A Home Afloat – Living aboard vessels of all shapes and sizes

Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical; £19.99
Publication Date: 2008

This does not give the reader all it “says on the tin”. Of the range of vessels listed and photographed I could find only two below 50 feet: one motor cruiser, the other a conversion of a venerable Ramsgate lifeboat. Both were close to the 50 feet. A well-presented kind of book, this does not offer much in the way of practical advice to novice or experienced cruising sailor. The illustrations are prolific and good quality. Most are, however, like those you might find in any interior design work – afloat or not. In other words we have very attractive spaces and accoutrements that look good on the page. Most would be untenable in more than a rippled surface. After a brief introduction and single paragraph explanation of each of the types of vessel shown, a brief explanation is given of the practicalities associated with living aboard that is unlikely to bring anything new to a CA member. There follow chapters and narrative on examples of Barges, Houseboats, Motor Cruisers/Motor Yachts, Narrowboats, Tugs and Yachts and Motor sailors – virtually half is devoted to barges with most other chapters having no more than one or two examples. There is a further one page of narrative and two of pictures headed “The Future?” - based on the designs of an Italian naval architect. For most of us it is interesting to see what it is possible to achieve in boats that we are unlikely to own. A coffee table book of passing interest may stimulate dreams of what life might be like. - Michael Davey