Ships and boats: general interest Books

Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - The first ever history of Isambard Kingdom Brunelâs forgotten first ship, the SS Great Western, the fastest and largest Atlantic Steamship of its day.Trade Review‘Restores the first of Brunel’s ships to a central role in the history of commercial shipping, business, technology and engineering. A fitting tribute to a pioneer of modernity.’ -- Professor Andrew Lambert‘Helen Doe gives long-overdue recognition to Brunel’s first steamship... bringing to life some of the key personalities who made the ambitious project a reality.’ -- Nautilus Telegraph

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Book SynopsisA revelatory and wide-ranging exploration of HMS Britannic--her life at sea and on the seabed--by the owner of her wreck. Launched in 1914, two years after the ill-fated voyage of her sister ship, RMS Titanic, the Britannic was intended to be superior to her tragic twin in every way. But war intervened and in 1915 she was requisitioned as a hospital ship. Just one year later, while on her way to collect troops wounded in the Balkans campaign, she fell victim to a mine laid by a German U-boat and tragically sank in the middle of the Aegean Sea.There her wreck lay, at a depth of 400 feet, until it was discovered 59 years later by legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau. In 1996 the wreck was bought by the author of this book, Simon Mills.Exploring the Britannic tells the complete story of this enigmatic ship: her construction, launch and life, her fateful last voyage, and the historical findings resulting from the exploration of tTrade ReviewLavishly illustrated...harrowingly honest, Exploring the Britannic is a beautiful and often moving reflection on history, warfare, undersea exploration, friendship, courage and tragedy. * The Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisCruisers probably vary more in their characteristics than any other warship type and have certainly been subject to the most convoluted development. There was always a basic tension between quantity and quality, between numbers and unit size, but at a more detailed level every one of the naval powers made different demands of their cruiser designers. This makes the story of cruiser evolution in the world's major navies fascinating but complex. This book sets out to provide a coherent history of the fortunes of this ship-type in the twentieth century, beginning with a brief summary of development before the First World War and an account of a few notable cruiser actions during that conflict that helped define what cruisers would look like in the post-war world. The core of the book is devoted to the impact of the naval disarmament treaty process, which concentrated to a great extent on attempting to define limits to the numbers and size of cruisers that could be built, in the process creating the treaty cruiser' as a type that had never existed before and that existed solely because of the treaty process. How the cruisers of the treaty era performed in the Second world War forms the final focus of the book, which concludes with a look at the fate of the cruiser-type since 1945. The result is probably the best single-volume account of the subject to date.

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Book SynopsisWhen Marcia and David Pirie abandoned their careers and sailed off in their home-built ketch Moongazer, They embarked on a journey that took them around the world, and became a way of life for nine years. Travellers on a Trade Wind covers the highlights of the journey.

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Book SynopsisDavid Mearns has discovered some of the world's most fascinating and elusive shipwrecks. From the mighty battlecruiser HMS Hood to the crumbling wooden skeletons of Vasco da Gama's 16th century fleet, David has searched for and found dozens of sunken vessels in every ocean of the world.The Shipwreck Hunter is an account of David's most intriguing and fascinating finds. It details both the meticulous research and the mid-ocean stamina and courage required to find a wreck miles beneath the sea, as well as the moving human stories that lie behind each of these oceanic tragedies.Combining the derring-do of Indiana Jones with the precision of a surgeon, in The Shipwreck Hunter David Mearns opens a porthole into the shadowy depths of the ocean.Trade ReviewThe underwater worlds of past and present collide in the depths of the ocean in this gripping and suspenseful narrative by David Mearns, a true expert on mysteries of the deep sea. * Clive Cussler *For [Mearns], setting world records and recovering centuries-old treasures is just another day at the office-or ocean, rather. * National Geographic *In 1915 Ernest Shackleton's ship SY Endurance sank into the icy depths of the Weddell Sea, never to be seen again. Her loss marked the start of what is arguably the greatest rescue in history and the ship remains a potent symbol of courage and survival. David Mearns has long wanted to pay tribute to Shackleton by finding his ship. Given David's amazing track record and outstanding abilities, I am quite sure that one day I will be able to see images of my grandfather's Endurance, no longer lost. * Alexandra Shackleton *Fascinating * Nautilus Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'What a fun book! Reading Sea Fever is enticing and intriguing, like watching floating treasure bob past your nose.' Tristan Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator Can you interpret the shipping forecast? Do you know your flotsam from your jetsam? Or who owns the foreshore? Can you tie a half-hitch - or would you rather splice the mainbrace? Full of charming illustrations and surprising facts, Sea Fever provides the answers to all these and more. Mixing advice on everything from seasickness to righting a capsized boat with arcane marine lore, recipes, history, dramatic stories of daring-do and guides to the wildlife we share our shores with, even the most experienced ocean-dweller will find something in these pages to surprise and delight.Trade ReviewWhat a fun book! Reading Sea Fever is enticing and intriguing, like watching floating treasure bob past your nose. * Tristan Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator *Once you've read it, you'll never feel like a landlubber again. * Carlisle Living *

