Sailboat Electrical Systems: Improvement, Wiring, and Repair

by Don Casey

Don't Be Baffled by Your Electrical System--Handle Repairs and Improvements with Ease

With clear illustrations and simple explanations, Don Casey shows you exactly how to install wiring . . . make good, safe connections . . . match your battery bank and alternator to your needs . . . troubleshoot problems quickly . . . avoid shore power problems . . . and more--all without a lot of technical jargon.

"Don Casey's book provides clear guidance...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070366497
• ISBN13: 9780070366497
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: International Marine Publishing
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.6" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Sailboat Electrics Simplified

Execlent Manual Note: Don't buy if you already have "Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual" as you will find this manual inside the "big" one.

Absolutely Outstanding

I started with almost zero knowledge and some fear of all things electrical and a marine starting battery that would discharge overnight. I'd had the battery tested and found good leaving the problem somewhere in the boat's wiring. I got everything I needed to have to fix this problem from this book. Casey's book had the foundation knowledge I needed to understand the troubleshooting steps and a specific troubleshooting process that enabled me to find and fix the source of the problem. That alone was a huge benefit and probably saved me a couple of hundred dollars. More importantly, reading the book to solve my specific problem gave me the foundation to approach any electrical problem on the boat. I'm generally pretty handy and now can view electrical troubleshooting as just another thing that I have the confidence to do. Very, very well written. Good mix between simplicity and specificity. I highly recommend this book and a good multimeter.

Excellent book - worth twice the price

I've been wiring cars and motorcycles for 30 years. I also work with microcontrollers and supporting circuity and electronics in general. Somebody suggested that I get into boat electrics and maybe I could help support my cruising kitty (when the time comes) by working on other peoples sailboats. It seemed like a good idea, so I set out learning what I could and to gain some experience. The first thing I did was to buy every book I could lay my hands on on boat wiring and read them from cover to cover. Now that I've wired and repaired a few sailboats I realized that out of all the books I have, only two were refered to continuously while the rest have collected dust. This book is one of them. First of all, it is a very easy book to read. There is not a wasted word in the whole book. All concepts are concise and easily understood. When you need a diagram to grok a concept, it is there. You can sit down and read this book like a novel it's written so well.Second, it leaves no assumptions. Sure, I'd like to think I know all things electrical, but I don't. Sailboat electrics is as different from automotive electrics as cake is from pie. I learned about the difference between marine and automotive batteries. I learned about corrosion and zincs. I picked up the concept of sailboat characteristics in a lightning strike. These are the categories that are not covered in automotive books or even in general Electrical Engineering courses.I think this book should be every boaters first choice in sailboat electrics. I recommend it to everyone who has an interest. If you feel you need even more detail, or equipment-specific knowledge, you can always pick up (my 2nd must-have book choice): Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems.Between the two, you will have on hand a reference to everything you will need to know.

Outstanding book

An outstanding book. I myself knew absolutely nothing about electricity when I first bought this book - although obviously it didn't make me an expert, it nonetheless taught me what I needed to know to start modifying my boat's electrical systems. I admit that I am biased - Don Casey is one of my favorite sailing authors - but if you are a novice and need to upgrade your boat's electrics, this is the book to get.

elegant

I have a twenty-five boat with modest electrical needs. This book gave me all the foundational material I needed to start and finish my project but more importantly presented the material in a very readable even entertaining fasion while remaining efficient. Great diagrams, great book, great sailing.