The Cruising Life: A Commonsense Guide for the Would-Be Voyager
  The funniest, drollest, wisest book on the shelf for the would-be cruiser. Trefethen pulls no punches—he tells you just what will be involved if you and your family decide to "let slip the surly bonds of earth" and set sail.
How to get ready, how to finance the voyage, how to live on your boat with maximum peace of mind and minimum hassle, and what equipment you do and don't need. (What you don't need may surprise you.)
Table of Contents
Preface | Acknowledgments | Introduction
CHAPTER 1: SO YOU WANT TO GO CRUISING
Fantasy versus Reality | Eschew Delusion through Enlightenment | Cruising Mythologies | The Boat Isn't as Important as You Might Think
CHAPTER 2: PROFILES OF THE CRUISING COMMUNITY
Looking for Brian Lecur | Types of Cruisers | Common Traits of Successful Cruisers
CHAPTER 3: SHOULD YOU GO CRUISING?
Start Now to Develop Your Plan for Departure | Who Is Going with You? | The Nays And the Nay Nays
CHAPTER 4: THE DECISION TO GO
Two Paths Up the Same Mountain | Epiphany | Don't Commit Yourself until You Have to Commit Yourself
CHAPTER 5: CRUISING WITHOUT A BOAT—MEET THE CRUISING KITTY
Getting Gone | You're on Your Way | The Cruising Kitty | Richard and the Warm Cervezas | The Size of the Kitty | Three Types of Cruising Kitties
CHAPTER 6: FEEDING THE KITTY
Start Saving Now | Minimalism—The Key to the Cruising Life | Meet Your New Minimalist Lifestyle | Credit: The Most Frivolous of All Frivolities | Work to Live | Put Your Money to Work | The All-Service Discount Brokerage | Grooming Your Kitty | Risk Management | Investment Vehicles | Dividend Reinvestment Options | Worry-Free Kitties | Don't Cry, Diversify | How Not to Buy Stocks | Planning for What Comes Next
CHAPTER 7: PLANNING DEPARTURE
Uncle Freddy and the Pompadour Kid | Learning to Sail | Learning about Cruising | You're Almost Ready | Susan and the Wonder Cruise | Destinations—The Long-Range Plan | Charts and Guidebooks | The First-Year Plan | Don't Become a Liveaboard
CHAPTER 8: LIFE ABOARD
An Incident at Aitutaki | Cruising Skills | Noncruising Cruising Skills | Skills You'll Need Ashore | Skills to Sell to Other Cruisers | Skills to Sell Ashore
CHAPTER 9: OK, LET'S BUY A BOAT
Delphus and the Doofus | Looking at Boats | A Liability, Not an Asset | Pay Cash | Insurance | A Few Things to Look for in Your Cruising Boat | New Boats versus Old Boats | Let the Search Begin | The Hull | The Engine | What's Your Price Range? | Some Favorite Boats | Making an Offer | Get a Survey | Building Your Own Boat
CHAPTER 10: COMMENCE CRUISING
Let's Get Going | The Rigging | The Electrical System | Batteries and Charging Systems | The Engine | Sea Trials
CHAPTER 11: FOOD AND THE CRUISING GALLEY
The Most Important Part of the Boat | Galley Layout and Hardware | The Kitchen Sink | Storage | Pots and Pans | Galley Gadgets | Sharing the Chores | A Few Fantastic Recipes from 's Galley
CHAPTER 12: THE ELECTRONICS REVOLUTION
Electronic Marvels | Electronic Navigation | Radar | Communications | The Internet | Personal Computers | Water, Water, Everywhere | Safety at Sea
Appendix | Recommended Reading | Index
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