Reeds Marine Surveying

Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical, 2nd ed, £30.00;
Publication Date: 2007

Reeds publish a list of specialist titles, which enjoy a good reputation as informative and valuable references. These range from the classic Fibre-glass Boats by Hugo du Plessis to Sea Transport – Operations and Economics. Reeds Marine Surveying lays out a series of chapters about materials of boat construction, their mechanical properties, the loading of structures and the stresses involved in small vessels at sea. Chapters deal with fatigue; corrosion, buckling and some graphic photographs illustrate the effects of poor practise. The emphasis is focused rather more on the larger non-wooden yacht, the small fishing boat or the pilot cutter than on the cruising boats, which members of the Association will generally sail. Nevertheless the writing is authoritative and presents the complexity of structural small ship design in understandable and comprehensive language. Having said that, the author is the principal of an American firm of consultant surveyors and a degree of translation will be necessary by the reader. The chapter on timber construction would be regarded as insufficiently detailed by those who repair the barges and smacks at Maldon. This book would aid and assist anyone contemplating the commissioning of a survey. It is not designed to inform the amateur yachtsman how to undertake a survey which is a totally different subject altogether. There is however, a very useful checklist suggesting the issues which any survey should address. It is a valuable addition to the library. - JH