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Book SynopsisThe 'ShipCraft' series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warship types. Lavishly illustrated, each book takes the modeller through a brief history of the subject class, then moves to an extensive photographic survey of either a high-quality model or a surviving example of the ship. Hints on building the model, and on modifying and improving the basic kit, are followed by a section on paint schemes and camouflage, featuring numerous colour profiles and highly-detailed line drawings. The strengths and weaknesses of available kits of the ships are reviewed, and the book concludes with a section on research references - books, monographs, large-scale plans and relevant websites.The Yamato class battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy were the largest warships of the Second World War and the largest battleships ever constructed, displacing 78,800 tonnes. They also carried the largest naval artillery ever fitted to a warship - 18in guns. Neither Yamato nor her sistership Musashi made much impact on the War. Musashi was sunk during the battle of Leyte Gulf while Yamato, deployed in a deliberate suicide attack on Allied forces at the battle of Okinawa, was finally sunk by US carrier-based aircraft; Not 300 of her 3,330 crew survived.

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Book SynopsisDeep in southern latitudes, in a desolate corner of Cumberland Bay on the east coast of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, hard by the rotting quays of the abandoned whaling station of Grytviken and almost within a stone's throw of the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, lie three forsaken steam ships: rusting remnants of our industrial past, unique survivals from a vanished age of steam at sea. One of these ships is 'Viola', the sole surviving Hull steam trawler from the huge fleet which put 'fish & chips' on Britain's plates more than a hundred years ago. In this absorbing account, maritime historians Robb Robinson and Ian Hart describe her ancestry and origins in the Victorian and Edwardian North Sea fishery - vividly depicting life for her crew in the most dangerous industry of its time; they record her Great War service as a U-boat hunter - one of the many merchant vessels largely unsung for their contribution, and often sacrifice, in wartime; and they recount her subsequent career hunting whales off West Africa, then later sealing and exploration work in the South Atlantic, before her final abandonment in South Georgia. Here she became quarry for the infamous Argentine scrap metal expedition of 1982, in the initiating action of the Falklands War. This improbable yet true story of a humble working vessel and those involved with her is a highly readable work of social, as well as maritime, history.

