Books for the Boater in Your Life

Name: The Piscataqua Valley in the Age of Sail:
Brand: Russell Lawson Ph.D.
SKU: 9781596292192
Price: 16.49 USD
Availability: InStock

If your favorite boater already has a captain’s hat, a Yeti cooler, and the “My Other Car is a Boat” bumper sticker, maybe a fascinating nautical narrative will be the perfect catch. Books on boats of all kinds are here – from house boats to America’s Cup yachts, and fishing boats to luxury ships. Or, navigate the history of famous sports and infamous pirates. Gift the gift of a great sea yarn to the boater in your life.

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The Piscataqua Valley in the Age of Sail:

The New England Mariner Tradition: Old Salts, Superstitions, Shanties and Shipwrecks

Pirates of Colonial Newport

Lost Maine Coastal Schooners

Herreshoff Yachts

Community Boating, Inc.

Wooden Boats of the St. Lawrence River

United States Mail Boat

The T.W. Lawson

The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory

The Life and Times of Georgetown Sea Captain Abram Jones Slocum, 1861-1914

The Last of the Fairhaven Coasters: The Story of Captain Claude S. Tucker and the Schooner Coral

The Isles of Shoals in the Age of Sail:

The America's Cup: Trials and Triumphs

The America's Cup Yachts: The Rhode Island Connection

Stories from the Maine Coast:

Seattle's Floating Homes

Samuel Smedley, Connecticut Privateer

Roanoke Island's Boating Heritage

Nantucket Sound:

Maryland's Skipjacks

Maritime Annapolis

Lake Erie Boats and Ports In Vintage Postcards

Hand-Crafted Boats of Old Currituck:

Great Yachts of Long Island's North Shore

Gloucester on the Wind

Figawi Race

Exploring Bull Island

Down East Schooners and Shipmasters

Deer Isle's Undefeated America's Cup Crews

Chatham Sea Captains in the Age of Sail

Boats Made in Holland

Boats and Boating on Cranberry Lake

Boatbuilding on Mount Desert Island

The Piscataqua Valley in the Age of Sail:

9781596292192

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

In this complex and dynamic history, Russell M. Lawson navigates the story of the Piscataqua Valley from Martin Pring in 1603, through the turbulent Indian wars of colonial days, around the volatile American Revolution and into the smooth sailing of the nineteenth-century shipbuilding industry. In Dover, Durham, Exeter and the entire valley, Piscataqua played a major role in the foundation of the United States, all the while surrounded by the river's natural splendor.

The New England Mariner Tradition: Old Salts, Superstitions, Shanties and Shipwrecks

9781626192287

$19.99 $14.99 Save 25%

For over three centuries, New Englanders have set sail in search of fortune and adventure--yet death lurked on every voyage in the form of storms, privateers, disease and human error. In hope of being spared by the sea, superstitious mariners practiced cautionary rituals. During the winter of 1779, the crew aboard the Family Trader" offered up gin to appease the squalling storms of Neptune. In the 1800s, after nearly fifty shipwrecks on Georges Bank between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Nova Scotia, a wizard paced the coast of Marblehead, shouting orders out to sea to guide passing ships to safety. As early as 1705, courageous settlers erected watch houses and lighted beacons at Beavertail Point outside Jamestown, Rhode Island, to aid mariners caught in the swells of Narragansett Bay. Join Robert A. Geake as he explores the forgotten traditions among New England mariners and their lives on land and sea."

Pirates of Colonial Newport

9781626192508

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Sail the seas and journey with Newport, Rhode Island's pirates beginning with war and ending with revolution that inspired swashbuckling legends for generations to come!

From 1690 to the American Revolution, many of Newport's fathers, husbands and sons sailed under the black flag. They would return home from plundering the high seas to attend church and serve in public offices. The citizens of Newport welcomed pirates with their exotic goods and gold to spend. The community changed its tune when Newport's prosperous shipping fleet was on the receiving end of piracy during the early 18th century. The locals who had once offered safe haven were suddenly more than pleased to cooperate with London's hunt for pirates.

