Seaworthiness: The Forgotten Factor [Hardcover]

C. A. Marchaj (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1987

A survey of the seaworthiness of modern yacht designs, this book shows how modern yachts often sacrifice safety for speed and other considerations. It explains how ideas about design still need to be changed to prevent loss of life.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For the first time we are offered logical scientific criteria which help us to assess the seaworthiness of (a) boat. -- Practical Boat Owner

The most important work...that has appeared in the English language since the author's magisterial AeroHydrodynamics of Sailing...first class -- The Little Ship --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Tony Marchaj's love of sailing began in his native Poland, where he was national Finn champion. It has continued with involvement in many different research projects, ranging from 12-metre rig design to his technical paper on 'Design for Extreme Conditions', which was awarded the coveted Silver Medal by the Royal Institute of Naval Architects. He now lives at his rural retreat in France. --This text refers to the Print on Demand (Paperback) edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 371 pages
• Publisher: Intl Marine Pub (January 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877422273
• ISBN-13: 978-0877422273
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,460,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A daunting but important classic., October 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Seaworthiness: The Forgotten Factor (Hardcover)

"Seaworthiness" is a daunting but important classic.

Tony Marchaj, an avid sailor and independent aerodynamics consultant, theorizes that the "increased casualities amongst contemporary yachts" is due to modern sailing yacht design, which, he feels, often sacrifices safety speed.

In this book, the author attempts to objectively consider "the design features" which contribute to a sailing yacht truly being seaworthy.

Though the equations are kept to a minimum, they are still there, and--to my poor mind, at least--they are forminable. But Marchaj does a fine job of not only helping you to intuitively grasp the nature of whatever he's speaking about, he uses numerous of graphs.

Also, he offers lots of literary quotes and allusions. This certainly helps those of us who have a more literary bent, but who also revel in the beauty of boats and the sea.

Some of the book's chapters include "Seaworthiness and Safety at Sea," "The Effect of Rating Rules on Yacht Design," "Rolling Induced by Waves," and the very helpful "Survival Tactics" (which includes a section on "Strategy of Sailing in Storm Conditions").

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book takes your basic intuition and applies physics, October 1, 2001

By 

Phineas Sprague, Jr. (Cape Elizabeth, Me USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seaworthiness : The Forgotten Factor (Hardcover)

This book is an absolute must for anyone who loves boats more than they have good sense. If you are a cruiser or a racer or a bar stool sealawyer who has any experience at sea, reading this book will lead you step by step from prejudice and intuition into solid insights into the behavior and performance of the different hull shapes in the real world of "at sea" in difficult situations. There is no substitute for "the experience" except the experience to recognise and avoid the experience and this book is every bit as important in picking a boat for your use or applying good seamanship to a boat that is on the edge of it's design envelope. The book contains the fundimental information that should be in any serious sailor's kit. It reads easily and the insights emphasise the seaworthiness vs speed delemma in yacht design.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unemotional, realistic view of boats and behaviors., November 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Seaworthiness: The Forgotten Factor (Hardcover)

Many people buy boats to satisfy the dream. They are lured by Madison Avenue pitch and the shiney waterbago down the dock. A must read for a studied consideration of an offshore boat for serious cruising.