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Book Synopsis*A Newstatesman Book of the Year*‘Nimble, vital, unexpectedly affecting’ ObserverBestselling travel writer Horatio Clare joins an icebreaker for a voyage through the ice-packs of the far north.'We are celebrating a hundred years since independence this year: how would you like to travel on a government icebreaker?' A message from the Finnish embassy launches Horatio Clare on a voyage around an extraordinary country and an unearthly place, the frozen Bay of Bothnia, just short of the Arctic circle. Travelling with the crew of Icebreaker Otso, Horatio, whose last adventure saw him embedded on Maersk container vessels for the bestseller Down to the Sea in Ships, discovers stories of Finland, of her mariners and of ice.Aboard Otso Horatio gets to know the men who make up her crew, and explores Finland’s history and character. Surrounded by the extraordinary colours and conditions of a frozen sea, he also comes to understand something of the complexity and fragile beauty of ice, a near-miraculous substance which cools the planet, gives the stars their twinkle and which may hold all our futures in its crystals.Trade ReviewIcebreaker sails with a phlegmatic Finnish crew into threatening and threatened polar waters... Clare’s witty prose, filled with vivid descriptions, bears witness to the melting skin of our fragile planet and all that its loss might mean for our souls * New Statesman Books of the Year *Clare has a gift for pinning to the page all that comes his way. His is a joy in framing with such precision and flair that it is the opposite of indulgent, allowing the reader to share in his own marvellous encounters... nimble, vital, unexpectedly affecting -- Stephanie Cross * Observer *Icebreaker has many of the pleasures of classic travel writing: a pure sense of visiting another world in the company of an eloquent guide. But this is not a backward-looking book, and its warning for the future is clear… The Met Office estimates the Arctic could be seasonally ice-free by the 2040s. It may not be many decades, then, until Clare’s travelogue is a record of a vanished world -- Erica Wagner * Financial Times *Light fills his writing... Mr Clare is a great enjoyer -- of people, landscape, and above all of language * Economist *Salted with excellent topographical language... Clare has an ear and an eye for words... one can't have enough of the big white * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe largest, most luxurious ship in the world, wrecked on her maiden voyage after colliding with an iceberg mid-Atlantic, has become the stuff of legends. While everyone knows the new White Star liner was glamorous, full of millionaires when she sank, few appreciate just how luxurious she was. Even in Third Class, the accommodation was better than on First Class on many older ships. For the first time, Bruce Beveridge, Steve Hall, Scott Andrews and Daniel Klistorner look at the construction and exterior of the ship itself, and at her interior design and fittings. From cobalt blue Spode china and Elkington plate silverware in the à la carte restaurant to the design of the boilers and fixtures and fittings on board the world's most luxurious vessel, they tell the story of a liner built at the peak of the race between the British, French and Germans to build bigger and better ships.

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Book SynopsisA fully revised and expanded edition of the only resource you''ll need for choosing, owning and maintaining a narrowboat. The UK has over 2000 miles of navigable canals and rivers which are home to an estimated 35,000 licensed boats. Although canal boats can look much the same to the novice, there are some very important differences to be aware of. If you''re new to boating you have some important choices to make.This comprehensive book examines the options available to different types of boaters. From those who choose to live aboard their boats and constant cruisers to fair-weather cruisers, hire boating and share boat syndicates each will need a different type of boat if they are to fully enjoy their time afloat. Packed with case studies and advice from real boaters with years of experience to share, this second edition has been thoroughly updated throughout and includes new information on liveaboard costs and considerations, eco-friendly boating options, sTrade ReviewThe Narrowboat Guide ... delivers a real depth of details – we learn which licence allows you to travel where on the network, what types of fuel suit your stove, the pros and cons of different stern glands and what you can reasonably expect to pay for and get on various types of mooring … What sets this book head and shoulders above other guides I’ve read is the attempt to give estimated costings, not just for the survey and the boat but for all aspects of life aboard and maintenance … If I were to single out one aspect of this book for specific praise it would be the use of text boxes offering diverse empirical accounts from boat owners, brokers and builders. -- Kathryn Smyth * Towpath Talk *Table of ContentsHow to buy a boat Trying it out: hire-boat holidays Boat features and fixtures Cost of owning a narrowboat Moorings The art of boating: out and about The art of boating: the great indoors Boat maintenance Liveaboard life Pets aboard Boat safety Resources

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Book SynopsisThe romantic dream of downsizing, giving up the rat race, and living life at 4mph on the inland waterways is proving more and more attractive. But for tens of thousands of people it is not just a romantic dream but an actual lifestyle. Tony Jones is one of those people. He has lived aboard his 50ft narrowboat for over 14 years and in this very practical book he documents what the liveaboard lifestyle is really like, focusing on the practical issues of day to day living for those who want to know what living on a boat actually entails, to see how to manage it for themselves. Topics covered include: the pros, cons and costs of a residential mooring power usage and energy consumption (and how it differs from a house) how to stay warm - the choice of coal, electric, gas or wood heating boat loos - the pros and cons, and troubleshooting typical problems entertainment - TV, radio, internet, DVDs logistical problems - no postal address, GP access, vehicle