Author Gloria Merchant delves into the fascinating history of Newport's pirates from Thomas Tew and Captain Kidd's buried treasure to the largest mass hanging of pirates in the colonies at Gravelly Point.

Lost Maine Coastal Schooners

9781596299566

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Large, wooden-hulled schooners graced the seas of coastal Maine for more than a century as vessels of trade and commerce. With the advent of steam-powered craft, however, these elegant four-, five- or six-masted wooden ships became obsolete and vanished from the harbors and horizons. The Edward Lawrence, the last of the six-masters, became her own funeral pyre in Portland Harbor, burning to ash before everyone's eyes. The Carroll A. Deering washed ashore with no trace of her crew, empty as a ghost ship except for three cats and a pot of pea soup still cooking on the stove. In this testament to the beauty of the Maine coastal region, maritime history enthusiast Ingrid Grenon tells the story of these magnificent relics of the bygone Age of Sail and celebrates the people who devoted their lives to the sea.

Herreshoff Yachts

9781596293069

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

From 1893 to 1920, Bristol's Herreshoff clan designed and built so many undefeated America's Cup sailboats that enthusiasts refer to the era as The Herreshoff Period. In this intimate portrait, Simpson tackles the achievements of a New England dynasty that has attained the pinnacle of sailing fame and success.

Community Boating, Inc.

9781467128094

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Community Boating, Inc. (CBI), now in its seventh decade as a public community sailing program in Boston, has taught several generations of the city's youth how to sail on the Charles River Basin. At the start of the program, it was Joseph Lee Jr., a lifelong proponent of outdoor recreation and public service, who espoused the idea that all children, rich and poor, should know how to handle a sailboat not just for their own enjoyment but also for the attainment of useful life skills, like learning to cooperate with others on and off the water and taking responsibility for their work. This book offers a glimpse at how Community Boating, Inc., is achieving its mission of "Sailing for All."

Wooden Boats of the St. Lawrence River

9781467124010

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The Thousand Islands' very name conjures up images of great natural beauty and nautical wonders. They are forested islands replete with storybook stone castles. Exquisite mahogany runabouts can be seen speeding across the placid surface of the mighty St. Lawrence. Names like Boldt, Bourne, Emery, Lyon, and Pullman are embedded in the Golden Age of the area, and it all comes to life in this pictorial history of the river. Images of America: Wooden Boats of the St. Lawrence River tells the story of the rich and powerful men who constructed castles and built classic wooden boats in the Thousand Islands. At the center of the story loom David and Charlie Lyon.

United States Mail Boat

9781625450050

$19.95 $14.96 Save 25%

In New Hampshire, nestled among the foothills of the White Mountains, lies oneof the most beautiful bodies of water anywhere in the world, Lake Winnipesaukee. Known to Native Americans since time immemorial as 'the beautiful water in a high place,' the Big Lake is extraordinary for many reasons, and perhaps none so curious as its postal service. Mail had been delivered by boat on Lake Winnipesaukee since 1892, and in 1916, after an Act of Congress, US Mail Boat Uncle Sam was officially proclaimed to be the 'only floating post office on an inland body of water in the world.' The Uncle Sam is no longer in commission, but its successors, right up to the current Sophie C, have all adopted this title with pride. United States Mail Boat invites you on a leisurely cruise around the lake, its many islands and surrounding mountains, exploring the history and folklore of this spectacular region, from the days of the Native Americans to the early settlers, and the establishment of Winnipesaukee's unique and enchanting floating post office. It is the perfect companion for a trip to this wonderful lake, whether from the comfort of your armchair, or from the deck of the Sophie C herself.

