Customer Reviews

The Complete Trailer Sailor: How to Buy, Equip, and Handle Small Cruising Sailboats

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a trailor sailor for many years, and have bought most of the books of the subject over the years. This is the most comprehensive book on CRUISING trailor sailors to come out. It brings the problem of big trailor sailors that are very difficult to trailor and launch to the fore.


One warning, the displacements listed at the end of the book are those provided by the manufacturers. They usually do not include the weight of trailor, sails, mast/boom, equipment,and are often still faked lower than they really are. For example, I looked at the Telstar last year which is listed in the book and by the manufacturer as 3000lbs, but owners had taken theirs to commercial scales and measured them as being close to 7000lbs. This goes for most of the boats listed.

The hands-down BEST book for the new sailor, or even the experienced sailor looking to downsize. Couldn't have done it better if I'd have written it myself... actually, I did write it myself. But it's still pretty good, even though this is the most biased review you'll ever read. AND it's the only sailing book that has a guest appearance of the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannaugh from Monty Python's Holy Grail- BG

I really enjoyed reading this book. Lot's of good information that will help you with your new boat. In the back of the book he lists different sailboats that are trailerable. I wish that he had more detailed information about each boat and maybe listing the pros and cons of the different designs.

But overall a good investment in your quest for buying a boat.

On trying to learn sailing and preparing to buy my own small sailboat, I've been reading every book I can find. The Complete Trailer Sailor stands out as the best by far, not just for trailerable sailboats, but for sailing in general also. The author, Brian Gilbert, is an excellent writer and brings a wealth of well researched information mixed with practical experience, and an occasional nice touch of humorous wit. Gilbert covers the full spectrum in this book including some details which would have never registered on my radar to be aware of such as the effects of galvanic corrosion, and the safety aspects of the trailer's wheel bearings. This book is worth far more than the cover price.

I started out with a dream about sailing and just a smattering of knowledge about boats. I absolutely HAD to have a sailboat. (My Homeopath spent hours looking up the symptoms in her "Materia Medica" under "Wants to sail a boat." Her remedy was, of course "Buy the dang sailboat already!") So I spent weeks and months scanning the want ads, haunting the forums, reading books, reading, reading, reading and finally found something that would fill the bill: A used 1987 26 foot MacGregor. Good boat, but Oh I wish I'd had Brian Gilbert's book back then. There was a lot to fix up, and a lot I should have considered before I bought. I started feeling like a failure because I was spending more and more time just getting the boat ready to sail, and no time on the water.

But I was fortunate. Why? Because back then Brian Gilbert was also fixing up a real wreck of a boat back in Tennessee, writing a book about the process at the same time, and sharing his knowledge, photos, and experiences on a popular forum that I was subscribed to. It was a lifesaver (and not the PFD kind).

That first book was finally published and was titled "Fix It and Sail It", about his experience re-habituating a MacGregor 22, and it detailed the processes, tools, and techniques that he used.

Over the years, Brian and I corresponded about numerous boat-related issues, and I read the articles that he published in the magazine Good Old Boat. He sold that first Mac 22 and bought the next one: A Montgomery 17 that needed some TLC. I too was also looking for a different (smaller) trailer sailor, and we had a number of exchanges about what makes the best trailer sailor for different folks. As time progressed, the kindness of this author in discussing and sharing the various requirements and needs of different sailing environments truly impressed me.

Oh, if only I'd had a book that could have helped me understand when I had bought my first boat. There's an old saying that "owning a sailboat is like standing under a shower watching your life savings go down the drain." Trailer sailing isn't exactly like that, but it's a fear that recurs a lot for a new sailboat owner.

"The Complete Trailer Sailor" is the book that I needed back then! It's well researched and tempered with real-world/real-water experience. Brian has training as a blacksmith, so he's focused on getting things fixed properly, efficiently, and cost-effectively. He's a very cost-conscious sort of guy. (He's done excellent reconnaissance on where to get the best deals, what are the best, inexpensive tools, and how to make-do with what's in the toolkit.) It's for the trailer sailor, not the hotsy-totsy yacht owner, and it's especially for the person who wants to sail, but hasn't yet had the experience of "standing under the shower."

"The Complete Trailer Sailor" is just what my Homeopath should have prescribed BEFORE I bought my boat.

It's a real classic and a real gift to someone with the affliction "Wants to sail a boat."

Length:: 0:29 Mins

I am Jeffery Stockdale, a novice sailor who sails in North East Florida. I love to read, write, camp and sail! My passion is hanging out with my grandchildren!

Unless you think you know everything about sailboats, this is a worthwhile purchase. I have sailed Trailer Sailors for over 20 years. I wish I had books like this back then. Definitely a recommended reference. Well written, easy and enjoyable to read.

Very informative, clear, and easy to read. Read his other book, "Fix it and Sail" as well. Both are recommended for the novice sailboat owner.