Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing

Customer Reviews

not half bad

2008-08-04
The book has a lot of advise and while much of it may be known to experienced sailors the starters to sailing will probably appreciate everything in the book. I feel that even experienced sailors will find something new or at least be reminded of something useful.

Good primer, but not for a complete novice...

2008-01-18
This book would've been indispensable had it contained simple sketches and photos to illustrate author's point. It would've been nice for a novice to actually see an illustration of different keel designs or pictures of commonly used knots or sail types. As for tips and advice, they are indeed common sense. Will look forward for an updated / revised addition.

Recommended reading

2007-12-26
This is a fun book. The cover does it justice. If you've ever had the misfortune to get wrapped up in the expensive world of boating, this will bring both knowedge and laughter. John Vigor does an excellent job of conveying both his love of this pasttime, and the lessons he's learned over the years.

A great book of sailors' "lessons learned," well worth the price!

2007-10-01
This is a great, easy-to-read book of sailors' "lessons learned," written by a man with much more experience at sea than most of us will ever have. It is not a book intended to teach you how to sail, but one with the intent of telling you how to avoid problems, both on and off the water. It is organized alphabetically, by subject, and the end of the book includes many useful tables, formulas, etc., that you might not easily find anywhere else. It covers various preventive techniques, ways to correct problems if they do occur, and things that merchants and repairmen might never tell you unless you know to ask. I also like that this book includes a fair amount of humor, and that the subjects covered are not all purely technical. Vigor goes so far as to address the phenomenon of "hearing voices" at sea, various superstitions, and even how to rename a boat in a way that doesn't cause it to become unlucky. This is a great little book and is well worth the price

Now they tell me!

2007-05-14
This book is such a complete hoot; also it's full of helpful insights into all the things I wanted to know but was too stupid to ask! It's such a fun to read book that I even read the sections about the stuff I (thought) I already knew - and I'll do it again too. Mr Vigor's writing style is just so friendly and understandable, that it's a pleasure to read and learn from.

In short, you won't regret having purchased this book - it's affordable and fun.

Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing

2007-04-10
There are many frustrated sailors out there and with the baby boomers starting to retire many finally have the freedom to indulge their sailing dreams. This book is intended to guide them. Aimed at sailboat owners of all kinds, this reference book contains 200 entries packed with solid practical advice and valuable tips. The reference format offers the reader opportunities to open the book at any page and browse endlessly. Cartoons by SAIL Magazine cartoonist Tom Payne enliven the text. A comprehensive appendix covers some 50 technical topics.

200 entries which blend humor with solid practical advice

2005-12-09
If you think a serious approach is inherent in a book like John Vigor's Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing, think again: there's no orthodoxy to sailing, and plenty of truths to tell - and Vigor reveals them in 200 entries which blend humor with solid practical advice. From knowing what kind of documentation is needed to sail into foreign waters to renaming or repainting a boat, Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing avoids many pitfalls.

Tidbits from someone who clearly knows his way around boats

2005-12-04
This is an alphabetical listing of boat issues, common misconceptions, followed by the authors opinion on the issue.
He is clearly knowledgeable, but each area is so short you don't get the full benefit. I found myself reading them and thinking, I wish he would have said more about this.