The Illustrated Dictionary of Boating Terms: 2,000 Essential Terms for Sailors and Powerboaters

by John Rousmaniere

Book Overview

From "abaft" to "Zulu," including terms as new as "bowrider" and as old as "starboard," here is the language of pleasure boating--clearly defined terms that today's sailors and powerboaters rely on to make their way safely and happily upon America's waters. Families of related terms are grouped together in special sections. QUIZ: What do the following phrases mean: head up, harden up, come up, round up, freshen your wind, sharpen up, sharpen your wind, heat it up? ANSWER: The same thing: "steer closer to the wind."

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393046494
• ISBN13: 9780393046496
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Very Good Start

A very good book. The only critical thing I would say is that it lacks boat building terms and does not use WoodenBoat magazine as one of its many fine references. I saw the book advertised in the WoodenBoat catalog and assumed it would help in my new boat building project. I am still looking for a resource. It still has 2000 other terms. Not bad.

A good book

I have this book and it is a good book. Just the right size too. Not too big. The production is high gloss boards which protect the book from water splashes. The customer who wrote about the author reviewing his own book is out to lunch. There is a limit of 1000 words per review AND the author simply added 2 different reviews of his book for two different sources. Both reviews were very positive. The author was not dishonest, and he could have been. He signed his reviews. This unconscious reviewer probably couldn't comprehend that part. I am adding this review to balance out the single star review that this yahoo left. I guess every sport and endeavor has it's morons.

"A valuable reference"

BLUE WATER SAILING magazine (Nov.-Dec. 1998) says of The Illustrated Dictionary of Boating Terms: "A handy reference work in its own right with a healthy nod to the history and evolution of the words we use to describe activity on the water.... The book is a valuable reference, especially for its contemporary interpretation of an age-old word craft."

"The perfect addition to your nautical library"

From THE LOG, Southern California's boating magazine, July 3, 1998: "It's hard to believe the amount of information that's packed into this volume.... A useful tool for beginning sailors and proven seamen.... Brings readers up to date on modern boating language.... Easy to read."

Today's sailing and powerboating lingo.

The proposed title is not quite right: there are almost 2,500 terms in this completely new dictionary of today's sailing and powerboating language. The book should be available in mid-'98. I've relied on my own 40 years' experience in and around boats and writing about them. (My other boating books include The Annapolis Book of Seamanship and "Fastnet, Force 10.") I've also studied many current boating magazines to see which terms are in use today. I've tried to make the book definitive but not bossy, lively and not stuffy. One feature (found in few boating dictionaries) is a long section on naming boats: Is your boat an "it" or a "she," and "the Elixir" or just plain "Elixir"?? JOHN ROUSMANIERE