Customer Reviews

Tricks of the Trades

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

 

 

I loved this book! Absolutely the *best* I've yet read for a more mature cruiser. Written by the author of Gentleman's Guide to Passages South, "Tricks of the Trade" is an amalgamation of the wisdom Van Sant has accumulated over the decades afloat. You see, so many of these boating books seem to be written for physically fit 30-something's with far more stamina than I have -- oft times I've felt overwhelmed by what seems the norm for these kids.

[Oh, I enjoyed Bill Bradley's book "On Board With Bradley" for liveaboard boaters that marina hop... that is a good book too.] However, "Tricks of the Trades" has earned a place aboard and has become a much used reference. Gosh, it's like having the captain sitting a spell and explain things to me, his willing to learn audience.

Bruce Van Sant is an older gent, and I find his insights invaluable as far as coping with my own declining physical strength and more -- heck if it's not falling apart, it's not mine! (laughs) His advice is practical, versus pie-in-the-sky high-$$ solutions that may work, or might break down and cause serious problems. His suggestion for anchor raising makes such clear-as-a-bell sense one wonders why it isn't standard advice... and for the record, I intend to be a two cuppa. (smile)

I suspect his theories on boat repair will become my own as well. His experiences rang true, and I think his methods will work for me. Practical advice -- I like it and agree with most of his conclusions regarding repairs.

The section on weather I still have not yet fully internalized. It's complicated -- not something I could read once and understand immediately. That's okay though, as I'm keeping my copy of this book.

I don't know that I agree 100% with his views mind you, but there is a lot of wisdom found within the pages of this book. I'd recommend purchasing -- and would go so far as to suggest you pay retail!

Tricks of the Trades: A definite keeper.

The author has a wonderfully informative and easy to read style. The book is packed with real golden nuggets of cruising / liveaboard information. Insights into human nature and societies and their application to a cruising lifestyle are unique and valuable.

Fellow Sailors:

Please don't waste your money on this latest book by Van Sant!

Let me explain. This book is a MAJOR rehash of Van Sant's earlier "Gentleman's Guide . . ." but does not contain nearly as much. If you don't have his Geltleman's Guide, then buy that. Van Sant is VERY knowledgeable and if you can stand for and get by his pompous tone and condescending egocentric attitude(s)telling you how great he is, you will learn a great deal. My trick was to read until I started muttering to him while I read, and then put the book down for a while. I am glad that I bought the earlier book and got through it. I regret buying this one but I thought it would cover new material.

Smooth sailing!

You can't judge a book by it's cover! I thought this book was about weather and tides... what I GOT was a cross-section of extremely valuable and COMPREHENSIVE information! From gettings prescriptions filled in a foreign land to how to provisions a boat... this author doesn't mince words, but goes RIGHT to the crux of the discussion. Absolutely invaluable.

If you are making a passage sailing or motorboating into the Caribbean then you need to have this book. This is the bible about how to do things and where to anchor. Amazing amounts of salty experience in this book..

Good reference Book. Not an easy read. Binding was also very poor and fell apart on the boat in a very short time