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Book SynopsisThrough the French Canals has probably tempted more people to explore the beautiful waterways of France than any other book. First published in 1970, it''s been the key authoritative title on cruising the French canals ever since. The revised new edition is the essential comprehensive planning guide for anyone wanting to cruise through the French waterways or take their boat from the English Channel through to the Mediterranean via the inland route. It includes: over 50 routes fully described and illustrated, with positions of locks, towns and villages through routes from the English Channel and Atlantic to the Mediterranean, plus distances, and assessment of suitable boats for the canals. It also provides dimensions of locks and operating times, details of bridge heights, canal depths, fuelling points, waterway signals, a guide to the cost of living, shopping and stores, sources of weather information, haltes for overnight stops, and ports de plaisance.As welTrade ReviewA must for yachtsmen wishing to use the French inland waterway system...a fascinating read. * Yachting Monthly *highly professional, beautifully-presented * Waterways World *The bible for those wishing to head for the Med * Gaffer’s Log *this book covers virtually all you need to know’ * Towpath Talk *This is the 14th edition of a book subtitled 'The complete planning guide for cruising the French waterways' and that's very much what it is: a planning guide. It gives the readers everything they need for the basic planning at a waterway level - locks and their opening times, craft dimensions, VHF channels, boatyards and facilities - plus enough of a description to give a feel for each waterway. And for those new to French waterways there's a lengthy general section covering signage, operation of locks, useful contact details and basic French vocabularies covering what you might need in dealing with boatyards, waterways terminology, food shopping or discussing the weather. * Canal Boat *This book lives up to its subtitle, providing excellent information, and route-planning data, making it the right choice for those setting out to plan a first foray into French inland waters. * Cruising *An excellent overall introduction to these popular and varied waterways, particularly suitable for the first-time visitor or those who have some experience but are looking for new areas to cruise...Where this book really excels is for long distance route planning, with more than 50 routes described and illustrated...This guide, already a bestseller, is surely the first port of call for anyone considering navigating these popular French waterways. * Towpath Talk *Table of ContentsIntroduction to the 14th edition Part 1 1 Summary of route details, with map 2 Through routes to the Mediterranean 3 Cruising the inland waterways 4 Choosing the right boat 5 Equipment 6 Planning the cruise 7 In the waterways of France 8 Locks 9 Cost of living, shopping and stores 10 Useful information Part 2: the routes Section One: The Lower Seine (la Seine aval) Section Two: Bassin de la Seine Section Three: Bassin du Centre-Est Section Four: Rhône - Saône Basin Section Five: The Northern Region Section Six: Bassin du Nord-Est Section Seven: Le Bassin du Rhin Section Eight: Brittany and Pays-de-la-Loire Section Nine: Entre Deux Mers - the Atlantic - the Mediterranean and the Rivers Baïse, Lot and Charente Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIt would make the stones cry to hear those on board shrieking' - Daniel Buckley, third-class passenger For the first time, in this moving new book, Titanic's passengers and crewmen are permitted to tell the story of that lamentable disaster entirely in their own words. Included are letters, postcards, diary entries and memoirs that were written before, during and immediately after the maiden voyage itself. Many of the pre-sailing documents were composed by people who later lost their lives in the sinking and represent the last communications that these people ever had with their friends and loved ones at home. The subsequent letters and postcards give an unparalleled description of the events that occurred during the five days that Titanic was at sea, and the correspondence by survivors after the tragedy describes the horror of the disaster itself and the heartbreak they experienced at the loss of those they loved. This poignant compilation, by Titanic expert G

