"Honey, Let's Get a Boat...": A Cruising Adventure of America's Great Loop [Paperback]

Ron Stob (Author), Ronald W. Stob (Author), Eva Stob (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

This is the story of one couple's escape on a forty-foot trawler cruising 6300 miles and 147 locks around the eastern part of North America known as America's Great Loop. Their nautical ineptitude is evident from the beginning, but pulling from their personal and collective strengths, the authors overcome doubt, a lack of experience, and real and imagined horrors. The odyssey is told the way life hands out its portions -- sometimes humorously, sometimes tragically, but always memorably. The writing is light and appealing, but there is a serious strain running through the book for those who relish history and graphic descriptions of the landscape. Astute and attentive to detail, they chronicled every event and kept an accounting of expenses, equipment and charting. As a result, the appendix is worth the price of the book for anyone interested in learning what charts are needed, information on locks and their fees, details on equipment and the best place to be educated about boating. Both the authors are excellent photographers and the book is eye-catching with color inserts and black and white photographs throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is one of the best stories about powerboat cruising that I have ever read. -- Joseph F. Janson, Seaworthy Publications, Nov. 1998

From the Publisher

"Honey, Let's Get a Boat..." won first place in the Travel Book category in the 1999 North American Travel Journalists Association Awards Competition.

It is hard to find a group of cruising skippers today that doesn't include someone who has just completed, is planning to make, or knows a person who has just made the Great Loop trip. (From Waterway Guide-Great Lakes 1994 Edition article featuring Walter Cronkite)

And there's hardly an issue of a magazine that doesn't include travel adventures of someone cruising America along the water's edge. Every year hundreds of boaters complete the Great Loop Cruise while thousands more dream of doing it in their lifetime. Many wait until retirement, while others bail out at an earlier age to embark on a lifestyle where lawnmowers don't exist and the sun always sets over sparkling water.

Honey, Let's Get a Boat... is for the hopeless romantic as well as the serious boater eager to learn about America's Great Loop (or Great Circle) trip. Honey.... also appeals to the suburban banker and the corporate executive eager to leave their jobs for adventure aboard boats.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Raven Cove Publishing (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966914007
• ISBN-13: 978-0966914009
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Sailing > Excursion Guides
  • #35 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Sailing > Narratives

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you enjoy boats, this book is a MUST buy!, February 21, 2001

By 

Thomas M. Kane (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Honey, Let's Get a Boat...": A Cruising Adventure of America's Great Loop (Paperback)

There is not a day that goes by when I don't eat, sleep, and dream about boats. Whether you're an avid fan of boating or just enjoy a day on the water, "Honey, Let's Get A Boat" is a must read.The Stob's have the uncanney ability to describe every detail in such a way, it makes you feel as though you are on board with them. From one who reads as many boating books as I can lay my hands on, none are written better than "Honey, Let's Get a Boat!"Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. There's only one problem with it though - By the time you're finished reading this book, you'll want to cruise America's Great Loop. Buy the book and you won't stop talking about it!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK, April 11, 2003

By 

"ewhiteh" (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Honey, Let's Get a Boat...": A Cruising Adventure of America's Great Loop (Paperback)

I have a nautical library of over 450 books dealing with all aspects of boating. This is one of my favorites. If you want technical, try Chapman's, If you want to capture the "why" we go boating, get this book.

I have been a sailor all my life, well, except for the Navy, which was powerboating, so to speak. Anyway, I had not heard of the "Great Loop" until I read this book. Now my wife and I will be buying a power catamaran in January of 2004 and starting our own great loop trip. Thank you Ron and Eva Stob. How many books have you read that spur you to spend a small fortune, risk becoming a boat bum, just so you can enjoy the experiences of the author? A precious few I suspect.

It's nice to see so many other people have read and enjoyed this book and I hope you'll be the next one because that way, I'll see you out on the loop along with us.

"Honey, Let's Get A Boat" is fun, it's practical, and it's humorous: what more could you want? A great read!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honey Let's Get A Boat, January 21, 2000

By 

Richard Irwin - See all my reviews

This review is from: "Honey, Let's Get a Boat...": A Cruising Adventure of America's Great Loop (Paperback)

A fine informative book. An easy read that is also entertaining as well as a reference book for many locations along the way. Spelling out restaurants, marinas, anchorages,costs for the trip ,etc.Any boatman or would-be boatman will enjoy this book.