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What books are absolutely essential to have onboard a cruising boat?
We are huge fans of experiences and education as Christmas gifts, and each of these book selections fits that bill perfectly.
Most marinas and yacht clubs have a lending library where cruisers can refresh their night watch paperback libraries, but reference books can be hard to come by. No doubt this is in part because each of us uses them constantly and they rarely leave the boat! We frequently remind our students and clients that when you are offshore, all that you truly have to rely on to solve problems are what's in your brain and what's on your boat. Prepare yourself by learning key skills ahead of time and keep the right reference material onboard. Self-sufficiency will become second nature for you in no time.
Whether you are just starting to prepare for your cruising adventures or are already living aboard and looking to build your reference library in anticipation of departure for distant shores, our short book list has something for you or the cruiser you are gifting. We narrowed it down to the 10 most useful books, plus a couple of bonus suggestions because we just can't help ourselves.
The only one that may take a little sleuthing to track down is the very last bonus book, but we can help you with that if you're keen to purchase the ultimate awesome reference book for life aboard.
We do not earn any commissions from these authors. We just love them a lot, and encourage you to purchase from wherever you choose.
Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual
Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual
Nigel Calder's all-in-one maintenance and repair manual is truly the #1 book that all cruiser's eventually come to rely on. There is no substitute for this dense and informative text. Julie actually used it as her textbook during her time in marine electrical trade school! If you are new to learning how electricity works, this will seem like an unapproachably complex book, but don't be discouraged. You will work up to it and ultimately find it to be your best friend when the boat gremlins strike. Get it on Amazon here.
Nigel Calder's all-in-one maintenance and repair manual is truly the #1 book that all cruiser's eventually come to rely on. There is no substitute for this dense and informative text. Julie actually used it as her textbook during her time in marine electrical trade school! If you are new to learning how electricity works, this will seem like an unapproachably complex book, but don't be discouraged. You will work up to it and ultimately find it to be your best friend when the boat gremlins strike. Get it on Amazon here.
Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair
Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair
Another stellar text by Nigel Calder, this one was the course textbook for Gio's diesel engine classes in trade school. We haven't found a better reference for learning and understanding how diesel engines work and how to keep them happy and humming away. This book would make an excellent gift for a terrestrial gas engine mechanic as there are some notable differences in care and feeding of diesels that may not be readily apparent. Get it on Amazon here.
Another stellar text by Nigel Calder, this one was the course textbook for Gio's diesel engine classes in trade school. We haven't found a better reference for learning and understanding how diesel engines work and how to keep them happy and humming away. This book would make an excellent gift for a terrestrial gas engine mechanic as there are some notable differences in care and feeding of diesels that may not be readily apparent. Get it on Amazon here.
Offshore Cruising Companion
Offshore Cruising Companion
The OCC is written and frequently updated by John Neal of Mahina Offshore Services and is used as the textbook for his offshore sail training expeditions and seminars. This book is one of our most loved and used as it contains abundant experiential knowledge from his decades of world cruising. We haven't found a comparable or more comprehensive cruising book anywhere. This spiralbound text is available directly from John. Email sailing@mahina.com to purchase.
The OCC is written and frequently updated by John Neal of Mahina Offshore Services and is used as the textbook for his offshore sail training expeditions and seminars. This book is one of our most loved and used as it contains abundant experiential knowledge from his decades of world cruising. We haven't found a comparable or more comprehensive cruising book anywhere. This spiralbound text is available directly from John. Email sailing@mahina.com to purchase.
World Cruising Routes
World Cruising Routes
A classic Jimmy Cornell book that is updated frequently and will serve as the basis of your route planning, we recommend picking up a copy before you even move aboard so you can start getting familiar with its contents. This is the book you'll rely on the most when planning your dream cruising itinerary. Try to get the most updated version as global weather patterns are more dynamic now than in previous decades and centuries. Grab it on Amazon here.
