Customer Reviews

Frugal Yachting: Family Adventuring in Small Sailboats

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I got past the first two words of the title (Frugal Yachting)only to be faced with the third word (family). Maybe the rest of the title is what they should have called it: Adventuring in Small Sailboats. I usually avoid things labelled "family", since single folks like me are not welcome in such places, as much as I like kids. But I put all this aside, and with the help of reviews, I thought that this book might be a help to me. I was right. This book is a labor of love by an experienced sailor who shows you most of the boats that would match your interests, spinning yarns, anecdotes, and sailing tricks while he's at it. This book is a treasure. Buy it!

Frugal Yachting captures the essence of the small boat sailor. A truly remarkable book that should be read cover to cover for first time boat buyers and dreamers alike.

Larry Brown has a way of presenting the average sailor's viewpoint. It's more important what you're doing, than what you're doing it in, sailors aren't necessarily rich, and the amount a boat is sailed is inversely proportional to its size.

Included are lots of tips and tricks for cruising in style for minimal cost and in minimal space.

An excellent tribute to all who love sailing, and could care less about Tarzan yells.

Anytime we feel intimidated by big expensive boats in a marina, I just read a few chapters and remember, "Yeah but I'm having as much fun as you (or more), doing effectively the same thing, and am not frightened to leave the dock for fear of a scratch.

Frugal Yachting will always remain a cherished addition to our on-board library.

Frugal Yachting was all I hoped it would be. I learned much that was very helpful to me in increasing my enjoyment of my own small sailboat. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in learning to use their small boat to it's fullest potential, at least, as far as cruising is concerned. This book is very well written, easy to understand and filled with valuable information. Read it!

This book should really be called "Why small boats are more fun!" Brown sagely observes that (1) most sailboats are daysailed, which means most of the sailor's time is spent in the cockpit; (2) a trailerable boat costs a lot less over the years than a boat in a slip, and (3) the simpler a boat is to rig and miantain, the more time you spend actually sailing.

Any sailor is familiar with the typical marina scene: Big boats tied up at the dock, being used as a floating picnic table, as the owner doesn't have the motivation or the crew to actually take her out for a real sail. Or the boat that's motored out of the harbor, parked a mile off shore for use as a swimming and drinking patform, and then motored back in. Or the boat that can only bve sailed from one expensive blue water marina to another becuse of its deep draft.

Brown likes small, shallow-draft boats that can be hauled up on a beach, or at a minimum, anchored near enough for the crew to wade in. He likes gunkholing- lazily exploring little inlets and estuaries where the big boats can't go. And most of all he likes the West Wight Potter, a 14' mini-cruiser that he and his young family sailed for many years. Brown has probably done more for that boat than all the advertising the company has done over the years.

Now there are plenty of people who can buy a 31' boat and afford the slip fees without a second thought, and who don't mind paying someone else to do the maintenance. But there are a lot more people who'd like to sail, but who can't afford paying as much for a boat as they did for the last two family cars. If you're at all interested in sailing, but think you need a big boat with 4 berths, a head, and a galley to enjoy time on the water, read this book; it'll be a revelation.

Love this book. He also published "Sailing on a Micro-Budget" which is basically the same book but available used at a fraction of the cost.
Larry also wrote "Sailing America" which is in the same vein and an excellent read.

Appreciated the down to earth approach to sailboat ownership and adventuring with a sense of enjoyment without feeling deprived. Short and sweet reviews of candidate sailboats to take home and cherish.

...is pretty much disproved by Frugal Yachting.

I first found this book in the library while 'only' contemplating buying a boat, but it enabled me to see that my dream 'wasn't' beyond my grasp.

Listen, I'm not a rich man but despite the dour predictions some made to me - owning my 1981 Hunter 22 sloop Adventure has been a breeze.

On the few occasions that boat owners with their boats in costly slips, ask me where I keep my boat, it's not exactly laughing at someone else's misfortune - but, I 'have', derived a sense of satifaction, that I "dodged the bullet" when I've seen wonder or envy in their faces when I look them in the eye and matter of factly tell them "It's at home on the side of the house."

Cha-$hing!!!

In that instant I see it dawn on them that it shouldn't have been about who has the biggest boat.

It can't be over emphasized the importance and truthfulness of "it's what you're doing (sailing) and not what you're doing it in (the sailboat)".

I too am single but disregarded "Family" in the title of the book. So I hope his book, and my words, encourage others, whether or not they have families, to make their dream come true of buying a sailboat and going off to have sailing adventures. You can do it and you'll see that it's WELL worth it. : )

Nice book to read showing interesting ways and tips to enjoy your small size boat. The photos are a bit "old" but still valid. About half of the book is dedicated to review several boat models and their features. Would like to see a "updated" version of this book.
It was buyed used and arrived in perfect shape and as promissed in Toluca, México.

This book has been the best I bought about sailing so far. I was looking for a book that would give me some guidance on how to start sailing and get my family into it. This book is so nicely written that it's inspirational. Don't expect sailing lessons on how improve your sailing performance from this book. Instead, you will find a passionate author that will tell you how to enjoy a small sailboat with your family. Based on this book and others we bought a West Wight Potter 15 and we are enjoying it every minute. My wife also loved the book because it explains how to get the kids involved so that we all enjoy the adventure. If you like family adventures or if you had your adventures when you were a teen, then you would like the author's approach and he might get you into trying them again but this time with your family. Love it!

That book is the best antidote against the well known cabin envy syndrome. Read it and start spending your money on your house where headroom is really needed. Learn to enjoy your small sailboat or get one and sail away.