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Review
``Addresses the newcomer as well as the seasoned multihull sailor. . .the best book written to date.'' (Multihulls )
``Addresses the newcomer as well as the seasoned multihull sailor--the best book written to date.'' (Multihulls )
``Crammed with useful information and sane advice.'' (Sailing )
``Finally, a multihull voice which does not proselytize. Instead, logic and information pack the pages of Chris White's book.'' (WoodenBoat )
``Addresses the newcomer as well as the seasoned multihull sailor--the best book written to date.'' (Multihulls )
``Crammed with useful information and sane advice.'' (Sailing )
``Finally, a multihull voice which does not proselytize. Instead, logic and information pack the pages of Chris White's book.'' (WoodenBoat )
Review
"Addresses the newcomer as well as the seasoned multihull sailor...the best book written to date." Multihulls "Addresses the newcomer as well as the seasoned multihull sailor--the best book written to date." Multihulls "Crammed with useful information and sane advice." Sailing "Finally, a multihull voice which does not proselytize. Instead, logic and information pack the pages of Chris White's book." WoodenBoat
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Of all man's inventions, few can compare with the sailboat-the nearly perfect vehicle with an inexhaustible supply of power; existing between two constantly moving mediums, drawing energy from each; able to sail around the world without refueling, not once or twice but hundreds of times. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Of all man's inventions, few can compare with the sailboat-the nearly perfect vehicle with an inexhaustible supply of power; existing between two constantly moving mediums, drawing energy from each; able to sail around the world without refueling, not once or twice but hundreds of times. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book as I am considering switching from a monohull to a multihull and I wanted to learn a little more about the differences between the boats. This book was well-written - the author's style is easy to read, clear and concise. However it didn't entirely scratch where I itched.
The author covers a good deal of ground in his book and I particularly liked his comparisons between the safety records of monohulls and multihulls. In many cases there aren't accurate figures but he worked with what was available to show that multihulls are no more dangerous than monohulls - in fact the reverse. And with the major danger that exists - capsize - he devotes a large amount of space to how to prepare for capsize, how to deal with it etc. This was a helpful, if slightly daunting, section with a lot of common sense. Yes, multihulls capsize but they don't sink and you can survive in one for quite a while if well prepared. And they don't capsize THAT often.
He also gave a significant amount of space to multihull designs, although again I think some of this information was a little out of date (an expected problem with an older book). The author definitely has his own opinions about what's good and what isn't and he speaks from the position of someone who likes to sail fast rather than potter about on a cruise (although a lot of other multihull owners, I imagine, prefer the relaxed cruising). He has designed a couple of boats himself and I found myself rather irritated at how often he showed us examples of his boats as proof of various statements about design - I felt he sometimes had a rather one-track mind about boat building.
My disappointment with this book, and the reason that I've only awarded it 4 stars rather than 5, is that he doesn't say a great deal about the handling differences between multihulls and monohulls and how they behave differently for passengers. A section on marina handling techniques, for example, would have been very useful as there are very different skills required here. Equally I didn't find anything that told me about the different methods one might use under sail to make the most of the multihulls' strengths - apart from speed, which he wrote about a lot (the use of drogues and parachute anchors to slow you down, for example). It was a good read and covered a fair bit of ground (including techniques to build your own boat - I wasn't too sure of the value of this information for your average reader) but it didn't answer all the questions I had so I will have to research a little further.
[EDIT] I subsequently bought Charles Kanter's "Cruising in Catamarans" (now republished as "Cruising Catamaran Communiqué") and that had far more of the information that was lacking in Chris White's book - handling, manoeuvring, the different feel of Multihulls. I think adding Kanter's book to the library gives a more complete picture, when read with this book.
The author covers a good deal of ground in his book and I particularly liked his comparisons between the safety records of monohulls and multihulls. In many cases there aren't accurate figures but he worked with what was available to show that multihulls are no more dangerous than monohulls - in fact the reverse. And with the major danger that exists - capsize - he devotes a large amount of space to how to prepare for capsize, how to deal with it etc. This was a helpful, if slightly daunting, section with a lot of common sense. Yes, multihulls capsize but they don't sink and you can survive in one for quite a while if well prepared. And they don't capsize THAT often.
He also gave a significant amount of space to multihull designs, although again I think some of this information was a little out of date (an expected problem with an older book). The author definitely has his own opinions about what's good and what isn't and he speaks from the position of someone who likes to sail fast rather than potter about on a cruise (although a lot of other multihull owners, I imagine, prefer the relaxed cruising). He has designed a couple of boats himself and I found myself rather irritated at how often he showed us examples of his boats as proof of various statements about design - I felt he sometimes had a rather one-track mind about boat building.