The T.W. Lawson

9781596292086

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Armed with curiosity and a desire to piece together the story of the world's only seven-masted schooner, Tom Hall spent several years researching on both sides of the Atlantic, diving on the Lawson wreck and interviewing the relatives of those involved in the rescue efforts. The result of his work is the most complete account of the T. W. Lawson's story, ranging from her building and launch to her fated wreck off the Scilly Isles.

The Quest for the America's Cup: Sailing to Victory

9781609496340

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

For over one hundred and fifty years, the America's Cup has been the premier prize as yachtsmen have been pitted against sailors from around the world in an effort to win this prestigious race. The race takes its name from the champion schooner America, which was created due in large part to the efforts of New York Yacht Club founder John Cox Stevens. Author Richard V. Simpson sheds new light on long-forgotten stories of the early quests for the coveted Cup. Among the notable yachtsmen profiled are Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, who earned a special award for being the race's best loser, and Ted Hood, who owned a sail-making company that developed the Dacron cloth from which the twelve-meter sails were cut. This history comes to life with exciting descriptions of the yachts, the races and the colorful personalities of those who longed to capture the greatest prize in yacht racing.

The Life and Times of Georgetown Sea Captain Abram Jones Slocum, 1861-1914

9781609497873

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Born at sea on his father's whaling ship in 1861, Captain Abram Jones Slocum learned the seafaring life in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as part of the last generation of iron men aboard commercial wooden sailing ships in the Atlantic. His voyages often took him around Cape Hatteras to Georgetown, South Carolina, to load lumber bound for northern cities. He sailed in all seasons, through storms and hurricanes, for twenty years as captain of two schooners, the Warren B. Potter and the City of Georgetown. He was respected in Georgetown, where he wooed his wife. His ship sank in a collision with an ocean liner in 1913, but he survived, only to be lost at sea a year later as captain of another schooner. Local author and wooden boat enthusiast Robert McAlister recounts Slocum's epic life through the end of the Age of Sail.

The Last of the Fairhaven Coasters: The Story of Captain Claude S. Tucker and the Schooner Coral

9781609499457

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

From the early years of our nation, the coasting schooner served as the primary means of hauling the cargoes that fueled the country's growth. Several thousand of these coasters once existed, but by the late 1930s, relatively few remained. Among those still in operation was the coasting schooner Coral." Hailing from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, the "Coral" and her owner, Captain Claude S. Tucker, carried goods to ports throughout southern New England. The "Coral" hauled cargo into the twilight years of the coasting trade, long after new technologies began to replace it. Authors Robert Demanche, Donald F. Tucker and Caroline B. Tucker use first-person accounts of crew members and captains to trace the life of the "Coral" and Captain Tucker. Set sail to discover the story of the "Coral" through her glory days until the 1938 hurricane left her beyond repair, hastening the end of an era."

The Isles of Shoals in the Age of Sail:

9781596292031

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Off the picturesque shoreline of New Hampshire and Maine lie eight islands collectively known as the Isles of Shoals. Since the famous English explorer John Smith first set foot on them in 1614, the Isles of Shoals have experienced numerous changes. The once thriving fishing communities suffered many hard years before and after the American Revolution. Since the 1800s, the Isles of Shoals have been revived as a place where travelers, artists and writers can find inspiration and relaxation. The austere beauty of the rocky shores has influenced such notable figures as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Childe Hassam, Sarah Orne Jewett and the poet laureate of the islands, Celia Laighton Thaxter, as well as lesser-known fishers and fishwives, sailors and visitors of the past and present.
In this volume, Russell M. Lawson has evoked the fascinating history of the islands, from their discovery to the end of the nineteenth century. It is a must-read for all "Shoalers" who, like the hardy mariners and inspired artists of the past, follow the call of the sea to the Isles of Shoals.

