Customer Reviews

This Old Boat, Second Edition: Completely Revised and Expanded

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The second edition of This Old Boat is a more professional production than the first edition. Not that the first edition was bad, on the contrary, it was a good resource, but it had a somewhat hand-made feel about it. The diagrams were freehand sketches and a lot of the information lacked depth. Although it was always a good place to start, it was usually necessary to turn to other reference works (such as Calder's "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual" or Spurr's "Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat") for precise information about how to carry out a certain repair or improvement. However, what it lacked in depth of information it more than made up for with its clear explanations of the "big picture" and Casey's ability to impart a sense of motivation.

This new edition improves on the first by being a good deal larger than the first edition, having information that is more in-depth, and illustrations that are much improved. It is now closer in "feel" to Calder's Boatowner's Manual. It also covers a lot of the information contained in Casey's several short sailboat maintenance handbooks, and to an extent it updates and replaces them. I wouldn't go as far as to say that this is the only book by Casey that you now need to own in order to have all of the information he has previously published, but it is close.

I'm in the process of fixing up a Santana 22, and the first edition of this book got me started on projects from tackling the rigging to electonics to repainting the hull. This revised edition is hugely improved with more and better illustrations, much more content, and way more up to date.

If you've got an old boat, this is the first book I'd buy for maintenance advice.

Wish I had this updated edition before starting my refit--this would have replaced many other individual texts and lots of trial and error work. Simple building-block projects in each section demystify boat construction and accurately impress the simplicity of seemingly complex improvements.

You, yes even you, can actually do many of the things listed in this book if you have the requisite patience. Would definately buy again, great reference even if you elect not to do repairs and improvements yourself so you can understand what your yard is charging for...

The information in this book is great. Lots of excellent detail and any boat owner will find reams of important useful information in it. Five stars for the author. BUT - the printing is hard to read in this edition. Not only very small, but printed in a gray ink on semi translucent paper. What were they thinking? I find it very difficult to read comfortably. Perhaps those with younger eyes will not mind.

This book is a wonderful collection of repair and upgrade tips and techniques for any Good Old Boat. I really like Don Casey's ideas and his style of writing makes this a very enjoyable read.

This Old Boat is encyclopedic. And like when you try to cover everything on all compass points, all at once, your coverage tends to get thin. It's a trade-off, of course, because when you start adding depth to any treatment of any subject, well, you run out of time and room to cover everything else.

Nevertheless, This Old Boat does a good job with generic descriptions, photos and illustrations for many projects, stem to stern. Readers can always supplement their particular research with the Web, forums, or more in-depth, topic specific books.

I've got to hand it to the author for his enthusiastic, if sometimes audacious, confidence in his readers--Yes, You Can Do It! This tenor is certainly not over-the-top or patronizing but well-tempered and mature. Don Casey is a good writer.

This is my first Don Casey book. It hasn't given me cause to shy away from buying others.

OK I have a few of don caseys books, including the original this old boat. Wonderful book, 5 stars.
But to charge 29.67 for the kindle edition makes me wonder who is smoking what. There is no way, other than the desire for greedy profits, that a electronic version of a book should cost almost as much as a hard cover version with its glossy photos and such. No. So why I would like to have this copy, there is no way I would pay that much for it. And since I love the idea of what the electronic book brings to me it is just to bad someone whats to just make a large killing.

A must have for any sail boat owner. Clear instructions on how to identify necessary boat improvement projects and how to tackle them step by step. Numerous illustrations

This really should be called an Encylopedia, not just a book. EXTREMELY comprehensive and thorough. If you have an upcoming boat project, you need to get this book. Do not hesitate or drag your feet.

Go buy it now!

~markb

Exhaustive .. no. Extremely detailed .. no. A good place to start most maintenance projects ... yes. Topics are presented straight forward and the advice is sound. Just one tip could be worth the price. If "Practical Sailor" is recommending it then its worth having on the shelf.