Customer Reviews

The Complete Anchoring Handbook: Stay Put on Any Bottom in Any Weather

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am finding this book very useful as I prepare a 44-footer for extended cruising; with its focus on the subject, it is the first reference I reach for when making decisions about the myriad challenges of hook and rode. The writing is friendly, yet the content is deep and obviously the result of considerable on-water experience.

Another reviewer complained that it is opinionated and biased... but what anchoring discussion isn't? This is a subject fraught with peril and colored by lore, and all the authors of anchoring chapters in the major cruising books have grown accustomed to the tools that have worked best for them. As with any complex subject, you have to assimilate recommendations from multiple perspectives, filter according to your own needs, selectively toss out a few extremes, average the rest, and apply the resultant to your own situation only to tweak it over time as you continue to learn. There is no single right answer.

I don't believe any book on a subject this rich can be truly "complete," so perhaps the title is a bit ambitious... but this book does get very close to covering all the issues and thus occupies an exalted spot in my boat's limited shelf space along with Calder, Roth, and Vigor. It reflects the experiences and personal opinions of the authors, but that's fine with me... I respect their wisdom, and any endorsements are presented in the larger context of appropriate tools for different environments.

It's also a fun read, which is not an easy thing to accomplish in a book that has to grapple with scope calculation, holding grounds, chain handling, and other dry subjects. I've had a number of "aha" moments while reading this, and find it enjoyable enough to curl up with on occasion.

Recommended.

I found this to be an informative book. I would disagree with the reviewer who is claiming that the authors of this book are trying to sell a particular design. His claim that the Rocna anchor is not featured as a superior anchor compared to older designs is plain false. Much of the information in this book can be found on the internet, or is at least backed up by online sources. That said, I felt the book could use some re-structuring. I would also have liked some more detailed information. Many questions on using stern anchors, and Bahamian anchoring remain unanswered.

Rarely do authoritative books of this quality come along. Both the science and the art of anchoring are captured in a very readable way. The book contains valuable information useful to the experienced mariner but will not leave the novice behind.

To keep the information from becoming too encyclopedic, the history and lore of anchors and anchoring are carefully woven in both the text as well as the graphics.

This is a real word reference, useful for all levels of expertise.

I find this handbook quite convincing. And I learned a few new things about anchoring that I will bring with me to our boat.

This is a very useful book on a subject that one never knows completely and every boater/sailor has an interest in. It is a bit weighty and oriented more toward the European cruising conditions. For a very readable resource, try also "Happy Hooking. The art of anchoring." Alex and Daria Blackwell provide loads of up-to-date information on all the newest gear as well as summaries of independent evaluations. It's also probably the only book to deal with the often amusing and occasionally consternating subject of anchoring etiquette. [...].

After a couple of worrying anchoring experiences in the mediteranian sea I decided to dig into the topic of anchoring. Immediately after starting to read this book I recognized how valuable it is to really understand the mechanism of anchoring. Everybody who often relies on his ground tackle should try to optimize safety and read this book. As a physicist I was not much irritated by the formulas in this book but everybody who does not like this should just take it as a sign of seriousness and should just concentrate on the conclusions and great recommendations.

I used to toss an anchor overboard without much thought about how and where it lodged. But no longer. In Complete Anchoring Handbook, the lore, the engineering and the art of anchoring are woven together in a fascinating read. I highly recommend it for all but the most committed of tossers.

As a life-long boater who now works for boat manufacturers, I recommend "Complete Anchoring" an essential reference (and an enjoyable read) for everyone who wants to sleep well while at anchor! Within the first few pages, it becomes clear that safe and proper anchorage is much more than adding chain to your line, playing out as much as you guess to be "about right," and crossing your fingers. "Complete Anchoring" gives all boaters the guidance they need to KNOW what is "about right," and provides it in a simple and authorative format. The authors live what they write, having cruised the world for years. No matter how many years one has on the water, this book will be a welcome addition to your chart desk book rack.

with only a quick look and a little read time I'm impressed with their tack to the subject matter
very comprehensive

This is my first review.As Amazons knows,I brought a lot of books about boats.I can't agree with one who gave this book one star.He was unfair.This is a very good book.It shows all things properly,without trying to induce you in buying any kind of anchor.I'm not interested in this or that,but I can't see this without saying the truth.