Chapman Practical Boat Handling: For Every Situation

For sailors and boaters, this handy manual-sized title from the experts at Chapman is the definitive source for every technique that all skippers must know for safe boating.

Even an old hand can learn something new from this guide to handling boats—and novices can’t do without it. Greg Jones and Dave Kelley lay out all the basics, along with the underlying theory, and alert boaters to common mistakes. Whether the craft in question is a powerboat or a sailboat, it’s covered, and the information here could save lives and prevent serious damage. The comprehensive sections include launching and retrieving, docking and mooring, anchors and anchoring, maneuvering, engine trim and trim tabs, rough conditions and dangerous areas, emergency situations, and much more. Real-life anecdotes are used throughout to illustrate what can go wrong, why it went wrong, and how readers can avoid making the same errors.

Greg Jones is a Senior Editor of Blue Water Sailing magazine, and Dave Kelley has won seven Boating Writers International writing awards and was both Editor in Chief and Executive Editor of Boating World Magazine.