A Guide to Sailboats and Their Systems
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About this ebook
Written for both novice and seasoned boaters, this book provides an in depth description of sailboat types, their design, construction and how the on board systems operate. It is not intended to be the last word on any of the included topics but it will provide a comprehensive overview of sailboats and their installed systems. Questions such as " Why is there a polarity indicator on the shore power panel? " and " What's the difference between a cross cut and a radial cut sail? " will be answered as well as many others. Many pictures and diagrams are included.
Chapter 1: A Brief History of Sailing
Chapter 2: Types of Sailboats and Riggs
Chapter 3: Hull and Deck Construction Methods
Chapter 4: Hull Design and Mechanics
Chapter 5: Sail Design and Construction
Chapter 6: Steering Systems
Chapter 7: Auxiliary Propulsion Systems
Chapter 8: Alternative Fuels for Cooking and Heating
Chapter 9: Vessel and Shore Power Electrical Systems
Chapter 10: Fresh Water Supply and Waste Holding Systems
Chapter 11: Electronics and Instrumentation
David Sandford
My Name is David Sandford AMS® and I am a practicing marine surveyor specializing in both power and sail pleasure craft. I have amassed over 25 years’ experience as a service technician in both the Marine and Automotive Industries and currently carry Canadian, Interprovincial Certification in motor vehicle and diesel repair. I am also certified in Computer Aided Design, have trained in Maritime Damage Investigation and have considerable experience in fiberglass manufacturing, both in repair and new construction as well.I currently carry Accredited Marine Surveyor status with the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS®). I am also member of, and am standards trained by The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). My Company, DS Marine Surveys /operates on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Canada. My column titled “The Seaworthy Surveyor” is featured regularly in Ontario Sailor Magazine and deals with technical issues pertaining to the maintenance and repair of all types of sailing pleasure craft. I also deliver seminar presentations and training on various technical subjects to groups in the marine industry.
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A Guide to Sailboats and Their Systems - David Sandford
A Guide to Sailboats and Their Systems
From the Keel to the Cook Stove. How things Work on Sailboats
By Marine Surveyor, David Sandford AMS®
Published by David Sandford AMS® at Smashwords
Copyright 2015 David Sandford AMS®
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Table of Contents
How I Came to Write This Book
Chapter 1: A Brief History of Sailing
Chapter 2: Types of Sailboats and Riggs
Chapter 3: Hull and Deck Construction Methods
Chapter 4: Hull Design and Mechanics
Chapter 5: Sail Design and Construction
Chapter 6: Steering Systems
Chapter 7: Auxiliary Propulsion Systems
Chapter 8: Alternative Fuels for Cooking and Heating
Chapter 9: Vessel and Shore Power Electrical Systems
Chapter 10: Fresh Water Supply and Waste Holding Systems
Chapter 11: Electronics and Instrumentation
About the Author
How I Came to Write this Book
Each year in my profession as a marine surveyor I get involved in a number of pleasure craft pre-purchase situations. Many of these involve first time boat buyers who, while they may have considerable sailing experience either with friends or chartering will often find themselves with little or no practical knowledge about the mechanical aspects of the boats that they wind up purchasing or how the onboard systems operate. As such I am often called upon to explain and demonstrate how these on board systems and devises operate. While I do see this as part of the process especially for first time buyers and rookie sailors I am not always present when questions arise and when new owners find themselves requiring assistance with their new boat.
That's what this book is intended to do, provide both new and seasoned boat owners with some insight as to how various on board systems function and hopefully address some of the common questions that do arise.
Whether it’s a safety related issue as to Why is there a polarity indicator on my shore power panel?
or What does the pressure gauge on my propane supply regulator do?
I've tried to answer them all and hopefully provide boat owners with some valuable insight as to how their on board systems function.
I've also included discussions on sail design and construction, an explanation of the different types of sailboat rig configurations and some good information on the basics of fiberglass hull and deck construction. There's also a chapter on auxiliary power and the necessary systems that allow our on-board engines to function.
After many years as a columnist for a number of magazines I have learned that technical subjects can be highly controversial and there’s always someone out there with opinion that differs from yours on about just about any given subject. With that being said I just want to offer that none of what is written here is intended to be the last word on any of the subjects that we’ll discuss n this book. The intention here is to present a detailed overview to both rookie and seasoned sailors on how sailboats and their systems function.
So whether you are a new or seasoned sailor or are you just moving up to a larger more complex boat I hope that as a reader you find some interesting information here.
Enjoy.
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Chapter1: A Brief History of Sailing
It has been said that before you know where you’re going you have to know where you’ve been. So with that in mind let us take a brief look at the history of sailing.
Since two thirds of the earth is covered by water I guess that was only likely that early humans would develop ways to utilize it as a method of transportation. Who knows when the first animal skin was used as a crude sail to harness the wind and propel some type of floating craft over the water?
The earliest historical depiction of a sailboat appears to be a picture on a plate found in Kuwait which dates back to about the fifth millennium BC. This proves that sailing has been with us for a long time. All throughout history sailing has been fundamental to the exploration of the world and the transportation of goods and people.
Sailing flourished in the Mediterranean, the Far East and even in Northern Europe where the Vikings, in their square sailed, open boats crossed the Atlantic and landed on the eastern shores of North America. In fact it wasn’t until the invention of the steam engine and its subsequent installation into ships in the 1800’s that a viable replacement for the sailboat was possible. I am told that what really ended the sailboat as a means of commercial transportation was the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in the 1860’s. It’s height above the water was lower than most commercial sailboat masts of the time and it effectively limited travel in and out of New York Harbour, at the time, one of the world’s most important shipping ports.
In the mid 1600’s the wealthy European aristocrats saw sailing in a slightly different light and began to use sailboats purely for fun and competition. Dutch merchants began to adapt and modify commercial sailboat designs making then simpler and smaller. The English word yacht
was derived from the Dutch name Jacht
which was given to these smaller fun
boats. A Yacht constructed in Holland was presented as