Saturday Spotlight | Sailing Book Reviews

In addition to the usual blog posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday about our eccentric travel adventures and day-to-day life living aboard a sailboat, I also occasionally post on Saturdays, focusing on things related to writing such as cover reveals, book launches, reviews, interviews with authors etc. So if you're a bit of a book nerd like I am, check in on Saturdays - you never know what might pop up.

****

Today, I'm featuring reviews of three sailing-related books....

HOW NOT TO BUY A CRUISING BOAT | by Deb and TJ Akey

>>How Not to Buy a Sailboat<< is a great resource for anyone who is thinking about buying a cruising boat. The authors candidly share their experiences, both the good and the bad, so that aspiring cruisers can benefit from their hard-earned lessons. I've followed Deb and TJ's blog for years and always admired their practical, down-to-earth, and accessible writing style, which is also reflected in their book. You'll feel like you're sitting down with them over sundowners while they share their adventures and misadventures and give you tips and advice on what to do and, more importantly, what not to do when looking for a cruising boat.

Deb and TJ take you through the nuts and bolts of the buying process from considering a “for now” boat to learn on; identifying what type of cruiser you are; what to look for in your cruising boat; dealing with brokers, sea trials, and surveys; maintenance considerations; and when to walk away. They also share some of their favorite blog posts which give you insight into the personal realities inherent in the cruising lifestyle. 

Find out more about Deb and TJ and their book at Amazon | Goodreads | Website  

GET RID OF BOAT ODORS | by Peggie Hall

There are a lot of challenges involved in boat ownership, one of which is getting rid of the stink that can often emanate from the head (bathroom). >>How to Get Rid of Boat Odors<< is a comprehensive guide which covers the ins and outs of marine sanitation systems, including how to get rid of those unpleasant odors. 

I have the dubious honor of being in charge of our marine sanitation system (we have a Jabsco manual twist and lock toilet and a 25 gallon holding tank). To date, I've only had to deal with minor issues, like replacing joker valves, but, inevitably, something is going to go terribly wrong one of these days and I'm sure this book will come in handy. The author covers a wide range of topics including what's legal in terms of marine sanitation systems in the States; different types of systems; installation of a new system; common issues and troubleshooting; maintenance; and, of course, how to deal with those pesky odors.  

Find out more about Peggie and her book at Amazon


VOYAGING ON A SMALL INCOME | by Annie Hill

Once upon a time, we stalked Annie Hill. Okay, it wasn't the real kind of stalking, you know the kind that gets you a restraining order. We knew that Annie had a sister ship to the boat we had in New Zealand (a Raven 26) and when we were making our way to Whangarei, we spotted her moored on the river. We waved like crazy people at her and she was kind enough to wave back. 

Here's what her boat, Fantail, looks like. If you look closely, you can see that she's converted it to a junk rig. After reading >>Voyaging on a Small Income<<, I want a junk rig too.

>>Voyaging on a Small Income<<does exactly what it says on the tin – if offers practical tips and real-life examples of how to live and cruise on a sailboat on a modest budget. But it also does much more, providing insight into Annie and (her then husband) Pete's early days in their marriage and cruising life in Britain, the building of s/v Badger, and their day-to-day life on board her.

Annie shows how it is possible to have a rich and fulfilling life while living frugally. She covers a range of topics including a frugal mindset and philosophy; provisioning and cooking; different types of rigs; organization of space in a floating “tiny home”; anchoring and more. Although >>Voyaging on a Small Income<< was first published in 2001, the lessons Annie shares on simplifying your life while cruising are timeless.

You can read more about our adventures making our way to Whangarei here. 

Find out more about Annie and her book at Amazon |  Goodreads | Website

Note: I won copies of >>Voyaging on a Small Income<< and >>Get Rid of Boat Odors << courtesy of Saving to Sail (a site dedicated to learning how to make money online, while sailing the world) and voluntarily chose to leave an honest review. 

****

Image via The Graphics Fairy

Have you read a good book lately? One of the best ways you can thank an author is to leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. One of my New Year's resolutions is to try and be better about leaving reviews, especially for indie authors.

What books have you been reading lately? Have you read any of the sailing books featured here today? Do you leave book reviews?

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi