Small craft with a big wartime role
The Petrol Navy, by Steve R Dunn
If you're looking for a different view of the First World War at sea, The Petrol Navy is an admirable addition to your collection.
Steve R Dunn charts the history of small petrol vessels, starting with the development of motor yachts in the 1900s and the recognition that suitably armed versions could fill a strategic gap.
He covers technical development, the crewing of the vessels by gentleman amateur sailors, and the vessels' vital role in the convoys of the Great War, with details of the actions they were involved in. It's an international work that goes into the use of such vessels by the USA Germany, France and Italy as well as the British Royal Navy.
The Petrol Navy
By Steve R Dunn
Seaforth Publishing, £25
ISBN: 978 13990 62855
Buy this book in the Nautilus Bookshop
While you're there, why not browse the rest of the titles in our unique maritime bookshop, which sells all the books reviewed on these pages.
Buy nowMore Books
Carving out a career
Ships' Figureheads: Famous Carving FamiliesThe decoration of ships with figureheads was a way to present the might of military and mercantile power for centuries. These days, the skills needed to make these sculptures are kept alive by experts such as Andrew Peters, who has worked on restoration projects such as the Cutty Sark tea clipper.
Knotty problems solved
The Knot Bible: The Complete Guide to Knots And Their Uses by Nic ComptonKnot-tying is a vital competency skill for seafarers, and this expanded edition of The Knot Bible by Nic Compton offers guidance on over 200 knots and their practical uses.
Why it's nice to splice
Splicing modern ropes, 2nd edition: a practical handbook by Jan-Willem PolmanSplicing rope is as an essential skill for seafarers as tying a knot, but some skills are disappearing. This definitive guide on why splicing gets more from your rope is a great stocking filler for all boaters, whether recreational or commercial.
Heartfelt and humorous account of a career founded on fishing
Welcome Home - Fish or No Fish, by Skipper John RobertsWelcome Home – Fish or No Fish is a memoir that carries readers from the shores of Grimsby across the world’s oceans, charting a remarkable career at sea.