The Handbook of Marine Surveying; by Thomas Ask; Waterline Books, 1998; ISBN 1-84037-034-3; £16.95; CA 15273

Marine surveying is very wide field, requiring a large amount of detailed information. To write an overview of the subject, from commercial ships to sailing yachts, in only 138 pages is some achievement. The consequence is, however, that the book is generally superficial with some important omissions. It gives an impression of the areas of knowledge that the would-be suveyor will need to study but not the the information that has to be absorbed. I give one example. The surveyor is told "to pay special attentionto the sizing of the anchor, rode, ....." but there is no information or discussion on the type or size of anchor and cable suited to different types and size of craft.

The book has an American style and is illustrated with some clear diagrams - though the section on hull design needs more - and photographs, of which some are too dark to show necessary detail. Whilst the book has too many gaps to be taken as an authorative handbook, it presents a summary of general interest. -JFA

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