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Book SynopsisNelson's history has been written from every possible angle, but this is not so with his ships. Such information as there is about the ships is buried in contemporary books on naval architecture; only the expert can sift it and present it in a usable form. In doing this, Dr. Longridge's 1955 work quickly became a veritable treasure trove for the naval historian and ship modeler. H.M.S. Victory is the supreme example of the ships of the period, and fortunately she is still in existence. The original draughts of 1765 have been preserved, as have also the drawings used in the restoration of the ship in 1922. The author was thus able to compile from authentic sources and his model of the Victory now occupies a prominent position in the Science Museum at South Kensington. The illustrations are a unique feature. They include a set of photographs showing the interior construction of H.M.S. Victory and H.M.S. Implacable, the latter being taken only a few days before she was scuttled. The book features over 180 line drawings, designed by E. Bowness, A.R.I.N.A., and executed by G.F. Campbell, Assoc. M.R.I.N.A., ranging from elaborate perspective drawings of the complex gear at the fore top and crosstrees to the simplest detail. The folding plates by G.F. Campbell (which measure 560 x 400 mm and 235 x 450 mm) include lines, inboard and outboard profile, deck plans of the hull, standing and running rigging plans, and a complete belaying pin plan. Such an analysis of the ship of this period had never before been attempted.Table of ContentsPreface. Part One - The Hull: Construction of Ships of the Period. Framing of the Model. Planking and Coppering. Decks and Other Details. Head and Stern. Upper Deck. Guns and Deck Details. Quarter Deck. Other Hull Details. Assembly. Part Two - The Rigging: Masts and Spars. Rigging. Standing Rigging. Running Rigging.

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Book SynopsisVolume Two covers the interior design and fitting out of the ship and presents detailed deck-by-deck information, from the palatial rooms of First Class to areas of the ship seen only by the crew.

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling guides to Britain's canals and rivers for 50 years. For all users of the inland waterways including boaters, walkers, cyclists and visitors, this established, popular and practical guide covers the canals and waterways between Exeter and the River Thames.

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Book SynopsisBeginning in 1912 with the four-funnel France, the nostalgic voyage continues with the great and grand transatlantic liners of the French Line, the CGT.

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Book SynopsisThis entertaining andinformative book will be of practical benefit to all who discover the historicUnion Canal and the Forth & Clyde Canal, whether walking, cycling, boatingor visiting the Falkirk Wheel or the Kelpies in Scotland. CanalsAcross Scotland provides detailed towpath information, suggests what tosee and do along the way and in the towns passed. The book is full offascinating historical background, knowledgeable descriptions, practicalinformation, good stories and is beautifully illustrated. Side trips to theAntonine Wall, which stretches from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde, countryparks or to towns like Linlithgow, Falkirk, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch, often bycircular walks, are also described. The canals are forleisurely, timeless exploring during any season and this updated guide will bean essential companion. Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONETrade Review'...a useful guide...but it's also an enjoyable read. ...the author entertains readers with fascinating snippets of local history... The 2015 edition brings the story up to date'. Canal Boat -------------------- 'One of the great strengths of the book is that eight of these chapters explore the towns, countryside and Antonine Wall along the route of the canals. ... Hamish gives us many insights into local heritage'. Canal News -------------------- 'This excellent book, written passionately, entertainingly and informatively by Scottish canals expert, Hamish Brown, is a must for visitors to the Union and Forth and Clyde Canals. ...a very readable and lively text which captures the atmosphere of the canals perfectly...' Towpath Talk -------------------- '...an easy read... It is beautiful illustrated with both modern and historical photos, with appendices offering practical information. ...is also well suited for boaters wanting to explore away from tiller'. Waterways World -------------------- '...this welcome book brings it all up to date'. Canoeist -------------------- '...this excellent guidebook will be invaluable to canal users'. People's Friend ------------------- '...a perfect companion to the canals, allowing visits to be planned and to be enjoyed to the full. ...the book is full of fascinating historical background, descriptions, stories, and practical information. It is copiously and beautifully illustrated... an ideal book for anyone who likes their walks (or cycle rides) flat rather than hilly!' Undiscovered Scotland

