Deb and TJ (who have the most excellent "The Retirement Project" blog ) sent me a copy of their new book "How Not to Buy a Cruising Boat" which, as it happens, is also now available as a KINDLE book.
Now, as a general rule, Im not a big fan of what passes for "How-To" books of the sailing/cruising variety these days. The problem is theyre either just rehashed clones of books that are already on my book shelf or a concoction of recipes of how to throw money at stuff and buy needless shit. So, Ill be honest and admit I wasnt exactly excited by the prospect of reading HNTBACB if it was the same old same.
So, heres the short form good news... Its a good book and if you are currently thinking about buying a sailboat to go cruising its a must read.
The reason its good is that they did all of the right stuff were told is needful and still had problems. Which is not to say they did not make some mistakes along the way as well but they had the good sense to learn from them. A surprisingly rare trait in writers dispensing advice of a nautical nature.
Take their issues/problems with some marine tradesmen...
They dont like surveyors. Point of fact; this state of affairs is contrary to most everyones advice on how to buy a boat. The current accepted carved in granite mindset is that whenever buying a boat you MUST GET A SURVEY! As it happens, I know quite a few surveyors but, then again, I have been known to travel in rather unsavory circles from time to time so hardly surprising. Fact of the matter is that all but one of the surveyors I know are either crooks, incompetent, or a mix of the two... Would I have a beer with them? Sure (though Id keep my hand on my wallet while Im doing it). Would I trust them to survey my own boat or a friends? Hell no! Well, actually, if I needed a survey that said my boat was in great shape and worth a shitload of money so I could defraud an insurance company I might (I hear the current going rate for this sort of service is 15% of the take).
Their input on other marine "experts" is also very good.
I have one niggle with the book (which had me throwing my virtual book against the virtual bulkhead several times) which is that some standard false comparisons that everbody uses crept in (the worst being their table comparing dinghies). I also took some issue with their measurement of needed HP for a given boat. That said, they are minor issues.
All in all, it is a very good additon to my book shelf and one Ill be recommending to folks right along with Fatty Goodlanders "Buy, Outfit, & Sail" and Geoff Packs "Blue Water Countdown".
Listening to some bottom line stuff
So it goes...
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