RE: [Paddlewise] books

> From: jfarrelly5_at_comcast.net

>  My local kayak club is going to start a library. I have 
> already donated my well worn copy of Deep Trouble.  What 
> would be your top choices for purchase to start a library? 

I've got a pretty large sea kayaking library. Here are my top choices:

1) Sea Kayaking - A manual for Long-Distance Touring by John Dowd,
fourth edition

Of all the general kayaking books I own, this is the one book I
recommend to everyone if they could only choose one. You can feel the
practical experience ooze out of this book as you read it. It is obvious
that Mr. Dowd has 'been there, done that'. Most of the general sea
kayaking books say much the same thing, but this one is a noticeable
step above the others.

This is also probably the best book for those learning to put the "sea"
into their sea kayaking.

2) Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation by David Burch

I learn (or re-learn) something new every time I pick this book up. A
bit heavy for a beginner, but the beauty of this book is you can read it
once and come away with a basic level of understanding about navigation.
As your experience in kayaking navigation improves, you can read it
again and come away with an even deeper understanding. I've gone through
this book four times, and I'm still learning and understanding new
things.

3) Sea Kayak Rescue by Roger Schumann and Jan Shiner

If you have been through the BCU, ACA or a commercial safety/rescue
class, you probably don't need this book. But it is refreshing to see an
entire book dedicated to rescues - not just a chapter. Lots of pictures
and interspersed with real life stories makes this an excellent book for
folks who are unable to attend training, or who would like to polish up
their book knowledge of rescues.

4) Sea Kayaking Safety & Rescue - by John Lull

For those that want to progress beyond the basic rescue/recoveries
described in the Sea Kayak Rescue book, I can recommend this as your
next stop. Careful, I don't recommend a beginner take on these topics
until they have built a firm foundation in basic skills and rescues. But
this book is the best next logical choice.

The light but adequate coverage of self/assisted rescues leads me to
believe the author expects you to already know these basics, so I still
recommend the book by Schumann/Shriner first.

5) Travels With a Kayak by Whit Descher

Not a _technical_ book, but one to lift your spirits. The best way to
describe this book would be "Dave Barry goes white water kayaking".
Almost no mention of the on-water technical stuff, but full of silly
banter on getting to put-ins around the world. An excerpt from the
chapter on paddling in Pakistan:

Andy and I jeeped down past the river's carnivorous part then joined it
and Slime [Slime was the trip leader], Marcus, and Mike once more. We
paddled to the village of Balakot and here, above the final boulder
garden, I asked Slime something I'd been wondering about for the last
three weeks. I said, "Slime, you're the leader. What are you doing back
here?"

"It's called hindsight."

"But hindsight is _after_ the fact."

"Sure, you watch where everyone disappears in this next drop and avoid
that spot. Follow me and you won't get in trouble."

"Slime, I've been trying to follow you for weeks now but you always grab
and hog the last possible microscopic eddy above each drop. Anyone
behind you is committed to a thrashing."

"That's experience."

Woody
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