Self-Steering for Sailing Craft

By John S. Letcher

Book Overview

Anyone who has sailed alone or short-handed offshore knows the importance of getting the boat to steer herself. This book is the first to set down in one place all of the considerations that go into... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877420424
• ISBN13: 9780877420422
• Release Date: June 1974
• Publisher: International Marine Publishing Company
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Original, and Still the Best

This is a comprehensive book on sailboat self-steering. It is divided into two parts. The first part covers the use of sails as controllers for lines that actuate the tiller. The other covers wind vane devices. Letcher is an engineer, he also built his own twenty-foot cutter and sailed it single-handed to Hawaii, then Alaska. He offers the best of both worlds - theoretical, and hands-on. There will be terms like "chord", "foil", "lift", and "fluid dynamics", as well as a few graphs; bet there will also be narratives about seasickness before hitting the Trades, and sailing full and by to Alaska. His style is not entertaining enough to enthuse someone with no interest in the subject matter, but for the interested, it is quite exciting - imagine chatting with Michael Barrone about demographic trends over pizza and beer. Enjoy!

Classic sailing instructional book

One of perhaps 20 books published in the last 35 years that is considered a true modern classic for any sailing enthusiast. It is truly a book that should be in any comprehensive personal (or organizational) reference library. This extensive book features over 250 pages of detailed (yet practical) text, illustrations, photos, and diagrams.