The America's Cup: Trials and Triumphs

9781596293298

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

America's Cup: Trials & Triumphs is a concise history of some of the most interesting of the international struggles for possession of the acclaimed Cup. But more than that, Simpson writes about the ingenuity and technical advancements made over the years in hull and sail design for swift oceangoing sailing yachts. Not satisfied by relating only the history of the America's Cup challenges and defenses, Simpson illustrates some of the interesting events that have changed commercial sailing into the popular sport of sailboat racing. A sport that was once the singular pleasure of wealthy barons of industry is now enjoyed by thousands of middle-class citizens from many nations with access to the sea. Also included in this volume are sailing techniques, maneuvers and useful nautical terminology.

The America's Cup Yachts: The Rhode Island Connection

9780738500904

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The dominance of the New York Yacht Club, in possession of the America's Cup between 1851 and 1983, has given Newport, Rhode Island, the status of yachting capital of the world. Seven of the most respected America's Cup defenders were built in Bristol, Rhode Island. The state's contribution to racing yacht technology began in Bristol, when N.G. Herreshoff designed and built the Vigilant in 1893. The Goetz Custom Sailboat Company continues the Bristol tradition of building superior sailing vessels, many of which have been challengers for the coveted America's Cup, beginning with the America 3 in 1992. In his sixth volume for the Images of America series, author Richard V. Simpson explores the allure of the America's Cup yachts and racing through more than 200 images from his own diverse collection. The photographs focus on the beauty and dignity of the yachts, the genius of engineering minds, and the handiwork of skilled crafters. Within these pages, view a variety of rare images captured by turn-of-the-century biograph and stereoscopic cameras, and experience the majestic dance of the yachts as they jockey for position, from the starting gun to the crossing of the finish line.

Stories from the Maine Coast:

9781609492496

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

The history of Maine has always been inextricably tied to its coastline. The sea first brought settlers, and the rich fishing and shipbuilding industries sustained growth. The Atlantic also connected Mainers to the rest of the world. Goods and ideas traveled the maritime routes that originated in populous Portland and more isolated places like Carver's Harbor and Deer Isle. From Searsport's sailing masters to the burning of Royal Tar, author Harry Gratwick relates the adventures of the skippers and their crews. Read about the search for the Smithy Boat and other tales from Maine's shipping lanes.

Seattle's Floating Homes

9780738595429

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Seattle's floating homes community began as a population of unregulated and inexpensive industrial houses in the late 1800s, yet it has evolved to become some of the most sought-after real estate in Seattle today. Little has been shared about this intimate and unique community that is characterized by eclectic architecture, diverse individuals, and a strong sense of community. It is hard to imagine Seattle without its floating homes, but there was a period of time when the community was considered undesirable and was almost driven from the city shores. This book explores the community history of floating homes in Seattle, tales from life on the dock, and the ongoing challenges of being a fringe neighborhood in the urban context of the city.

Samuel Smedley, Connecticut Privateer

9781609492281

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

From the shores of Long Island Sound to the high seas of the West Indies, against British warships and letters of marque, Samuel Smedley left a stream of smoke and blood as he took prisoners and prizes alike. At twenty-three years old, Smedley, a Fairfield, Connecticut native, enlisted as a lieutenant of marines on the Connecticut ship Defence during the American Revolution. Less than a year later he was her captain, scouring the seas for British prey. Author Jackson Kuhl delves into the life and times of this Patriot, sea captain and privateer.

Roanoke Island's Boating Heritage

9781467125888

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Those fortunate enough to live on Roanoke Island have always depended on boats. In exploration-era sketches, Native American Algonquins were depicted in their dugout canoes. English settlers took the native concept a step further, developing kunners and, later, periaugers. Sloops and schooners made it possible to trade with far-off lands. Shad boats allowed fishermen to catch enough fresh product to ship to northern markets. Shrimp boats, crab boats, and trawlers brought about a new level of financial independence. Charter boats went past the limits of sound waters to the deep sea, carrying sport fishermen who were ready to pay for the chance to land a Gulf Stream trophy. Today's luxury yachts would boggle the minds of 20th-century backyard boatbuilders. Whether the need for a boat was transportation, subsistence fishing, making a living, or recreation, boatbuilding became a skill many residents picked up out of necessity. This skill matured into a trait that many believe runs deep in the genetic makeup of the local population.

