Hand, Reef and Steer [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Tom Cunliffe (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Tom Cunliffe has written a delightful book, one that gives most of the specific knowledge required to rig and sail a gaff-rigged boat safely and successfully. -- WoodenBoat, January/February 1993

Product Description
In this age of high-tech sailing craft and standard production designs, a number of sailors have decided to go back to traditional designs or to renovate older wooden boats. This is the first book to be published in many years which covers the essential handling and maintenance techniques for traditional gaff rigged boats.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sheridan House; illustrated edition edition (January 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0924486406
• ISBN-13: 978-0924486401
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,012,975 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A source for how-to and review of the gaff rig. Very good., October 21, 1998

By	Wayne Saewyc ([e-mail]) (Viking, MN, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

Mr. Cunliffe is a good writer, and spins a fine yarn. In _Hand, Reef, and Steer_ he does a fine job of explaining the theory of the gaff rig, and most importantly he gives a hands-on review of how to make the rig work.

To say he's written the final word, a perfect work, would be stretching things a lot. This book deals almost exclusively with East-Coast English vessels, with only minor nods to Scandinavian and American developments and variations and none to other rigs. A personal plaint is the short shrift given to the una, cat, rig. The book concentrates on the cutter rig, for very good reasons, but the cat has some special considerations which are not discussed.

Over all, I have not found any other book with as good a description of how to get the rig up and pulling.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it while you can, December 4, 2003

By	Ryan McNabb (Ooltewah, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Hand Reef and Steer: Traditional Sailing, Skills for Classic Boats (Paperback)

This and the other great book on gaff rig, Leather's "Gaff Rig Handbook" seem to take turns being unobtainable. Grab both while you have the chance. Cunliffe's is the easier of the two to read, with more modern illustrations and color photographs. The text is not so dense, not so richly detailed, but don't sell it short - it contains a tremendous amount of information. Cunliffe covers all the bases, explaining why gaff rig is so incredibly practical, efficient, and safe, why it was so highly thought of, what led to its demise. He covers all aspects of sailing, sail handling, heavy weather tactics, all in a highly readable and enjoyable style. This is a user's manual for working gaff rig, one that will make you ache to be out there. Plus, hopefully, it will lead to the building or restoration of more gaff rigged sailboats, which can only make the world a better place.

If you are new to gaff rig and want to rapidly become a hopeless devotee, then get Cunliffe. Once you are a lost soul and there's no hope for you, get Leather to fill in all the detail you'll be thirsting for.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valuable source for gaff rig..., August 11, 2000

By	Yalcin Savas (FOCA, IZMIR Turkey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was traying to design a gaff rig for my boat and seeking for sources which were very few about gaff rig. Then, on the "spartalk" of Brion Toss's web page, Brion has advised me this book including a couple of others indicating the Cunliffe's book as the best. About two weeks later following my order through the Amazon's web page, a sac containing the book delivered to me and it was one of the happiest days in my life. It was the first book I had on gaff rig and I used it a lot for designnig the sail plan and rigging of my boat. It does not only provide the gaf rig details on the running and standing rigging, spars and sails, it also gives many valuable technics on how to handle a gaff rigged boat. I can only criticise that the book is mainly depended on cutter though the other sail plans are briefly given and even about cutter, alternatives arrangements are not discussed. On the other hand, given drawings are very well prepared and very detailed. I can advice this book to every one who seek information about gaff rig and sailing with a gaff rigged boat. But if you have to invest only one book you may find more variable information on Letter's Gaff Rig Hand Book.