Powerboat Bible : The Complete Guide to Selection, Seamanship and Cruising Book

	Introduction: Welcome to the Dream	ix
Part 1	Choosing a Boat
Chapter 1	Starting with the Basics	3
	How much boat do you need?
	Hull and engines come first
	Diesel engines and turbochargers
	Engines: single versus twin
	Engine vibration dampeners
	Hull materials: what's best?
	Are stabilizers necessary?
Chapter 2	Selecting a Functional Layout	26
	Main deck layout
	Cruising cockpits
	Upper deck layout
	Interior layout
	Below-decks accommodations
	Engine room layout
Chapter 3	Choosing the Right Basic Systems	36
	Fire-extinguishing systems
	Alarm systems
	Steering systems
	Engine synchronizer systems
	Electrical systems
Chapter 4	Determining What It's All Going to Cost	47
	Boat-buying budget
	Budgeting for boat operation
	New or used?
	Domestic or import?
Chapter 5	Finding the Cruiser of Your Dreams	55
	Searching for a new boat
	Searching for a used boat
	Performing the initial sea trial
Chapter 6	Negotiating the Purchase	67
	Buying a new boat
	Buying a used boat
	Arranging for the marine survey
	Negotiating a trade-in
	Understanding sales taxes
	Financing the boat
	Insuring the boat
	Documenting, numbering, registering, and titling the boat
	Registering a tender
Part 2	All the Bells and Whistles
Chapter 7	Buying Marine Accessories	89
	Buying from a dealer
	Buying from a specialty retailer
	Buying from a marine catalog
Chapter 8	Choosing a Marine Navigation System	92
	GPS
	Electronic charting software
	Radar
	Autopilots
	Depth-sounders
	Interfacing electronic navigation equipment
	Integrating electronic navigation equipment
	Marine compass options
	Selecting a navigation system: magnetic or true?
	The Loran-C navigation system
	Sound-signaling equipment
Chapter 9	Communicating while Cruising	113
	How marine radios work
	Propagation
	VHF marine radio
	Single-sideband marine radio
	Digital Selective Calling
	Marine satellite telephones
	Marine cellular telephones
	Weather receivers
	Ham radio in cruising
Chapter 10	Choosing Anchoring Equipment	146
	Bow pulpits
	Cruising anchors
	Anchor rodes
	Windlasses
	Anchoring accessories
Chapter 11	Selecting and Using Tenders	160
	Hard or soft?
	Tender power
	Tender registration, sales taxes, and insurance
	Tender anchors and rodes
	Tender security
	Tender davits
	Tender towing
Chapter 12	Cruising Safely	174
	Rigging for a blow
	Fire protection
	Lightning protection
	Safety and survival equipment
Chapter 13	Preparing for Medical Emergencies	190
	Emergency medical training
	Emergency medical supplies and equipment
	Emergency medical reference
	Scuba diving emergencies
	Immunizations
	Medical checkups
	Emergency medical communications
Part 3	Boat Handling
Chapter 14	Getting Under Way	197
	Taking an initial shakedown cruise
	Planning a daily cruising schedule
	Everything shipshape?
	Engine starting tips
	Leaving the dock
Chapter 15	Handling Routine Operations Under Way	211
	The Rules of the Road
	Aids to navigation
	Bridges
	Locks
	Engine room check under way
Chapter 16	Operating Smoothly in Special Running Situations	228
	Heavy-weather handling
	Inlet running
	Night running
	Operating in reduced visibility
	Responding appropriately if you have an accident
Chapter 17	Arriving at a Dock	237
	Dealing with dockmasters
	Docking alongside a pier
	Entering a slip
Chapter 18	Anchoring	253
	Selecting an anchorage
	Using anchoring hand signals
	Using good anchoring technique
	Keeping watch at anchor
	Anchoring in tropical storms or hurricanes
	Retrieving an anchor
Part 4	Navigating and Communicating
Chapter 19	Understanding Coastal Piloting and Eyeball Navigation	267
	Using paper nautical charts
	Reading the bottom
Chapter 20	Using Marine Navigation Electronics	272
	Navigating by GPS
	Navigating by Loran-C
	Navigating by radar
	Navigating by knot meter-distance log
Chapter 21	Using Cruising Communications	279
	Using VHF marine radio
	Using single-sideband marine radio
	Troubleshooting marine radios
Chapter 22	Predicting the Weather	290
	Understanding basic weather patterns
	Obtaining basic weather pattern information
	Interpreting weather information
	Reading local weather signs
Part 5	Emergency Preparedness
Chapter 23	Using a Marine Radio during Emergencies	311
	Keep calm
	International radiotelephone alarm signal
	Automatic distress calls
	Make an urgency or distress call immediately
	If you receive a Mayday distress call and message
	Emergency medical communications
Chapter 24	Reacting to Loss of Power or Steering	322
	Common problems and solutions
	Tips on towing and being towed
Chapter 25	Knowing What to Do If You Go Aground	330
	Extricating a grounded vessel with an assisting vessel
	Understanding the legal aspects of accepting and providing assistance
Chapter 26	Handling Crew Overboard Situations	336
	Advance COB preparation
	Basic COB procedure
	Tips for conducting a COB search
Chapter 27	Assessing and Reacting to Severe Hull Damage	341
	Finding the source
	Assessing the damage and taking action
	When to call for help
Chapter 28	Fighting Fires Afloat	344
	Tips on fire defense
	Engine room fire
	Galley fire
	Electrical fire
	Accommodations fire
	Deck fire
Chapter 29	Handling Medical Emergencies	349
	Assessing the victim
	When to provide assistance
	The ABCs of emergency medical care
	Understanding the types of medical emergencies
	When to call for emergency evacuation
	Conducting emergency evacuation
Chapter 30	Understanding Abandon-Ship Procedures	375
	Tips on life raft survival
	Tips on air-sea rescue
	Life raft inspections
Part 6	The Cruising Life
Chapter 31	Handling Money and Mail	383
	Covering the home front
	Keeping a cruising kitty
	Forwarding mail
Chapter 32	Maintaining the Essentials	386
	All systems
	Engine maintenance
Chapter 33	Cruising Securely	395
	Securing your vessel
	Filing a float plan
	Avoiding trouble spots and pirates
	Refusing to board a stranger
	Choosing whether to carry weapons
	Behaving appropriately if you are boarded
Part 7	Preparations for Voyaging
Chapter 34	Assembling Spares and Preparing for Repairs	403
	Assembling a cruising tool kit
	Gathering spares
	Performing routine maintenance
	Taking a shakedown cruise
	Analyzing engine oil
Chapter 35	Planning Cruises	406
	Considering the weather
	Checking out celebrations
	Collecting charts and cruising guides
	Acquiring and updating passports and visas
	Scheduling guests
	Provisioning
	Setting a daily cruising schedule
Chapter 36	Understanding International Buoyage, Lighting, and Chart Systems	410
	Buoyage systems
	Aids to navigation lighting systems
	Charting systems
Chapter 37	Keeping Legal in Foreign Ports	412
	Leaving U.S. waters
	Entering foreign countries
	Operating marine radiotelephone and amateur radio abroad
	Understanding vessel lighting regulations
	Departing foreign countries
	Returning to U.S. waters
	Epilogue: Just Do It!	417
	Appendices	418
1.	Powerboat Hull Forms
2.	Marine Diesel Engines
3.	Recommended Medical Supplies
4.	The Cruising Tool Kit
5.	Spare Parts and Supplies
6.	Resources
	Index	436