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Book SynopsisIt was an age of evolution, when size and speed were almost the ultimate considerations. Bigger was said to be better' and ship owners were not exempted from the prevailing mood. While the German four-stackers of 1897-06 and then Cunard''s brilliant Mauretania & Lusitania of 1907 led the way to larger and grander liners. White Star Line countered by 1911 with the Olympic, her sister Titanic and a near-sister, the Britannic. The French added the France while Cunard took delivery of the beloved Aquitania. But the Germans won out -- they produced the 52,000-ton Imperator and a near-sister, the Vaterland, the last word in shipbuilding and engineering prior to the First World War. They and their sister, the Bismarck, remained the biggest ships in the world until 1935. But other passenger ships appear in this decade - other Atlantic liners, but also ships serving on more diverse routes: Union Castle to Africa, P&O to India and beyond, the Empress liners on the trans-Pacific run. We look at a grand age of maritime creation, ocean-going superlative, but also sad destruction in the dark days of the First War. It was, in all ways, a fascinating period.

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Book SynopsisVolume Two covers the interior design and fitting out of the ship and presents detailed deck-by-deck information, from the palatial rooms of First Class to areas of the ship seen only by the crew.

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Book SynopsisIn the 19th century, the Stevenson engineers pioneered marvelous lighthouses around the coasts of Scotland - lighthouses which inspire with their architectural elegance, and speak of compassion for sailors and fishermen risking their lives in these notoriously dangerous waters. But what was it actually like to be a Scottish lighthouse engineer, and how did the professional activities interact with social and economic conditions in Scotland at the time? How did the Northern Lighthouse Board's Engineer (almost invariably a Stevenson) cope with weeks aboard a small lighthouse vessel, traveling around the rugged Scottish coastline on dangerous tours of inspection and interacting with local people in some of the remotest regions of Europe? The author reveals the fascinating story of the Stevensons as family members as well as engineers - brilliant yet fallible, tough yet vulnerable, with private lives that are little known, even to lighthouse enthusiasts.It sets their work in a historical and social context, drawing heavily on eye-witness accounts by two of Scotland's most celebrated literary sons: Walter Scott, internationally famous poet and member of the Edinburgh establishment; and Robert Louis Stevenson, young family member and disenchanted engineering apprentice desperate to become an author. The reader is taken to the Orkney and Shetland Islands with descriptions of the chain of Stevenson lighthouses that illuminate a vital shipping route between the North Sea, Baltic, and North Atlantic. Finally we travel to Muckle Flugga, the northernmost outpost of the British Isles and last link in the chain, a vicious rock on which David and Thomas Stevenson dared to build their 'impossible lighthouse'.Trade Review`It's an inspiring history that's well worth exploring. Reading this book will certainly increase your appreciation of these buildings and the people who worked in and on them'. 60 North -------------------- `...the book will appeal to historians, armchair naturalists and holiday makers alike'. LAMP -------------------- `...a fascinating book...' Undiscovered Scotland -------------------- `There's lots of fascinating insight for both established fans of lighthouses and also those whose interest has just been taken by the subject matter. For those who long to look beyond the Shipping Forecast at the places behind some of the names, this book might just help cure our insomnia and curiosity'. Best of British -------------------- `…a personal story of that dynasty of engineers … Most ably the book places lives and work of Stevenson lighthouse engineers in their social and historical context and author Lynn writes of the Stevensons as a family of engineers’. Flash -------------------- `…For the interested visitor and the casual pharologist alike, this small and well-illustrated paperback will satisfy their curiosity and provide an attractive souvenir’. The Shetland Times -------------------- `…Anyone with even a passing interest will be enthralled by Scottish Lighthouse Pioneers … As well as telling a fascinating and at times, gripping, story the tale is well illustrated with contemporary drawings and pictures, maps and more modern photographs’. Dunoon Oberver -------------------- `…It’s a great little book about a family who achieved something amazing’. Desperate Reader

