The Practical Encyclopedia of Boating: An A-Z Compendium of Seamanship, Boat Maintenance, Navigation, and Nautical Wisdom

"Vigor is one of the finest boating writers of our time."­­Cruising World

Boating encompasses an impressive array of disciplines, and every sailor or powerboater worth his or her salt is, by turns, a seaman, navigator, mechanic, electrician, painter, carpenter, meteorologist, medic, cook, and even, on occasion, a diplomat. Which is why it is so surprising that, until now, there has been no single-source reference to which a mariner could turn for practical, up-to-date information in all these areas.

The Practical Encyclopedia of Boating is the first guide to all practical­­and many theoretical­­aspects of recreational boating under sail and power. From seamanship to maintenance, navigation to boat design and construction, nautical lore and esoterica to the science of how things work, this handy reference gives sailors and powerboaters quick access to just the right amount of information needed to answer most questions and solve most problems.

John Vigor has been sailing more than 40 years in boats ranging from 11 to 72 feet, logging 15,000 miles of ocean voyaging. Born in England, he emigrated to South Africa as a boy. In 1987 he left South Africa in a 31-foot boat with his wife and son and sailed to a new life in the U.S. A journalist, he has written for major metropolitan newspapers in Britain, South Africa, and the U.S., and contributes articles to Cruising World, SAIL, and Yachting Monthly. He is the author of five other books, including International Marine's Practical Mariner's Book of Knowledge, The Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat, and Boatowner's Handbook.