Nantucket Sound:

9781596296879

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

An ancient fishing ground, vital shipping passage and final resting place for those unable to navigate its rocky shoals, Nantucket Sound--bordered by Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod and, of course, Nantucket--remains one of New England's most historic waterways. Here, the first rays of morning sunlight touch the United States before sweeping westward. In fact, the area's early inhabitants were called Wampanoag: People of the Dawn." From whaling culture and infamous shipwrecks to legends of Vikings, sea gods and John Smith, local author Theresa Mitchell Barbo unearths the stories hidden beneath these rough waves. At once unforgiving and generous, Nantucket Sound has seduced countless seafarers with its siren song but still overflows with diverse marine life."

Maryland's Skipjacks

9780738553634

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Chesapeake is an Algonquian word meaning "great shellfish bay," and for decades, the oyster was the undisputed king of Chesapeake Bay shellfish. Early settlers reported them to be as large as dinner plates, and the reefs or rocks in which they lived
were large enough to be hazards to navigation. In 1884, fifteen million bushels of oysters were harvested and shipped around the world. The skipjack was the perfect vessel for sailing into the Chesapeake Bay's shallow waters and dredging for oysters, and each winter, hundreds of these wooden craft set out across the bay's cold waters. The oyster population of the 21st century is a fraction of what it once was, and the skipjacks have disappeared along with them. No longer economically viable, the boats have been left to rot in the marshes along the bay. Only 25 boats are still operational, and fewer than five still dredge.

Maritime Annapolis

9781596296596

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

With fortunes that have ebbed and flowed with the tides, Annapolis has graced the banks of the Severn River and the Chesapeake Bay since the seventeenth century. Generations have worked the docks, sailed its waters and hunted for Chesapeake Gold--oysters--even as the city became home to a proud military tradition in the United States Naval Academy. Local author Rosemary F. Williams presents a vivid image of Annapolis with tales of violent skirmishes between the dashing Captain Waddell and crews of outlaw oyster poachers, the crabbing rage of the twentieth century, feisty shipwright Benjamin Sallier and the city's Golden Age of Sailing. Williams's fluid prose and stunning vintage images chronicle the maritime history of this capital city and reveal its residents' deep connection to the ever-shifting waters.

Lake Erie Boats and Ports In Vintage Postcards

9780738508474

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

By car or by boat there is no better vacation than a trip around Lake Erie. With Lake Erie Ports and Boats in Vintage Postcards, you can take that trip without ever leaving home, or use this postcard history as companion guide while experiencing the wonders or this Great Lake.

From Buffalo to Port Colborne, and visiting ports in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and the Province of Ontario, author Sally Sue Witten takes the reader on a visual journey around Lake Erie. Early 20th-century history of the region is told using over 200 vintage postcards from the author's collection. Through the pages the reader will visit grand old steamers with overnight accommodations and smaller excursion boats that took vacationers to many lake resorts. Dock scenes showcase technological changes in loading and unloading equipment that enabled freighters to grow in size and capacity. Port scenes also include lighthouses and U.S. Life Saving Stations.

Hand-Crafted Boats of Old Currituck:

9781626196483

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Before sleek factory boats dominated Currituck Sound, locals piloted these waters in hulls made by hand. Some still can be seen today--beautiful works of art designed for the utility of travel, fishing, hunting, scouting and touring. They figure prominently in recollections of a bygone sportsman's paradise, and native storyteller Travis Morris offers this engaging collection based on anecdotes, interviews and detailed craft descriptions. It's an insider's history of Currituck's boating heritage featuring the famed Whalehead Club, an accidental run-in with the Environmental Protection Agency and a harrowing U.S. Coast Guard rescue.

