save a fortune on repair bills, and even more if you're halfway across the ocean. 5 stars (If You Could Only Have One Boating Book, this is the One) - If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only take one CD with you, which one would you take and why? Years ago I used to listen to a program on the BBC that asked famous guests that question, only they said record, not CDs. Well I suppose I'd take Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" if I were in that fix. And if I were to go to sea on a cruising sailboat and could only take one book with me, it would have to be this excellent, well written book by Mr. Calder. It's big, heavy, expensive and if you need it, you'll be glad you have it and you'll think it's worth it's weight in gold. 5 stars (RV Repair Guid... International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Sports & Recreation & Boating :: Nigel Calder :: :: Boatowner-s Mechanical and Electrical Manual
5 stars (Great book) - Lot's of sailing info packed into one book. Covers many different aspects of sailing. 5 stars (Nigel Calder's Cruising Handbook) - Outstanding book on cruising. Written primarily for sailboats, the day-to-day cruising information provided applies to power boaters also. This is one book cruisers should have onboard for quick reference. Nigle is one of today's best marine authors giving clear descriptions of the many boating tasks. 5 stars (A very complete reference) - The strength of this book is its readability. Calder writes very well, and he organizes this book in a way that makes it something one can read from cover to cover. Reading his work actually makes you want to be sailing. His treatment of yacht design is a fantastic walk through the desireable characteristics of yachts for cruising. If you are buying a boat, read this book before you finalize your decision. Calder acknowledges that every boat is a compromise, and he clearly favors traditional design over modern lines (he repeatedly expresses his distaste for wing keels, for example). The book then progresses through different sailing and cruising skills and issues. His discussion of anchoring is one of the best I have seen, and he does an admirable job of explaining marine weather. The one thing to keep in mind about this book is that it is rather "blue sky". He describes the ultimate cruising yacht (which looks remarkably like his own) and tends to overcook some of the concerns with "lesser" designs. Not everyone can afford to have a brand new Pacific Seacraft 40 built for them from scratch, but this is the boat Calder essentially lists as the perfect cruising yacht. ... International Marine-Ragged Mountain Press :: Seamanship :: Cruising :: Sports & Recreation & Boating :: Travel :: Transportation :: Sports & Recreation :: Sailing - General :: Sailing :: Sailboats :: Navigation :: H :: Nigel Calder-s Cruising Handbook- A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors