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Book SynopsisRock Lighthouses of Britain & Ireland is a new edition of the classic work on the subject – but with some of the most famous Irish rock lighthouses included. The text has been updated to include the modern technology being used by the lighthouse authorities, as well as all the historical advances made over the centuries at British and Irish rock lights, complemented by scores of new and many stunning photographs. Also included are historic plans and drawings, many of them highly colourful and artistic, as used by the original lighthouse builders. At the end are comprehensive and detailed tables about the rock lighthouses maintained by all three lighthouse authorities. Building on the acclaim received for the earlier editions, it brings the history of these iconic structures completely up-to-date, from the day the first granite block was laid, through their construction, automation, the disappearance of the lighthouse keeper, right up to today’s automated operation. Here are some of the world’s most famous rock lighthouses. There are stories of men battling against Nature’s most powerful forces to build a structure designed to save lives on a seemingly impossible site. Rock Lighthouses of Britain & Ireland spans the centuries between the world’s first rock lighthouse on the Eddystone reef, to the very last rock lighthouse, constructed in the traditional style, on Ireland’s Fastnet Rock and accordingly will remain the premier book about rock lighthouses.Table of ContentsOut of the darkness – A history of the British and Irish lighthouses services; Eddystone – The beginning; The Skerries – The price of generosity; The Smalls – A rock lighthouse on legs; Longships – The Land’s End light; The Longstone – Grace Darling’s light; Bell Rock – The start of the Stevensons; Tuskar Rock – The lighthouse that almost killed a King; The Skelligs – The lighthouse at the end of the road; Skerryvore – The noblest of all; Bishop Rock – The Blue Riband light; Fastnet – The last of the great rock towers; Muckle Flugga – The northern light; The Bull and The Calf – If at first you don’t succeed…; Wolf Rock – The curse of the Cornish wreckers; Dubh Artach–- Guardian of the Hebrides; Chicken Rock – A Manx crag; Flannan Isles – The Marie Celeste lighthouse; Rockall – ‘The most isolated rock on the surface on the earth’; South Rock – A remarkable survivor; Rock lights – A new era begins; Appendix – Rock lighthouse data

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Book Synopsis A highly illustrated history of the US Navy''s nuclear submarine program, from the postwar years to the 2020 Columbia-class SSBNs.James C. Goodall covers the origins, design and development of the US Navy's fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. This program was developed under the command of Hiram G. Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy who oversaw the commissioning of the very first nuclear-powered attack submarine, the USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1952. This was a truly revolutionary design. Until the advent of nuclear power, the world's submarine fleets traveled on the surface at night to charge their batteries, and only dove below the surface when enemy ships or planes were spotted. With the development of the USS Nautilus, the US Navy now had the ability to stay submerged for not just hours or days, but to hide out of harm's way for weeks or months at a timeThis highly illustrated book covers all of the 220+ submarine hulls built and deliveredTable of ContentsFast Attack Submarines 1. Nautilus Class 2. Seawolf Class 3. Skate Class 4. Skipjack Class 5. Triton Class 6. Tullibee Class 7. Thresher Class 8. Sturgeon Class 9. Narwhal Class 10. Glenard P. Lipscomb Class 11. Los Angeles Class 12. Virginia Class 13. Seawolf Class 14. NR-1 Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines 1. George Washington Class 2. Ethan Allen Class 3. Lafayette Class 4. Benjamin Franklin Class 5. Ohio Class SSBN 6. Ohio Class SSGN 7. Columbia Class SSBN

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Book SynopsisThoroughly revised, with all new photographs, this latest edition of a guide first published in 1983 has been increased in size from 112 page to 128 pages and features a square backed spine with sewn sections for added durability.