Great Yachts of Long Island's North Shore

9781467121521

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

At the turn of the 20th century, Long Island's North Shore, the so-called Gold Coast, was becoming the most desirable residential area in the United States.

Estates belonging to American captains of finance and industry lined the bluffs and bays from the city line to Eaton's Neck. Some of the nation's most renowned families--including the Astors, Bakers, Huttons, Morgans, Pratts, Sloans, Roosevelts, Whitneys, and Vanderbilts--used their yachts for racing, cruising, commuting, or epic voyages. These vessels regularly plied the waters of the North Shore and bolstered the development of yacht clubs like the New York and Seawanhaka Corinthian--city institutions that established stations at Glen Cove and Centre Island, respectively. These clubs served to provide many outlets for the social gatherings that accompanied this pastime. Although the Great Depression and then World War II would bring the era of the great yachts to an end, a wealth of images remain that can be marveled at a century later.

Gloucester on the Wind

9780738538228

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Gloucester on the Wind is an engaging history of this town, with never before seen historical photographs.

Since the development of photography in the mid-nineteenth century, the camera has been used as a tool of both discovery and preservation. Photographs bring alive our image of the past, and can open a floodgate of memories and nostalgia or inspire curiosity and a sense of history. Originally founded by a fishing company from Dorchester, England, in 1623, Gloucester has always been linked to fishing and the sea. By 1870 Gloucester was the leading fishing port in the Western Hemisphere, and its great fleet of fast, white-winged schooners ranged deep into the heart of the Atlantic in search of cod, haddock, halibut, and mackerel. These stunningly beautiful ships and the hardy men who sailed them made ""Gloucester"" an evocation of courage, perseverance, and seamanship unique in America's maritime heritage.

Figawi Race

9780738599175

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

When three friends gathered at Baxter's Boathouse in 1972 to discuss their Memorial Day weekend plans over a few beers, none of them would have suspected that they were on the verge of creating one of the prestigious sailing events on the Atlantic coast. The Figawi Race began as a challenge among a group of sailing enthusiasts who wanted to see who could race their boat to Nantucket first. After the first race, in which Bob "Red" Luby beat out brothers Bob and Joe Horan, it was decided by Bob Horan that it should become an annual event. In 1973, there were 15 boats, and the Figawi Race was off and running. The race evolved into a three-day event complete with a New England clambake. Figawi Race: Hyannis to Nantucket shares photographs and stories of a race that for over 40 years has continued to bring friends and sailors together.

Exploring Bull Island

9781596290105

$23.99 $17.99 Save 25%

Situated along the South Carolina coast between Georgetown and Charleston, Bull Island is not just any barrier island but has been described as the "crown jewel" of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Known for its matchless natural beauty, the human history of this isolated coastal isle has for the most part gone unexplored. Exploring Bull Island: Sailing and Walking Around a South Carolina Sea Island is at once a personal and informative narrative, as well as a guide to the natural wonders of this storied and often mysterious sea island. Embarking on a quest to sail the island's connecting waterways and walk the aging roads and trails accomplished sailor and nature enthusiast Bob Raynor set out to truly discover and understand the fascinating natural and cultural history of Bull Island. Armed with a keen eye for his surroundings, a natural curiosity to discover the unknown and his boat--the Kingfisher--Bob guides the reader through the natural and historical passages of this truly unique Sea Island.

Down East Schooners and Shipmasters

9781609495145

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Nothing is more iconic of Maine than the image of a majestic vessel, masts raised, gliding through the fog on the dark North Atlantic. From the early days of the search for a Northwest Passage to the quest for the mysterious and illusive Norumbega, the history of Mount Desert Island, Hancock, Bar Harbor and the rest of the Down East area has always traveled on schooners. Now, in the twenty-first century, these ships and their heritage are being preserved, and Mainers are sailing aboard them once again. In this collection, author Ingrid Grenon presents the most important and incredible stories from the decks of Down East's schooners, revealing how these remarkable vessels and Down East Maine are tied together.

