Copyrighted by

The Outing Publishing Company, 1903,

NEW YORK.

PREFACE.

When the first edition of this little book was printed in 1894 my publishers thought they would be very lucky if they ever disposed of half the number of copies turned out by the press. I had the same melancholy forebodings. The result has shown that our fears were groundless. The book was written in a simple sailorly style for all lovers of the sea and boats. That it should have received such cordial commendation as it has from amateurs and professionals has been both a pleasure and a surprise. In sending it out on its sixth edition, I cannot lose the opportunity of thanking my critics who have been very flattering to whatever merits it may possess.

A. J. Kenealy.

New York, April, 1903.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
Preliminary Hints to an Amateur with Ambitions Toward Owning a Boat—Why He Ought Join a Yacht—Club Handiness of the Cat-Rig[15]
CHAPTER II.
The Choice of a Boat—Advantages of Stationary Ballast and a Centerboard—How to Avoid Being "Done" in a Boat Trade—Bargains at the Navy Yard—The Way to Cure a "Nail-Sick" Craft[22]
CHAPTER III.
Trial Spin in a Cat-Boat—How to Get Under Way, Beat to Windward and Run Back, with Instructions How to Act if Caught in a Squall or Stranded on a Shoal, and How to Avoid Collisions and Come to Anchor[28]
CHAPTER IV.
Advantages of the Yawl-Rig for General Cruising Purposes, especially when "Single Handed," with a Description of a Representative Craft—Disadvantages of the Ballast Fin for All Purposes Except Racing—The Fin in Model Yachting Years Ago[37]
CHAPTER V.
The Popularity of the Knockabout as an Excellent Cruising Craft, with Some Observations on the One-design Classes from Schooners to Dories[55]
CHAPTER VI.
Keep Your Weather-Eye Open All the Time When Afloat—How to Handle a Boat in Heavy Weather or a Summer Squall—The Use of the Sea Anchor in Riding Out a Gale, and How Shipwreck May Be Avoided by the Judicious Use of Oil[65]
CHAPTER VII.
Overhauling the Yacht—Practical Instructions for Cleaning and Painting the Craft Inside and Out, with Hints on the Care of Hull, Spars, Canvas and Running gear[88]
CHAPTER VIII.
Fitting Out for a Cruise—Hints on Equipping and Provisioning a Boat so as to be Prepared for All Emergencies—A Sailor's Solution of the Culinary Problem—Hot "Grub" in a Gale[115]
CHAPTER IX.
Beating to Windward—The Theory and Practice of Sailing a Vessel Against the Breeze[128]
CHAPTER X.
Combination Rowing and Sailing Boats—The Jib and Mainsail Sprit, Leg-of-Mutton, Cat, Balance Lug and Sliding Gunter-Rigs—The Folding Centerboard[140]
CHAPTER XI.
Rigging and Sails, with Some Impartial Remarks on the Lanyard and the Deadeye, as Opposed to the Turnbuckle—Standing and Running Gear, and the Bending and Setting of Canvas[155]
CHAPTER XII.
Laying Up for the Winter—Practical Suggestions for Protecting a Boat and Her Gear from the Stress of Our Inclement Climate—A Plea for Trustworthy Skippers and Engineers[168]
CHAPTER XIII.
Useful Hints and Recipes, with Some Remarks on the Buying of a Binocular Marine Glass, from the "Brain-Pan" of a Practical Sailor[175]
CHAPTER XIV.
The Rule of the Road at Sea: Being a Digest of the Present International Regulations for Preventing Collisions on Oceans and in Harbors[185]
CHAPTER XV.
The Mariner's Compass, with Remarks on Deviation, Variation, Leeway, etc.[192]
CHAPTER XVI.
Charts, with Some Hints as to Navigation by Dead-reckoning—Lead, Log, and Lookout[203]
CHAPTER XVII.
Marlinespike Seamanship: Being Practical Instructions in the Art of Making the Splices, Knots and Bends in Ordinary Use[207]
CHAPTER XVIII.
Weather Wrinkles from the Scientific Point of View of Professional Meteorologists and also Jack Tar[217]
CHAPTER XIX.
Sea Cookery for Yachtsmen[223]
CHAPTER XX.
Nautical Terms in Common Use, from which all Obsolete and Antiquated Terms, such as were in use aboard the Ark, have been eliminated[236]
Addenda—Recent Changes of Sail Plan and Rigging in Modern Craft[248]