A classic Jimmy Cornell book that is updated frequently and will serve as the basis of your route planning, we recommend picking up a copy before you even move aboard so you can start getting familiar with its contents. This is the book you'll rely on the most when planning your dream cruising itinerary. Try to get the most updated version as global weather patterns are more dynamic now than in previous decades and centuries. Grab it on Amazon here.
The Voyager's Handbook: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising
The Voyager's Handbook: The Essential Guide to Blue Water Cruising
Slightly outdated now but nevertheless important, Beth Leonard's 2006 hardcover is a gold mine of hard-earned advice for serious cruisers. This comprehensive book includes extensive detail and real-world scenario analysis to provide you with the information you need to start planning a refit, learn safe seamanship, even hone your watch schedule. She has compiled a tremendous amount of maritime research here, the value of which far outweighs the handful of chapters on electronics and other obsolete technologies. Find it on Amazon here.
Slightly outdated now but nevertheless important, Beth Leonard's 2006 hardcover is a gold mine of hard-earned advice for serious cruisers. This comprehensive book includes extensive detail and real-world scenario analysis to provide you with the information you need to start planning a refit, learn safe seamanship, even hone your watch schedule. She has compiled a tremendous amount of maritime research here, the value of which far outweighs the handful of chapters on electronics and other obsolete technologies. Find it on Amazon here.
The COLREGS
The COLREGS
An affordable and easy book to locate, available at your local boat store or online, a copy of the COLREGS is legally required to be present aboard vessels greater than 40' in length. Legalities aside, this reference book will help all mariners sail safer. It serves as a reference for day shapes and night lights, right of way determinations, pretty much everything you need to be aware of when operating a vessel in US inland or international waters. Available on Amazon here.
An affordable and easy book to locate, available at your local boat store or online, a copy of the COLREGS is legally required to be present aboard vessels greater than 40' in length. Legalities aside, this reference book will help all mariners sail safer. It serves as a reference for day shapes and night lights, right of way determinations, pretty much everything you need to be aware of when operating a vessel in US inland or international waters. Available on Amazon here.
Chapman Piloting and Seamanship
Chapman Piloting and Seamanship
If you could take all of the critical lessons and learning in seamanship, communications, weather, boat handling, navigation, and boat maintenance and compile them into a single book that is understandable for everyone, this would be it. Anyone new to boating, sailing, or cruising, would do well to keep a copy of this reference book onboard. Before you depart, or potentially even before you buy your boat, you'll find the chapters to be approachable and educational. Available on Amazon here.
If you could take all of the critical lessons and learning in seamanship, communications, weather, boat handling, navigation, and boat maintenance and compile them into a single book that is understandable for everyone, this would be it. Anyone new to boating, sailing, or cruising, would do well to keep a copy of this reference book onboard. Before you depart, or potentially even before you buy your boat, you'll find the chapters to be approachable and educational. Available on Amazon here.
The Essential Galley Companion: Recipes and Provisioning Advice for Your Boating Adventures
The Essential Galley Companion: Recipes and Provisioning Advice for Your Boating Adventures
We have a signed copy of this book by Amanda Swan (Neal) onboard and it is so loved we've nearly worn out the binding! Before moving aboard I (Julie) worked through many of her recipes and made notes in the margins about which we loved, which we tweaked, and how to make further substitutions for when there isn't much left for ingredients onboard! Everything you need to know about provisioning, storing food, cooking, and getting creative is here in this book. In truth, it is the ONLY boating cookbook we own and actually use. Order on Amazon here.
We have a signed copy of this book by Amanda Swan (Neal) onboard and it is so loved we've nearly worn out the binding! Before moving aboard I (Julie) worked through many of her recipes and made notes in the margins about which we loved, which we tweaked, and how to make further substitutions for when there isn't much left for ingredients onboard! Everything you need to know about provisioning, storing food, cooking, and getting creative is here in this book. In truth, it is the ONLY boating cookbook we own and actually use. Order on Amazon here.
