Customer Reviews

Sailboat Electrics Simplified

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
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I've been wiring cars and motorcycles for 30 years. I also work with microcontrollers and supporting circuity and electronics in general. Somebody suggested that I get into boat electrics and maybe I could help support my cruising kitty (when the time comes) by working on other peoples sailboats. It seemed like a good idea, so I set out learning what I could and to gain some experience. The first thing I did was to buy every book I could lay my hands on on boat wiring and read them from cover to cover. Now that I've wired and repaired a few sailboats I realized that out of all the books I have, only two were refered to continuously while the rest have collected dust. This book is one of them.

First of all, it is a very easy book to read. There is not a wasted word in the whole book. All concepts are concise and easily understood. When you need a diagram to grok a concept, it is there. You can sit down and read this book like a novel it's written so well.

Second, it leaves no assumptions. Sure, I'd like to think I know all things electrical, but I don't. Sailboat electrics is as different from automotive electrics as cake is from pie. I learned about the difference between marine and automotive batteries. I learned about corrosion and zincs. I picked up the concept of sailboat characteristics in a lightning strike. These are the categories that are not covered in automotive books or even in general Electrical Engineering courses.

I think this book should be every boaters first choice in sailboat electrics. I recommend it to everyone who has an interest. If you feel you need even more detail, or equipment-specific knowledge, you can always pick up (my 2nd must-have book choice): Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems.

Between the two, you will have on hand a reference to everything you will need to know.

An outstanding book. I myself knew absolutely nothing about electricity when I first bought this book - although obviously it didn't make me an expert, it nonetheless taught me what I needed to know to start modifying my boat's electrical systems. I admit that I am biased - Don Casey is one of my favorite sailing authors - but if you are a novice and need to upgrade your boat's electrics, this is the book to get.

I have a twenty-five boat with modest electrical needs. This book gave me all the foundational material I needed to start and finish my project but more importantly presented the material in a very readable even entertaining fasion while remaining efficient. Great diagrams, great book, great sailing.

Don Casey is a cruising writer most cruisers are familiar with. His excellent SailNet articles are a must reads. I've read them all, you should too. Mr. Casey really does simplify boat electronics in this easy to understand book that is good for both novice and old salt alike.

Execlent Manual
Note: Don't buy if you already have "Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual" as you will find this manual inside the "big" one.

This is a good example of a book that was carefully written to be understood by a large spectrum of amateur sailors.
I found particularly useful the chapter about the choice of types of batteries.

I started with almost zero knowledge and some fear of all things electrical and a marine starting battery that would discharge overnight. I'd had the battery tested and found good leaving the problem somewhere in the boat's wiring. I got everything I needed to have to fix this problem from this book.

Casey's book had the foundation knowledge I needed to understand the troubleshooting steps and a specific troubleshooting process that enabled me to find and fix the source of the problem. That alone was a huge benefit and probably saved me a couple of hundred dollars.

More importantly, reading the book to solve my specific problem gave me the foundation to approach any electrical problem on the boat. I'm generally pretty handy and now can view electrical troubleshooting as just another thing that I have the confidence to do.

Very, very well written. Good mix between simplicity and specificity. I highly recommend this book and a good multimeter.

Don's approach provides the novice with a very good understanding of concepts, layout and design, installation practices, trouble shooting, etc. A great first place to go for the aspiring DIY'er!

The book is aptly named as it does make sailboat electrics simplified. However, this contents of this book are identical to the electronics chapters in the book "Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual". If you are only interested in electrical systems, this is the right book for you. If you are looking for a more complete sailboat maintenance book go with this book,Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual: Including Inspecting the Aging Sailboat, Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair, Sailboat Refinishing, Sailbo.

With the guide of this excellent book I am improving the electric installation of my sailboat, a 25 feet.
Simple, concise, complete : what I need.
Congratulations to the author.