Customer Reviews

Voyaging Under Power

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great book covering many aspects of go-slow, go-far boats: what to look for, how to test salesmen, how to check some basic designs, what to do while underway and how to do it, routines, etc with lots of personal examples. If you are interested in this topic and what it requires, this book is just about a "must." My only complaint, and I've only seen the 3rd edition, is the book smacks of Nordhavn advertising. Don't get me wrong, I've been on both the Nordhavn 40 and the 46, and they are unbelievably good boats. Personally, I like the 40' better even if it wasn't $120,000 cheaper than the 46: one head (if they aren't friends, don't let them on your boat!) with more headroom, better engine room, appears to need less elbow grease given the more industrial trim, and (personally) I like her looks better. Robert Beebe may have built Passagemaker for $43,000 in 1962. Nordhavn wants $429,000 for the 40 and $549,000 for their 46. The kicker? They suggest you tack on an additional $100,000 in "options" (half of which I don't really consider optional). Also recommend the "Troller Yacht Book" (ISBN 0393047091)

Beebe's Voyaging Under Power set the standard for long distance power boating. Jim Leishman, designer of the popular Norhavn 46 trawler, restates Beebe's thesis that a properly found power boat of 40 to 50 feet is capable of transoceanic travel. Considerations such as hull shape, power requirements, fuel considerations, as well as stablization are dealt with in a professional and easy to understand format. This book is a must is you are considering long distance power travel, or just enjoy the technical aspects that are involved in such an endeavor.

This book is a classic. It debunks once and for all the notion that only sailboats can cruise the the world's oceans. Let's face it, powerboats are easier to handle and more comfortable to live aboard than sailboats. This book shows how even retired landlubbers can enjoy extended ocean cruises and romantic island hideaways. It explains, in great detail, what types of power boats are seaworthy enough to handle an ocean crossing and how they can cruise places sailboats can't. Even if you're just daydreaming about piloting your own boat to those remote sandy beaches, get this book

I had heard this was the best book on the subject of trawlers. The book exceeded myexpectations. While Beebe's original formulas and examples stillwork, I especially appreciated the update, and references to current boats being built.

Excellent!

This is an excellent book for readers who are interested in learning about ocean passages in small motor yachts. Author Robert Beebe explains why these boats are superior to sailboats for comfort and stability, and explains the naval architecture principles that make these vessels his preferred choice for crossing oceans. That might sound dull, but it isn't. The combines practical tips on how to evaluate and/or design boats with basics on seamanship and plenty of war stories to lighten the text. The clear message is that, using this class of yacht, anybody willing to learn the basics of boathandling can learn to become an ocean passage-maker. Whether that's your dream (as it is mine) or you just want to read about it, this is a lively and enlightening book.

Beebe is the grandaddy of long range power boating. Once he retired from the navy, he had it in his mind to pack up his wife and some friends and see the world in a small boat. When he originally planned this, he had intended to sail, but he came to realize that a round-bottom hull, combined with a small diesel engine was actually *more* economical than attempting to sail long distance. Sailcloth deteriorates faster than you can burn the equivalent of diesel fuel in an efficient motorboat. This book contains many interesting technical graphs and suchlike from which a builder can design a craft capable of world travel. It also goes over essential equipment, layout and other things a squid like me would never think of. The modern revisions, unfortunately, reflect a slightly different philosophy from the original: with a heavier emphasis on buying fat, expensive turnkey systems with elaborate onboard electrical systems (electric air conditioning, electric hot and cold runnig water, electric winches, electric blah blah blah). Trawler Yachts, basically: the guy who did the rewrite of the original book (written in the 1960s) operates the Nordhaven company, which makes such $700k pleasure boats.

Although I have never ventured beyond the horizon -- fish for blues out to 25 miles offshore--- I have been fascinated with the modern equivalents of Homer's fabled voyager. This book brings Homer's world-travelling explorer into the 21st century. Make no mistake, this is not a tale of imaginary voyages, but an eminently practical guide for those who would cross oceans
in engine powered craft to experience exotic and beautiful vistas. Of course you need upwards of half a million bucks to spend on a world-cruising seaworthy vessel. Beebe never envisioned the exorbitant cost of the trawler market when he designed his original passagemaker. He did lay out some very methodical formulae and building guides for follow-up vessels. The epitome of the lessons from
the first edition were realized by Jim Leishman, author/editor of the revised edition. His Nordhavn 46, and better, his Nordhavn 62, design are the fulfillment of Beebe's directives.
Unlike another reviewer, I did not find that his revisions smacked of a Nordhavn commercial. He included many other contemporary builders' designs and was fair in his assessments of these boats. All in all, the book is THE bible of offshore and trans-oceanic power cruising. The practical aspects of buying and fitting out a vessel, provisioning it for the voyage, and navigating in mid-ocean as well as in shoal waters, are set out in a lively and clear manner.

The third edition of Voyaging under power is disappointing because it is not the book as written by Robert Beebe, it is ruined by James Leishman. It is basically a different book by James Leishman with extracts from Robert Beebe's original book.

I have not completed this book yet but the portion I have covered is well done. I am looking forward to finishing it.

This is the definitive book on making ocean crossing passagemakers. It is for someone who wants to understand the engineering and design of passagemaking yachts. It is technical, informative and has great illustrations to follow