Offshore Sailing: 200 Essential Passagemaking Tips [Hardcover]

William Seifert (Author), Daniel Spurr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2001

In a book that is sure to become a classic, internationally respected boatbuilder, yacht manager, and delivery skipper Bill Seifert shares his hard-won solutions to a host of boat design, construction, and equipment issues and seamanship dilemmas. Unlike other books on the subject, Offshore Sailing doesn’t just tell readers what to do for safe and comfortable passage making; it shows them how to do it with clear, step-by-step instructions and nearly 200 detailed drawings and photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Anybody even thinking of sailing out of sight of land would want Bill Seifert aboard, whether in person or in print. As he describes what gear and skills count the most, Bill generously calls on his many experiences offshore and in boatyards. Since many of his stories are pretty funny (when they aren't painful), Offshore Sailing is one of the most winning boating books I've read--as well as one of the most helpful."­­John Rousmaniere, author, The Annapolis Book of Seamanship and Fastnet: Force 10

Bill Seifert has sailed 100,000 offshore miles and has thirty years of experience as a yacht builder, racer, manager, and delivery skipper. He has encountered just about everything that can go wrong with every aspect of a boat, from deck to galley, electricals to plumbing, fuel pump to rigging, and he's earned a worldwide reputation as a crack nautical problem-solver. In Offshore Sailing, he shares his hard-won solutions to a host of boat design, construction, equipment, and seamanship dilemmas. He tells you what works and what doesn't, and step by step--with the help of detailed illustrations and photographs--fills you in on what you need to know for safe, comfortable passagemaking.

• Experiencing diesel engine surge-and-die syndrome (SAD)? Tip 132 tells you why it's happening and what to do about it.
• Worried that your bilge pump might not provide adequate pumping power in rough seas? Tip 8 shows you a simple way to measure its true pumping capacity.
• Want to make companionway dropboards lockable from inside and outside? See tip 71.
• Batteries charging too slowly or not at all? Tip 111 tells you how to locate and stop hidden power drains.

About the Author

Bill Seifert was a project engineer at Tartan Marine Company, materials manager at Tillotson Pearson Inc., and a project manager at Alden Yachts. In 1991, he started his own yacht management company. He does prerace seaworthiness inspections for the Marion - Bermuda Race.

Dan Spurr was the editor of Practical Sailor newsletter for twelve years. A former senior editor for Cruising World, he is the author of Heart of Glass: Fiberglass Boats and the Men Who Made Them, Spurr's Boatbook: Upgrading the Cruising Sailboat, and Yacht Style, among other books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (November 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071374248
• ISBN-13: 978-0071374248
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tips to improve your life, both off- and near- shore, March 4, 2002

By 

Lawrence Sterne (Greenwich, CT) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Offshore Sailing: 200 Essential Passagemaking Tips (Hardcover)

Ever slap your head and wonder, "Why didn't I think of that?" Well, there's a good chance Bill Seifert has figured it out and the answer is in this book. But don't misunderstand - this book is not just clever, it's practical, and although the title says "offshore" don't be fooled. The advise here is for all of us, from day sailor to coastal cruiser to offshore explorer. These tips will not only make you a better, safer sailor, they will increase your enjoyment. For example, by following Bill's advise on spring lines and docking I have substantially reduced frustration and tension. And don't leave this book at home! There are 10 pages of recipes from one of the world's best offshore gastronomes.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this one, November 9, 2002

By 

Chris Korody (Playa Del Rey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Offshore Sailing: 200 Essential Passagemaking Tips (Hardcover)

I rarely bother to write reviews, but I have to add my kudos to the others given here. There is a down-to-earth pragmatism in these pages that I haven't found anywhere else. The authors have condensed an extraordinary amount of experience into 200 very succinct tips that cover a broad range of subjects. Many of their suggestions are low tech and can be easily implemented yourself. They have been there, done that and it shows. I am putting this one right next to Dashew, Calder, Sutphen and Leonard to fill in the blanks.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Personal experience with Bill Seifert, June 26, 2002

By 

Nicholas Cannistraro Jr. (Annapolis, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Offshore Sailing: 200 Essential Passagemaking Tips (Hardcover)

Having a copy of this book is the next best thing to actually having Bill aboard. I have had the privilege of knowing and sailing with Bill for over 12 years. While I had sailed all my life, I had never done any offshore work until after I met Bill. His teaching prepared me and my family for the satisfying challenges of offshore sailing. He has sailed with me on 4 Marion-Bermuda races including the 2001 race in which we were first in Class A, and 2nd(by one minute) on elapsed time. He is an excllent teacher and a resourceful boat keeper. He is also an outstanding offshore gourmet cook.(That is another story, maybe even a book.) Many of the tips in this book were generated by his experiences on my Alden 50 cutter, Despedida and on her successor, a new Alden 54 cutter. I would not go offshore without having read this book and having it aboard. With this book, all aspiring to sail offshore, can have Bill aboard.