Book Review- Self-sufficient Sailor, by Lin and Larry Pardey
by Lee Mylchreest on 26 Nov 2013
Self-sufficient Sailor SW
This book is a reprint of earlier advice, and an update, but don't let that put you off. It is full of ideas and wisdom on how to sail in comfort and safety without large cash outlays, something the Pardeys have been famously promoting for many years. All sailors, whether or not they plan to sail over the horizon, will find valuable insights.
The chapters here, like many of the Pardeys' books, started off life as magazine articles and, yes, they were published many years ago, but that is completely beside the point.
Their advice is timeless because it deals with real knowledge and experience about techniques and material that will never go out of practical use.
Many of the fundamentals of sailing simply don't change. Varnish, sailcloth, kerosene lamps, dinghies, three strand rope, planes and chisels, none of these or the hundreds of other topics will ever disappear from sailing, unlike a long dissertation on LORAN or RDF or epoxy, or other topics rapidly becoming obsolete.
A hundred years from now there will still be sailors on engineless boats with kerosene lamps and sextants, and there will also be many sailors who carry these items on their modern boats, because you never know when a catastrophe can leave you without power or smart instruments and systems fail.
Then it's the sailor who prepared for every eventuality who will survive without trauma. If you want this to be you, this is a book you'll want to check out.
If the book is not available at your local marine book store, you can purchase it at Boat Books Australia by http://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/!clicking_here. It is also available on Kindle.
Alternatively, if you like browsing before you buy, if you are anywhere close enough call in at one of Boat Books stores:
Store Locations:
Boat Books Sydney - Head Office
31 Albany Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
phone: (02) 9439 1133
fax: (02) 9439 8517
boatbooks@boatbooks-aust.com.au
Boat Books Melbourne
214 St Kilda Road
St Kilda VIC 3182
phone: (03) 9525 3444
fax: (03) 9525 3355
melbourne@boatbooks-aust.com.au
Boat Books Brisbane
phone: 1300 BOAT BOOK
brisbane@boatbooks-aust.com.au
Operating online or by phone only.
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