My disappointment with this book, and the reason that I've only awarded it 4 stars rather than 5, is that he doesn't say a great deal about the handling differences between multihulls and monohulls and how they behave differently for passengers. A section on marina handling techniques, for example, would have been very useful as there are very different skills required here. Equally I didn't find anything that told me about the different methods one might use under sail to make the most of the multihulls' strengths - apart from speed, which he wrote about a lot (the use of drogues and parachute anchors to slow you down, for example). It was a good read and covered a fair bit of ground (including techniques to build your own boat - I wasn't too sure of the value of this information for your average reader) but it didn't answer all the questions I had so I will have to research a little further.
[EDIT] I subsequently bought Charles Kanter's "Cruising in Catamarans" (now republished as "Cruising Catamaran Communiqué") and that had far more of the information that was lacking in Chris White's book - handling, manoeuvring, the different feel of Multihulls. I think adding Kanter's book to the library gives a more complete picture, when read with this book.
Format:Paperback
I've wanted a copy of this book for a long time, having seen it referenced numerous times in other places. I've finally bought a copy, and on first reading it is now a little dated in places, as would be expected given that it was written so long ago. I would also have preferred some of the topics (seamanship, for example) to be expanded somewhat. Nevertheless it is still a useful reference, and well worth having on the bookshelf.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
20 reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Out of date? Maybe.
29 April 2004
Format:Paperback
In response to the points made from Kemah, Texas I'll offer the following.
Yes, the book was written some time ago but the physics behind multihulls is the same now as it was in the beginning. Nor have the construction materials changed appreciably in the last 15 years. We still use the same glass, foam, wood, carbon, epoxy and polyester as we did in the mid '80's.
In fact some of the best cruising multihulls were built 20 years ago and some of the worst are built today. There has been evolution of course but much of it has been superficial. We still see lots of catamarans with little or no underwing clearance that violently pound their way across the bay, or worse the ocean. EVERYONE who knows ANYTHING about catamarans knows not to do this- but they still do it. I went to great lengths to point out this problem in the book. Maybe it has helped a few people avoid making a huge mistake in their boat selection.
The production boat appendix in the book (my publisher insisted upon it) is indeed useless as it is long out of date. However the sections on offshore safey and design features are still useful. But anyone who wants to write a current version is welcome. I'm busy designing boats and don't have the time.
Yes, the book was written some time ago but the physics behind multihulls is the same now as it was in the beginning. Nor have the construction materials changed appreciably in the last 15 years. We still use the same glass, foam, wood, carbon, epoxy and polyester as we did in the mid '80's.
In fact some of the best cruising multihulls were built 20 years ago and some of the worst are built today. There has been evolution of course but much of it has been superficial. We still see lots of catamarans with little or no underwing clearance that violently pound their way across the bay, or worse the ocean. EVERYONE who knows ANYTHING about catamarans knows not to do this- but they still do it. I went to great lengths to point out this problem in the book. Maybe it has helped a few people avoid making a huge mistake in their boat selection.
The production boat appendix in the book (my publisher insisted upon it) is indeed useless as it is long out of date. However the sections on offshore safey and design features are still useful. But anyone who wants to write a current version is welcome. I'm busy designing boats and don't have the time.
Additional info is available at www.chriswhitedesigns.com
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
I cannot find a better understanding of the multihull.
13 Aug 1999
Format:Paperback
I am preparing to cruise around the world in a multihull. Mr. White taught me more than I have learned in two years of reading other books and talking to yachties. It is an invaluable resource.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Must read for people considering purchase of a multihull
11 Mar 2007
Format:Paperback
Chris White's designs are certainly among the best, if not the best, in the world for performance multihulls. His book does a great job of explaining the various factors related to safety and performance in multihull sailing vessels.
The book is a bit dated and could stand a re-write to bring it up to modern standards, but I still give it a 5 for the excellent coverage of the material presented. I'd like to see some discussion of the idea of placing two masts, one in each hull discussed. I'd also like to hear his opinions of the Wylie Cat monohull flexible masts.
I'd also like to see more discussion of his own designs and his performance competitor the Gunboat series of catamarans.
Finally, I'd like to see more analysis of the various production catamarans compared to each other and mono-hulls in various wind conditions, and citations of the situations where mono-hulls perform better--for example sailing upwind is less than 10 knots of wind.
Basically, I feel Catamaran design still has a way to go in the area of rig design, while the use of high tech composites is 95% perfected.
The book is a bit dated and could stand a re-write to bring it up to modern standards, but I still give it a 5 for the excellent coverage of the material presented. I'd like to see some discussion of the idea of placing two masts, one in each hull discussed. I'd also like to hear his opinions of the Wylie Cat monohull flexible masts.
I'd also like to see more discussion of his own designs and his performance competitor the Gunboat series of catamarans.
Finally, I'd like to see more analysis of the various production catamarans compared to each other and mono-hulls in various wind conditions, and citations of the situations where mono-hulls perform better--for example sailing upwind is less than 10 knots of wind.
Basically, I feel Catamaran design still has a way to go in the area of rig design, while the use of high tech composites is 95% perfected.
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