Deer Isle's Undefeated America's Cup Crews

9781609497286

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

A thrilling tale fit for sailing experts and history buffs alike, historian Mark J. Gabrielson delivers the exciting tale of the Deer Isle Crew: a sailing story that offers an uncommon glimpse into American life at the turn of the twentieth century.

In 1895, emissaries from the New York Yacht Club traveled to Deer Isle, Maine, to recruit the nation's best sailors, an ""All American"" crew. This remote island in Penobscot Bay sent nearly thirty of its fishing men to sail ""Defender,"" and under skipper Hank Haff, they beat their opponents in a difficult and controversial series. To the delight of the American public, the charismatic Sir Thomas Lipton sent a surprise challenge in 1899. The New York Yacht Club knew where to turn and again recruited Deer Isle's fisherman sailors. Undefeated in two defense campaigns, they are still considered one of the best American sail-racing teams ever assembled. Read their fascinating story and relive their adventure.

Chatham Sea Captains in the Age of Sail

9781596294318

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Chatham Sea Captains in the Age of Sail chronicles the lives and adventures of twenty-five men who traveled the seas from the eighteenth through the twentieth century. These were extraordinary men--masters of navigation who charted paths from the Cape to the Far East with their regal clipper ships; deep-sea fishermen whose fearless spirit drove them to the Grand Banks and Newfoundland in the quest for their catch; and coastal captains who skirted America's eastern seaboard in pursuit of trade. Spurred on by the Industrial Revolution's demands, these mariners continued their pelagic exploration while pirates, privateers and Confederate raiders tested their mettle. The sea was both foe and ally. To meet the foe was the challenge; to sail her waters and return home as true masters was the force that drove these men to excellence.

Boats Made in Holland

9781467135337

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Author Geoffrey Reynolds explores the story of Holland, Michigan's unique legacy of maritime craftsmanship.

Holland's boat-building tradition took root in the 1840s, as Dutch immigrants crafted flatboats and watercraft for residents. Just a century later, the city's commercial boat-building industry flourished. The innovation of fiberglass-reinforced plastic changed the traditional structure of boats, revamped the industry and re-created the blueprint for U.S. pleasure boats following World War II.

The Roamer Boat Company's masterfully-welded sheet steel cabin cruisers led to the 1955 purchase by the Chris-Craft Corporation to create the Roamer Boat Corporation. Local craftsmen, like the Jesiek brothers, found the transition from furniture building to boat building seamless. But with the success of larger manufacturers, smaller boat shops declined.

Boats and Boating on Cranberry Lake

9780738565200

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Boats and Boating on Cranberry Lake portrays the evolution of boating life on a lake that was barely known until the late 19th century. Illustrated here are some of the lake's earliest guide boats and canoes, workboats and steamers, and early motor launches that brought visitors from the dock at Wanakena to hotels around the lake. In the summer of 1909, a few men who regularly spent the season on Cranberry Lake organized a motorboat club to promote the sport of power boating, improve boating conditions on the lake, and have some fun. Today the Cranberry Lake Boat Club, with 400 memberships, is thought to be the oldest such continuously active club in the western Adirondacks. The club will celebrate its centennial in 2009 with a summer of activities related to boats and boating on the lake.

Boatbuilding on Mount Desert Island

9781467118682

$21.99 $16.49 Save 25%

Mount Desert Island possesses a rich and diverse history of boatbuilding. Chester Clement was the first of the "lobsteryacht" builders, and Bunker and Ellis elevated the concept. Henry Hinckley started on an old boat-repair wharf and built a world-class brand. Members of the Rich family produced everything from gleaming yachts to rugged workboats, while Sim Davis and Bink Sargent were considered the experts for big draggers. Author Laurie Schreiber highlights the histories of some of the major players in Mount Desert Island's boatbuilding community.