'Twenty Small Sailboats to Take you Anywhere' by John Vigor

[planetluvver]

I just took this out of the library, as a starting point to learn about what I might look for in a boat.

Is anyone familiar with this book? What is your opinion?

[Pete7]

We also recently discussed one of his other books which you might want to read.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...oat-36162.html

Pete

[Stillraining]

Good stuff...................but like anything else its just one guys opinion.

[J Ventura]

It's on of the books that makes me dream the most , and I usually sail 40+ feet catamarans...

[Anzo]

Nice book, could easily be 80 Small Boats...
Not remotely an inclusive or best of list.

[svjobeth]

It's a good starting point. There are lots of other similar books out there too, and as Stillraining said, they're all 'one guys' or somebody's opinion.

My suggestion is that as you read the book, pay attention as to why Vigor thinks these are good boats. The devil's in the details.

[Svanen]

Essentially it is a collection of reasonably-detailed boat reviews that the author has written for magazines over the years. Some of those reviews are available free on the net, but the book pulls them all together in a convenient and attractive manner.

I agree with svjobeth's remarks.

[Bill_R]

Originally Posted by svjobeth

My suggestion is that as you read the book, pay attention as to why Vigor thinks these are good boats. The devil's in the details.

That's what I found most useful from the book.

I'm ultimately looking for something a little bigger than these boats (30'-34'), but it was a good read to get you to think about boat design, construction, and some desirable characteristics.

[Tiddy Oggy]

Originally Posted by Svanen

Essentially it is a collection of reasonably-detailed boat reviews that the author has written for magazines over the years. Some of those reviews are available free on the net, but the book pulls them all together in a convenient and attractive manner.

I agree with svjobeth's remarks.

No Svanen, these are not reviews written for magazines. They were specially written for the book. Magazines such as Good Old Boat later serialized the book.

[Svanen]

I stand corrected.

In any case, it is possible to find some (many?) of the specific reviews on the web. But the book is not expensive, and allows convenient comparison of the boats featured. I think it's worth owning, or at least borrowing from the library.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha,
Love the book. That's why I recommend it and it is listed in my signature line. We get a lot of folks asking about boat recommendations here on the forum so added that along with a couple links.
regards

[feelsgood]

What is a sea worthy yacht? I read of a 21ft yacht that had been abondoned and was found 16 months later without a drop of water below the hatch was shut but the washboards were not in.

[solarwindsailor]

Amazing right found with no drop of water?

Hey do you know what safety at sea numbers mean in this guys book? He give pacific sea craft 18 and catalina 27 a 20.

Is higher number more safe?

[oldragbaggers]

Originally Posted by solarwindsailor

Amazing right found with no drop of water?

Hey do you know what safety at sea numbers mean in this guys book? He give pacific sea craft 18 and catalina 27 a 20.

Is higher number more safe?

The boats IIRC are from most seaworthy being #1 and least being #20 (the Catalina 27) based on a capsize ratios, comfort at sea and whatever other criteria he was factoring in. I have and love the book and a lot of my favorite small boats are listed there. If you are looking for something a little bigger there is another book called Twenty Affordable Boats to Take You Anywhere, with boats 30+ feet.