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Bosun's Bag

A Treasury of Practical Wisdom for the Traditional Boater
Author: Tom Cunliffe
Published: 2024
Format: Hardback, 176 pages
Size: 248 × 184 × 16 mm
Regular price £2500
Tax included

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We dispatch most orders within one working day.

Admiralty charts are printed to order. During the busy season from April to August dispatch may take three to five working days due to print queues. If you'd like to know our current dispatch time or if you're up against a deadline please get in touch and we will do our best to help.

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A Treasury of Traditional Seamanship

Tom Cunliffe’s beautifully illustrated collection of seafaring wisdom brings together a lifetime’s worth of hands-on advice on rigging, sails, navigation and maintenance.

An illustrated treasury of expert tips on maintenance, navigation and seamanship from internationally renowned sailor Tom Cunliffe.

The bosun’s world is a colourful mix of time-honoured techniques, living history and a deep knowledge of materials. It’s the bosun’s bag of tools – and the skills that go with them – that forms the core of traditional seafaring. This book is a treasure trove of Cunliffe’s practical advice, invaluable to sailors of traditional craft and a delight to anyone who loves the character, grace and history of classic boats.

Illustrated with Tom’s salty yarns and exquisite paintings by marine artist Martyn Mackrill, this volume gathers a lifetime of experience, covering sails, rigging and working the ship. From avoiding seized bolts and restoring blocks to drying out and the wonders of beeswax, this collection is rich with age-old seafaring wisdom.

Discover how a real vessel works, how to expand your seamanship and how traditional techniques can enhance life afloat today. Whatever you sail, there’s something here to enrich your passion.

Table of Contents
  • Sails
  • Rigging
  • Maintenance
  • Navigation
  • Working the Ship
  • Seamanship
  • Miscellaneous
About the Author

Tom Cunliffe has many years of experience cruising all round Europe and from the Caribbean to Russia and Brazil to the Arctic. He is an RYA Yachtmaster examiner and a training consultant for Sailing USA – the governing body of yachting in the USA. He is a regular columnist for Sailing Today, Classic Boat and Yachting World in the UK, and SAIL in the USA.

Martyn Mackrill is Honorary Painter of the Royal Thames Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron. His depictions of classic boats have made him one of the most sought-after marine artists, and his work forms part of major collections worldwide.

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