This is the story of a couple's travels on a forty-foot trawler cruising 6300 miles and 145 locks around the eastern part of North America known as America's Great Loop or the Great Circle Cruise. Their nautical ineptitude is evident from the beginning, but pulling from their personal and collective strengths, the authors overcome doubt, a lack of experience, and real and imagined horrors. The odyssey is told the way life hands out its adventures -- sometimes humorously, sometimes tragically, but always memorably. The writing is light and appealing, but there is a serious strain running through the book for those who relish history and descriptions of the landscape. Astute and attentive to detail, they chronicled events and kept an account of expenses, equipment and charting. As a result, the appendix/guidebook is worth the price of the book for anyone interested in planning their cruise. Topics include necessary charts and guidebooks, information on locks, sett! ing an itinerary, resource addresses and websites, details on equipment and the best place to be educated about boating. The book has full-color inserts with black and white photographs interspersed throughout.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
"IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THE ABOVE":
The following disclaimer was written before the reader even gets into the book... "IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE BOUND BY THE ABOVE, YOU MAY RETURN THIS BOOK TO THE PUBLISHER FOR A FULL REFUND." "The above" referenced numerous disclaimers against any liability. That did not exactly set the tone for a warm yarn about one's travel adventures. I thought I would at least real a chapter or two. However, after reading about the trawler they bought having a full holding tank, the bloom was off the rose. I... more info
Laugh a little.:
The first few chapters of this book made me laugh out loud,as the Stobs struggle to learn about their new boat and deal with the invariable problems with a new-used boat. Then the book settled down into a straight travelog, interspersed with a little strained humor. Worth reading. Gave me a new interest in cruising the Tennessee-Tom Bigbee.
Honey, Let's Get a Boat:
This is a delightful book if you keep in mind what it is. It is informative, light, enjoyable to read, and creates a spark of fantasy in readers who may never set foot on a boat. For those who already have a boat or plan to buy one, it is an invaluable reference for a type of boating that is growing in popularity. Three cheers for the Strobs.
Must read for Great Loop travel:
If your you're going to or are just thinking about boating the Great Loop you must read this book. A great read.
Similar Products:
The Great Circle Route by G.Bickley Remmey Jr. - Revised & Expanded by Laura Cannell (Paperback)