National Audobon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World
National Audobon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World
Now that we've made it through the nitty gritty textbooks, it's time for some fun ones. Admittedly, this was one of my textbooks in college, but it has far more pictures, and that's why we love it. You are likely to encounter many different species of marine mammals during your cruising adventures and you will certainly want to learn how to identify them and their behaviors. This book covers all species globally, and has excellent resources at the back to help you pinpoint the species you are seeing based on where you are in the world and key morphological features. We use it constantly! Available on Amazon here.
Now that we've made it through the nitty gritty textbooks, it's time for some fun ones. Admittedly, this was one of my textbooks in college, but it has far more pictures, and that's why we love it. You are likely to encounter many different species of marine mammals during your cruising adventures and you will certainly want to learn how to identify them and their behaviors. This book covers all species globally, and has excellent resources at the back to help you pinpoint the species you are seeing based on where you are in the world and key morphological features. We use it constantly! Available on Amazon here.
National Audobon Society Field Guide to Fishes
National Audobon Society Field Guide to Fishes
Of course, what cruising boat would be complete without at least one fish book? None, of course! This dense reference is packed with key species identification information along with excellent pictures to help you identify your catch or snorkeling finds. We use the North America edition which includes all the pelagic fishes we've encountered in the Pacific. It's a good book to depart from the United States with, and we like to pick up additional high quality field guides when we arrive in new places to support local authors and because they often provide additional insight. Get it on Amazon here.
Of course, what cruising boat would be complete without at least one fish book? None, of course! This dense reference is packed with key species identification information along with excellent pictures to help you identify your catch or snorkeling finds. We use the North America edition which includes all the pelagic fishes we've encountered in the Pacific. It's a good book to depart from the United States with, and we like to pick up additional high quality field guides when we arrive in new places to support local authors and because they often provide additional insight. Get it on Amazon here.
BONUS: Stocking Stuffers
BONUS: Stocking Stuffers
Critter Field Guides
Critter Field Guides
Books are rad, but laminated field guides are even better when you need a quick reference! Any compact whale, fish, seabird, intertidal seashore, rock, or beachcombing guides you can find will be appreciated onboard. They hardly take up any space and make it a snap to identify things like edible seaweeds, bowriding porpoises and dolphins, even the rocks you find on remote beaches.
Books are rad, but laminated field guides are even better when you need a quick reference! Any compact whale, fish, seabird, intertidal seashore, rock, or beachcombing guides you can find will be appreciated onboard. They hardly take up any space and make it a snap to identify things like edible seaweeds, bowriding porpoises and dolphins, even the rocks you find on remote beaches.
Engine Service Manual
Engine Service Manual
If you really want to make a cruiser's day, order them a fresh copy of their engine service manual. Too often we hear of cruisers purchasing boats that have been repowered but without the shop manual for the new engine. Yikes! If you decide to take on this worthy and important gift sourcing challenge, get the correct engine specs and be sure you order the SERVICE manual, not the owner's manual. If available, consider picking up the corresponding parts catalog which comes in handy when it's time to build spares lists.
If you really want to make a cruiser's day, order them a fresh copy of their engine service manual. Too often we hear of cruisers purchasing boats that have been repowered but without the shop manual for the new engine. Yikes! If you decide to take on this worthy and important gift sourcing challenge, get the correct engine specs and be sure you order the SERVICE manual, not the owner's manual. If available, consider picking up the corresponding parts catalog which comes in handy when it's time to build spares lists.
Recommended Book List
Recommended Book List
If you are trying to pick the perfect books for someone who already has them all, check out our full reading list for more ideas. We've compiled a free recommended books and learning list to focus your efforts. It's broken down by loose category and includes everything from learning to sail, boat maintenance, and cruising guides to some of our favorite classic voyage reads. Download your copy HERE.
If you are trying to pick the perfect books for someone who already has them all, check out our full reading list for more ideas. We've compiled a free recommended books and learning list to focus your efforts. It's broken down by loose category and includes everything from learning to sail, boat maintenance, and cruising guides to some of our favorite classic voyage reads. Download your copy HERE.
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