While we're on this topic, do you (or does anyone) know of cruising
books which are NOT written by and for the Crab Crusher Mafia? It seems
like every book I've ever read, even if recently published, starts with
a lengthy discussion about why you must have a boat with all the
characteristics I find unappealing (and often actually unsafe) in a
boat. In my universe, slow and unweatherly are not desirable qualities.


Why are all these writers still living in the 1930s? At best! The
Pardeys are true Luddites, the sailing equivalent of the Amish,
seemingly rejecting anything invented after the ninetheenth century.
And then, of course, given that kind of starting philosophy, the entire
book is slanted in a direction I don't wanna go.

I need an interesting cruising book for the Third Millennium! Ya know,
one that recognizes cutting-edge stuff, like fiberglass and aluminium.
Help!

TIA,

Frank

P.S. Speaking of keeping current, asbestos suits and tinfoil beanies
have been supplanted by nomex and titanium; so get with the program,
Doug! We're living in "the future," a world which is the realization of
the science-fiction books I read as a kid. it's really kinda cool.

Frank wrote:
While we're on this topic, do you (or does anyone) know of cruising
books which are NOT written by and for the Crab Crusher Mafia? It seems
like every book I've ever read, even if recently published, starts with
a lengthy discussion about why you must have a boat with all the
characteristics I find unappealing (and often actually unsafe) in a
boat. In my universe, slow and unweatherly are not desirable qualities.


Why are all these writers still living in the 1930s? At best! The
Pardeys are true Luddites, the sailing equivalent of the Amish,
seemingly rejecting anything invented after the ninetheenth century.
And then, of course, given that kind of starting philosophy, the entire
book is slanted in a direction I don't wanna go.

I need an interesting cruising book for the Third Millennium! Ya know,
one that recognizes cutting-edge stuff, like fiberglass and aluminium.
Help!

TIA,

Frank

P.S. Speaking of keeping current, asbestos suits and tinfoil beanies
have been supplanted by nomex and titanium; so get with the program,
Doug! We're living in "the future," a world which is the realization of
the science-fiction books I read as a kid. it's really kinda cool.

What's a crab crusher?

krj wrote:
What's a crab crusher?

An ostentatiously heavy & old-fashioned cruising boat. It's a mild
pejorative although perhaps it should be a badge of honor for some.

DSK

Frank wrote:
While we're on this topic, do you (or does anyone) know of cruising
books which are NOT written by and for the Crab Crusher Mafia?

"Blue Water Handbook" by Steve Dashew... he's got a couple of other
books out too. A great cruising book ever written is 'Tinkerbelle' by
Bob Manry, not because it gives up-to-date advice but because it
describes how to overcome obstacles in practical unpretentious ways, and
because it is very inspiring.

... It seems
like every book I've ever read, even if recently published, starts with
a lengthy discussion about why you must have a boat with all the
characteristics I find unappealing (and often actually unsafe) in a
boat. In my universe, slow and unweatherly are not desirable qualities.


That's OK as long as you have plenty of baggywrinkle.



P.S. Speaking of keeping current, asbestos suits and tinfoil beanies
have been supplanted by nomex and titanium; so get with the program,
Doug! We're living in "the future," a world which is the realization of
the science-fiction books I read as a kid. it's really kinda cool.

Really? Where's the flying cars, the moon colonies, the two-way wrist
TVs? The future just hasn't been the same since they stopped putting
tail fins on cars, dammit!

DSK

Frank wrote:
While we're on this topic, do you (or does anyone) know of cruising
books which are NOT written by and for the Crab Crusher Mafia? It seems
like every book I've ever read, even if recently published, starts with
a lengthy discussion about why you must have a boat with all the
characteristics I find unappealing (and often actually unsafe) in a
boat. In my universe, slow and unweatherly are not desirable qualities.

Guess you haven't heard of the Dashews:

http://www.setsail.com/store/catalog...red&style=2col





Why are all these writers still living in the 1930s? At best! The
Pardeys are true Luddites, the sailing equivalent of the Amish,
seemingly rejecting anything invented after the ninetheenth century.
And then, of course, given that kind of starting philosophy, the entire
book is slanted in a direction I don't wanna go.

The Pardeys set the bar rather high (or some might say rather low) but
eventually everyone has to be self-sufficient to some degree. So what
is the opposite of the Pardeys? Marina hopping with the radio tuned
to SeaTow?

Ok, Doug and Jeff, you both got me with the Dashews, and there's that
couple who sail a Beneteau First, I forget their names offhand. But
there ain't many.

Doug, Moller keeps trying to "market" his flying car; some (me, for
one) think he's just using it as a way to bilk investors; but you're
right about tailfins! And it's true that I'm still waiting for the
damned moon colony to get up and running!

Jeff, the opposite of the Pardeys is: A fiberglass boat with an
aluminium mast. An engine, so you aren't constantly begging tows, which
BTW is not exactly "self-sufficient." An engine also allows: electric
lights, refrigeration, a f*ing radio, fer gawd's sakes! Buying
ordinary, affordable, off-the-shelf winches, instead of scouring the
world to find obscure, old-fashioned (inefficient but somehow
salty-seeming) cranks. In short, being a sailor instead of a
"nostalgia-ist." Thor Heyerdahl didn't claim to be a "sailor" when he
tried to replicate crossing the ocean on his ancient-design reed boat;
he was simulating/replicating an historical event. Same for the
Pardeys.

"Frank" wrote:

While we're on this topic, do you (or does anyone) know of cruising
books which are NOT written by and for the Crab Crusher Mafia? It seems
like every book I've ever read, even if recently published, starts with
a lengthy discussion about why you must have a boat with all the
characteristics I find unappealing (and often actually unsafe) in a
boat. In my universe, slow and unweatherly are not desirable qualities.


Why are all these writers still living in the 1930s? At best! The
Pardeys are true Luddites, the sailing equivalent of the Amish,
seemingly rejecting anything invented after the ninetheenth century.
And then, of course, given that kind of starting philosophy, the entire
book is slanted in a direction I don't wanna go.

I need an interesting cruising book for the Third Millennium! Ya know,
one that recognizes cutting-edge stuff, like fiberglass and aluminium.
Help!

Even though we don't agree with the Pardey's philosophy, they still
have some useful information in their books. Just ignore the stuff
that doesn't apply.

I also like Annie Hill "Voyaging on a Small Income" in which she
espouses the junk rig. I find the junk rig appealing to read about,
but Bob would never agree. So I just take on board the stuff that
applies. There's a couple of other women who have also written
interesting books and Don Neal has some interesting books too.

grandma Rosalie

Rosalie B. wrote:
Even though we don't agree with the Pardey's philosophy, they still
have some useful information in their books. Just ignore the stuff
that doesn't apply...snip...

Good advice for anything you read!