Books and Publications

  • Tom Cunliffe is one of the world's greatest champions of traditional sailing boats, and is considered the guru of gaff rig sailors. Having worked these beautiful boats all his life, his knowledge is second to none. In Hand, Reef & Steer - winner of the Best Book of the Sea Award - Tom explains the different sailing characteristics of classic craft and shares his knowledge of the special skills required to handle them. He describes how to manage heavy loads using tackles rather than winches and reveals the mysteries of making the boat work for you rather than fighting with her gear. He shares step by step advice on setting up the rig; sail handling skills (hoisting, setting and reefing) heavy and light air sailing; manouevring a long-keel boat; losing way, scandalizing and steering with sails, topsails, watersails, single-luff spinnakers and fisherman staysails; and much, much more. And for this new edition Tom had added new material on modern gaffers, replicas and a whole new section on sailing aspirational large gaffers. Hand, Reef & Steer, with its wonderful watercolour drawings and atmospheric photos, will delight all who love the unique character and grace of classic craft.
  • This treasure trove of Des Pawson's personal ropecraft recipes contains projects ranging from bellropes, key fobs and fenders to mats, doorstops, knife lanyards and belts. The second edition has been expanded to include more of Des's enticing ropework projects. Along with fascinating tit bits of nautical history as background to the many projects, and guidance as to how they can be the starting point for many other items, Des gives step-by-step instructions on how to put these knots together to form the finished article, and provides advice on the size and lengths of the materials required - just as you would expect from a recipe book. With this book to hand, readers will have the confidence to start making desirable objects with knots because, as Des says, this is the book that makes all other knot books work! 'You'll certainly never look at a frayed off-cut of rope in quite the same way again.' Classic Boat 'A must' Waterways World 'A gem of a book' Canal Boat and Inland Waterways
  • Knots Step by Step is the essential guide to knowing and tying knots for every purpose. From figure-of-eights to reef knots and highwayman's hitches to monkey's fists, it includes every knot you ever thought you needed to tie, and more. The book comes with a handy rope so you can practice every knot as you learn. Covering more than 100 knots for climbing, sailing, horse-riding, survival and fishing as well as for gardening, DIY, medical and decorative purposes, the clear layout and photographs of every step will move you on from knot-tying novice in no time. You'll also learn all about the different types of knots and the fascinating stories behind how many of these came into being. Knots Step by Step is the ideal book to have to hand for whenever a knot is needed.
  • Hervey Garrett Smith was the foremost marine illustrator of the 1950s and 1960s, and his wonderful drawings of traditional ropework quickly propelled The Marlinspike Sailor to cult classic status when it was published in 1956. With the addition of a section on modern, synthetic rope in the 1970s, its popularity has continued undiminished to this day. It teaches a few basic knots--the bowline, sheet bend, and rolling hitch, among others--and splices in three-strand and braided rope. But its real business is decorative rope and canvaswork--the traditional arts of the sailor--and here it has no equal. For a rope mat, a rope ladder, a sea chest, a ditty bag, a canvas bucket, a mast boot, and the best-looking rope fenders or heaving line in the marina, this is the book of choice.

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