Naval architect Dave Gerr offers a browser’s reference to understanding how boats tick: all you’ve ever wanted to know about boats: power and sail, racer and cruiser, dinghy and motoryacht. In the clear, friendly, nontechnical style that has made his column for “Offshore magazine” so enduring and popular, Gerr explains everything from how thick a hull should be to why one sailboat tips less than another, from choosing an engine to designing a rig for your trawler yacht, from building a dinghy to simple rules of thumb for dozens of design quandaries. Gerr writes for the boat noodler in all of us, those seriously interested in learning and dreaming about all types of watercraft. There is no better way to become a better sailor, equipped to handle any contingency. And there’s no better place to start than right here.

Edition: 1995