Bosun's Bag

An illustrated treasury of expert tips on maintenance, navigation and seamanship from the internationally renowned Tom Cunliffe. The bosun's world is a colourful mix of time-honoured techniques, living history and a knowledge of materials beyond the run of common experience. 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 Tom Cunliffe's priceless practical advice that'll be invaluable to sailors of traditional craft and delight those who love the character, grace and history of these unique boats. Illustrated with Tom's popular salty yarns and exquisite paintings by acclaimed marine artist Martyn Mackrill, this book brings together a lifetime's worth of hands-on knowledge with sections covering sails, rigging and working the ship. From avoiding seized bolts and stowing the main, to drying out and the wonders of beeswax, this collection is packed full of age-old seafaring wisdom. Find out how a real vessel works, how to expand your sailing ability and how you can all live better for it. Dip into this bag now. Whatever you're sailing, you will find something to enrich your passion.

Tom Cunliffe

Sails Setting a single-luff spinnaker Tricing up or Scandalising Gollywobbler Topsails in small yachts -Luff yard or full jackyard/ how long?/ downhauling The mysterious watersail Single headsails Cutter foretriangles Rigging Ratlines Topping lift. One or two The problem of the crane Sheer poles The humble burton Spreaders Baggywrinkle Lazy jacks Artificial Hemp Staying an offset bowsprit Mast rake Boom angle Deadeyes, the excellent and the ludicrous/setting them up Maintenance Slushing down Tallow Kiss the green goodbye Seized bolts? Not on my boat Pouring Pitch Wax for Happiness Varnish in the winter Restoring blocks Caulking irons Cove lines Boot top Necessity for good quality nails Beeswax Brightwork Frozen seacocks Rusty fastenings Masts in winter - mast out/rot hotspots Wooden blocks - maintaining performance Repairing deck seams Navigation Back to basics - distance run Steer northeast by east a half east Log book The traditional barometer A classic logbook Working the ship Instant sheet-lead adjustment Mast hoops - extra one Sail ties Flaking for the drop Stopping up Frapping Hanging the coil Stowing the main Harbour-stowing the staysail Tiller lines Instant lizard Peg it down (tiller) Tricing lines Stanchions and Guardrails Seamanship Purchases - an extra part for nothing Towing dinghies in a following sea How to sail an anchor out Drying out Shift the trim - ballast Flag etiquette Securing a rope Using fathoms for the chain Swigging Holding a stopper Sculling Reef combs A bullseye aloft Hoisting dinghy to the deck - lifting bolts/lifting power/bearing off/which way up/right way up Offset props Burgees The mystery of the foretriangle. Sailing to windward The honest Fisherman (anchor) Bull ropes Miscellaneous Fiddles Oil lamps Thinking outside the box - empty loo roll usage Keep awake Using up old sawdust Chain plates - internal and external Idle Machinery Christmas - oil lamps/cabin heat/roast turkey Wale strakes Mastheads akimbo