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Book SynopsisThames in Transition -the changing nature of the Docks and the ships that served them in the 1970s-1980sHow and why the Docks adapted to changed cargo handling methodsHistorical scenes of the River from the 1940s-1960sMost photographs previously unpublished and can never be re-captured

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive look at World War II-era Fubuki class destroyers, giving readers an understanding of why and how the Imperial Japanese Navy took the lead in destroyer design

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Book SynopsisFor 1930s Britain, the Queen Mary was a symbol of hope. Cunard had abandoned construction on what they had planned to be the grandest liner of all time (then known simply as Job 534) in the depths of the Depression. Her half-finished hull sat on the Clyde for years, but when Cunard announced they were going to complete her, it was a sign, perhaps, that the darkest days were over, that the country was emerging from economic disaster and that Britannia would soon rule the waves once again.The Queen Mary would go on to be one of the most famous ships in the world for all the right reasons. The first British ship to be over 1,000 feet in length, launched by her namesake (and for which the Clyde had to be artificially widened to allow such a large ship to pass through), she won the Blue Riband (the record for fastest Atlantic crossing) not once by twice and when she won it the second time in 1938 she held it until 1952.After wartime service carrying up to 16,000 US troops to Trade ReviewThis nicely-produced book asks, and answers, 101 questions about the Queen Mary. This approach offers a different and interesting perspective, and the informative text is accompanied by photographs and other original material. * Ships Monthly *

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Book SynopsisBarging Round Britain by David Bartley is a beautifully-illustrated guide to a unique and fascinating part of our history: the canal network.Explore the people and places that have forged this national treasure, from the birth of the Industrial Revolution to the leisure explosion on our waterways today. Fully-illustrated with maps and photographs, the book will trace canal routes across the UK, from the Georgian grandeur of Bath to the dramatic splendour of the Scottish Highlands.David Bartley''s Barging Round Britain includes a foreword and chapter introductions by the presenter of the TV series, John Sergeant.

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Book SynopsisThis concise but authoritative story of RMS Titanic, the most famous ship of all time, is packed with fascinating facts.

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Book SynopsisFor three centuries Portsmouth has been the leading base of the Royal Navy but the naval heritage of its port can be traced back to the Roman invasion of Britain.

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Book SynopsisLiving Aboard is a must-have guide for anyone wishing to get onto the water including canals, as well as those already living there!

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Book SynopsisLittle SS Nomadic had a long career and mighty history: immortalized as the tender that carried first and second class passengers to board RMS Titanic

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Book SynopsisOver the years, several books featuring shipping on the River Humber have been published, but few have viewed their subject from an inland waterway viewpoint. This book, together with its companion volume "Shipping on the Humber - The South Bank", attempts to fill that gap, though sea-going traffic has not been ignored.

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Book SynopsisAt one time, Liverpool''s landing stage was so busy that ships would be literally queuing in the Mersey to discharge and embark passengers. However, the period from the late 1940s saw both the golden age of Liverpool shipping as well as the decline of its passenger trade. From the early 1960s, though, Liverpool''s passenger trade entered a decline that was unstoppable. The Jet Age had seen the loss of much of its trade and shipping line after shipping line moved away from the port or stopped its ships sailing and sold them for scrap or service with foreign lines. John Shepherd tells the story, using the memories of those who sailed in them, of the last liners to use Liverpool.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThoroughly revised, with all new photographs, this latest edition of a guide first published in 1982 has been increased in size from 112 pages to 160 pages and features a squarebacked spine with sewn sections for added durability.

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Book SynopsisDavid Christie delves into his archives to present a wonderful, evocative unpublished photographs of a golden age of Calmac ships.

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Book SynopsisUtilising a selection of rare and previously unpublished images, maritime historian Ian Collard delves into the story of this iconic company and its ships.

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Book SynopsisA lavishly illustrated celebration of the dockland heritage of the Thames from London Bridge to Greenwich.

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Book SynopsisA lavishly illustrated celebration of the dockland heritage of the Thames from Greenwich to Tilbury and Gravesend.

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Book SynopsisWith many rare and previously unpublished images this book celebrates the famous ferry operator Stena Line.Trade Review'The book is nicely presented and will be of interest to many members.' -- Nautilus Telegraph, September/October 2023

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Book SynopsisA fascinating selection of images documenting tug boats around Britain. It is illustrated by previously unpublished photographs from the authorâs collection.

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Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - The story of Brunel's most famous ship and the people who knew her, using new archive sources.

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Book SynopsisA lavishly illustrated history of lightships, written by an authority on the subject. Rare images and detailed information contained within this book.

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