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Reference
The Oxford Companion to Ships and
the sea The best general reference book that I have
found.
Rigging
The Ashley Book of Knots
This book is indispensable. It has thousands of knots,
splices etc; everything you will ever need for rigging a square rigger or any
other vessel that does not require wire rigging.
Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy Rope Work
This book has more fancy work than Ashley but it is much more
difficult to use. One has to have a good basis in knot tying to use this book,
but if you need the information, it is there.
Sailmaker's Apprentice
The most complete reference for making any sail from square
sails to modern and everything in between.
The Complete Rigger's Apprentice:
Wire splicing, deadeyes and lanyards, anything having to do with
rigging is in here with good instructions on how to do it.
The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor :...
This is a reprint of the 1819 second edition. It has just about
everything you should know to rig a late 18th century or early 19th century
square rigger. It is an important source of period information.
The Gaff Rig Handbook : History, Design,...
This is a new edition on the classic, The Gaff Rig. It is
a must have for anyone with a gaff rigger, or anyone making a model of one.
Sail Handling
Seamanship in the Age of Sail :
The author went through all the old source material and assembled
the information in an easily useable reference. If you want to know how a
square-rigger works, this is the book for you. It is indispensable to any
square-rigger sailor.
Hand, Reef and Steer
A very good book on traditional seamanship.
Great True Stories
Sailing Alone Around the World
Joshua Slocum was a square-rigger captain during the end of the
19th century. The steamers were cutting into the freight market and Slocum found
himself without a ship, so, with lots of time on his hands, he built himself a
boat and set off to sail around the world single-handed. He was the first
to do this and the book is riveting.
Voyages of Joshua Slocum : Voyage of the...
This contains Sailing Alone Around the World and accounts of some of
his other adventures all in one book.
Two Years Before the Mast
This is a classic of American literature, a great account of
life on board a square rigger at the beginning of the 19th century and an
interesting look at life on the California coast when it still belonged to
Mexico. I've read this book at least four times over the years.
The Making of a
Sailor/ This guy went to sea in the 1870's and then in his
old age wrote about it in great detail. He includes the musical notation
for some of the work songs that they used and discusses many of the cultural
things that have been completely lost from modern replica sailing.
The Nagle Journal : A Diary of the
Life of Jacob Nagle, Sailor, from the Year 1775 to 1841..
During the revolution Nagle joined a privateer as a teenager. He
was captured by the British and, due to the practice of conscription, ended up
serving in the British navy for about twenty years before he was able to get
back home. He happened to be on the first fleet to Australia, present
when the Pandora sank and at many other historical events. Half of the
book is historical commentary by the editor. An amazing story.
The Last Grain Race
Up to the beginning of WWII large square-riggers were hauling
grain from Australia to England. Sensing that the end of an era was
approaching, the author managed to get on board for the last trip before the
war broke out, which stopped the last of the commercial square-riggers. His
ship, the Moshulu, still exists as a restaurant in Baltimore. There are lots of
photographs.
The Mutiny on Board
HMS Bounty
Written by Capt Bligh himself.
The Boat Who Wouldn't Float
I don't think this is a true story but it is very funny and very
traditional.
The titles in the box will change every time you return to, or refresh the page. Right click and click on RELOAD FRAME.
Sea Shanties
Shanties from the Seven Seas
Stan Hugill collected over 400 shanties during the first half of
the 20th century which he published in 1961 in this book. If you only have one
book of shanties, this is the one to have.
Songs of the Sailor and Lumberman
This collection was first published in 1951. It has fewer songs
but is still one of the two best sources and may be the only source on lumber
jack songs.