Customer Reviews

Why Didn't I Think of That? : 1,198 Tips from 222 Sailors on 120 Boats from 9 Countries

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

 

 

Why Didn't I Think of That contains many good tips--and some that can be found in other cruising books and publications. It's value is that they are all in one place and reasonably well organized. The author's writing style, layout and illustrations make for easy reading. It is worth reading and will be a handy reference.

I was a little disappointed in the quality of "hints". Some seem as though they were included just to fill up space on the page.

This is a useful book. As a boat owner, there are of hundreds of little things which would make my boat safer, more fun, more convenient. This book gives me tips, tips,tips, for a better boat and a better time. Some I knew, but its good to see them and start another check list.

This book had maybe 4 or 5 interesting tips, so I can't recommend it, but I do have a tip for you:

If you are thinking of getting this book, my bet is you will NEVER go cruising. Most of you are just fantasizing. Put the darn books down and go sailing in your boat. Forget the cute ideas. Get your rig repaired (not improved), change your engine oil and coolant, oil your teak, BUY SOME NEW SAILS FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, and then go USE your boat. Don't waste your money on modifying the boat. Just get out there and sail it. That's what you bought it for in the first place. Did you know that 90% of all water-makers sold NEVER make a passage?

So, don't worry about a better way to store winch handles or a double bed for your cockpit or even a cockpit awning--if your sails are rags! You shouldn't even be thinking about improving your boat--if your teak is deteriorating. Clean it, repair it, and oil it first.
Thinking about changing your cockpit grating? Don't do it if you haven't changed your engine oil, oil filter, and secondary fuel filter this year. How about the coolant, when was that last changed? How about your halyards, what kind of shape are THEY in?

Go to any marina and see that 10% of the boats are usable, and 90% are deteriorating from lack of maintenance and use. But plenty of them have been "fixed up for cruising!" It is sickening. And then a book like this comes along and throws gasoline on the fire.

Sorry, if this review seems insulting to the 222 sailors on 120 Boats from 9 countries, I don't mean to seem unfriendly, but the title is just too much. The tips aren't that helpful, most of them are things anyone would have thought of, and most of the people who will buy this book should be doing something better with their time, like sailing their boats and doing the minimum necessary maintenance.

I love boats, and I love sailing, and I hate to see them deteriorate, and especially become live-aboard nightmares. Boats should be sailed. If your not sailing your boat, please give it to someone who will.

This is a book of suggested improvements to make sailing and passage making easier and more efficient.

Not as comprehensive as I was hoping for. It definitely has some really awesome tips, but some of the ideas in the book, I don't even know what they are.

This book is about things that are simple and the "why did'n I think of that" exclamation. There is so much solution to various and simple improvement or problems. It is very good. That will be the second book you should have onboard.