American Sailboat [Hardcover]

Gregory O. Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2002

This definitive chronology of American sailboats from 1900 to 1970 provides an in-depth look at the evolution of recreational vessels created by such prominent boatmakers as Catalina, Hunter, Island Packet, Tartan, Morgan, Mason, Cabo, Rico, Dufour, Alden, Oday, Cambria and Hershoff.Archival black-and-white and modern color photography depict the evolution of sailboats and advances in boating technologies and hull designs. All of the key classes are featured, as are famous racing sailboats that influenced the design of production models.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: MBI (March 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760310025
• ISBN-13: 978-0760310021
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,335,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Sailors and Armchair Sailors Alike!, August 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: American Sailboat (Hardcover)

Reading this book was fun AND extremely educational. I was struck by the beauty of the photographs. The author weaves a tapestry about the experience and history of sailing that engages you in a unique manner. He captures the personalities of sailboats as well as those who love to sail them. The intricate relationship between history, economics, human nature and the drive to escape onto the water, comes to life in this well written book. My praise is so high that I have purchased copies for close friends who are avid sailors!

The American Sailor is attractive enough to deserve a place on your coffee table but will most likely end up on your night table while you continually peruse its sparkling prose! It is a fascinating portrait of sailing and sailboats. I loved it!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD READ, June 8, 2002

By 

"cduncan40" (Tijeras, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Sailboat (Hardcover)

The American Sailboat was a pleasant surprise. I was interested in the history of small boats, wanting to find out more about the boats I sailed with my dad and brothers, like the Thistle, Penguin, Lightning, Scotsman, and a no name pram we built in our basement, our first sailboat. I found out it had a name. And the company and designer had a history, too. The chapter about the postwar boom of sailing by middle class folk - that was us. Good writing, outstanding photos, thorough research. The histories of some of the boatyards and people that designed and built for diverse markets was fascinating, like connecting the family sailboat with the economic, industrial, and cultural histories of the U.S. The evolution of the pleasure boat from `working boats' of the seacoasts, Great Lakes, and rivers was a kind of metaphor of American ingenuity. Good chapters on the pleasure and racing boats of the money classes, too, and some of the designers that helped establish and maintain the U.S. dominance in cup racing. This could pass as a coffee table book, which is what I thought I was buying, but I got a good history and a good read.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good story, March 1, 2002

By 

"wxwomanus" (Oakland California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Sailboat (Hardcover)

Our family is all sailors, and we saw the book and bought it. My son, in high school, liked it, and so did his father and I. My son noticed that it's longer than you said it was, 192 pages, but that was just fine as it was a good book. Lots of history, and it told about the boat we sail on, the Snipe class.
We're going to get one for some friends who aren't sailors, just because the pictures are really pretty.