Chapman Piloting & Seamanship

This book Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 65th Edition (Chapman Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling) was recommended to us when we bought our first boat some 14 years ago, and has become a bible for boating to us. We've given it ever since to good friends in need of some fundamental boating instruction, and they all love it. Not all information might be useful for everybody, but everybody will find some valuable information for their specific boating needs and skills. It's fun to read, easy to understand and extremely informative. Two thumbs up!

This is the book all new boat owners should be obliged to have. I bought an earlier version in 1978 when I got my first boat and bought this for my son-in-law on the occasion of his first boat purchase. The book covers every conceivable skill required for safe boating, be it sail or power. Everything from knots to rules of the road to approaching docks to securing in slips to weather to navigation to compass compensation, etc. etc.

Hands down the finest manual on all aspects of power and sail I have seen or used. The last edtion I purchased was about 1980 (50th or so). So much has improvaed and all is both current and relavant must have info for all that ply water with any craft. One can not boat in any form without this manual- its a must have document!

This was the required text in my USCG 6 Pax class. And with good reason. I cannot add to the other reviews, only that any respectable school will use this text. One of the few times I felt I got my money's worth, and then some. A READABLE textbook I will keep & refer to over and over again. There is SO much Cool stuff in this book. Like learning how to drive all over again.

I don't know how you can make a more comprehensive book about boating. I'm new to boating, and I've been asking questions of everyone I meet at the marina and at the stores. When I received this book, I read for an hour and found answers to everything I wanted. If I didn't recognize a term, phrase, or technique I read in the book, I didn't have to leave the book to find it. Knots? It's in here; and it's the most approachable guide I've read. Safety equipment and how to use it? Everything you need to know is here. There's a great chapter on maneuvering, focusing on all the scary bits: at the marina and docking, including casting off and coming back in. The book even includes a section on using ropes and power to turn in tight quarters. Trailering and sailboating are treated clearly, though sailing coverage might be a little light -- I'm a power boater and can't say. The book is continually revised and is incredbily current. There's a chapter on advanced marine electronics, including all the new plotters and GPS systems, and the upcoming radio features. The book doesn't neglect the basics; there's a 40-page chapter on compasses, and plenty of information on observing weather, charting, and navigation. There are colour illustrations throughout, a great index, and a good glossary. Unfortuantely, there are also typographical errors and formatting problems here and there, too. Sometimes, they're enough to make the material confusing or inaccurate. This volume is giant and a bit intimidating, and you probably can't bring it aboard with you. You can't read it in bed, either. If you own a boat, even if you're experienced, I'm sure you can use a copy of this book for reference. If you're new to boating, like I am, you'll have great use for the book and its contents. If you don't own a boat yet, you should buy one before you go to the boat show or the dealership; you'll learn more than your salesman probably knows!