Baidarka, by George Dyson. The only boat book to include a treefort and a 60 foot kayak. Great, glowing photos. Unique book, multigenre.
The Starship and the Canoe, by Kenneth Brower. About the relations between young kayak inventor, George Dyson and his aerospace inventor Dad, Freeman. Great treefort and atomic rocket program that almost was.
Down Below–Aboard the World’s Classic Yachts, by Matthew Walker. The main reason why this book is included is because the author includes small and simple boats along with the fancy ones. All these interiors show excellent taste, liveability and craftsmanship. Lots of nice inside info on these famous boats, too, old and new.
Tramp
by Michael Krieger. Cruising by crusty old small freighter, that’s the way
to go! Gorgeous book of inside goodies of the seafaring world.
Dove
by Robin Lee Graham. 16-yr-old globetrotting sailor boy inspired my early escapes in 1970’s.
Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi. 16-yr-old globetrotting sailor girl—more recent, modern than Dove.
Saga of Direction, by C. Vilas. Multifaceted story of the rescue of a modest old wood sailboat and Rockwell Kent, the freeloving old Art Deco woodcut artist who used to adventure on it. Great illustrations from many eras of a great, crusty old gaff-rigged ‘pilot cutter’ type of boat.
Topsail and Battleaxe: A Voyage in the Wake of the Vikings, by Tom Cunliffe.
Another fascinating multifaceted story of a boat rescue plus the retelling
and retracing (by sail!) of the Norse Sagas. By a famous boating character
and designer (or something). Boat name: Hirta; it’s been around 100 yrs,
different owners. Type, wood gaff-rigged pilot cutter…
The Last Hero: Bill Tilman, A Biography of the Explorer, by Tim Madge.
About the tough guy who was still putting the hurt to the young bucks at
age 75 aboard his crusty, spartan old wood, you guessed it, gaff-rigged
pilot cutter sailboat. Odd duck who voyaged to remote places in order to
climb. I think he was Scottish and sailed because it was cheap. He also
lived regularly on ‘marching rations’, something few of his young cohorts
could endure. Died recently.
Voyages of the Damn Foole by Tom Mcgrath. Casual, humorous creek-hopping
sailing with many sketches; in a little gaff-rigged boat, of course. Beautiful
cheap little volume.
Now for some titles by Tristan Jones (RIP), the one of a kind Welsh voyager,
chantyman, storyteller, unsponsored, usually impoverished, DIY, ribald global
record-holder…
Adrift
Tristan Jones / Paperback / Published 1992 [The only yachting book to include
homelessness & debauch….] Our Price: $11.96
Save: $2.99 (20%)
Aka
Tristan Jones / Published 1983 [An unusual novel of an around the world
yacht race..and dolphins.]
Ice!
Tristan Jones / Paperback / Published 1995 [Perhaps the best-written of
TJ’s books. Stunning feel for WAVES and ICE. About his recordsail to the
furthest north, in an old salvaged boat.] Our Price: $11.96
The Incredible Voyage : A Personal Odyssey
in 2-3 days
1996 [Candid, ribald tales of cheap, DIY voyaging…] Our Price: $14.36
~
more about this title…
To Venture Further Tristan Jones / Published 1991 [Perhaps TJ’s last
book. He’s an amputee, maybe double, at this point and is rafting across
Thailand with some untouchables–crippled orphans–to show what they can
do. Bizarre, desparate solo effort to help handicappers. Tristan is unsponsored
as usual, as well as literally handicapped himself, but like always nothing
stops him from doing the undoable. His amazing spirit is hard to comprehend
in today’s litigious, tiny world.]
