Powerboating for Dummies

A great start for beginner boaters, this book will also provide depth of knowledge to more experienced ones. Vance covers all the topics well, but he doesn't pull any punches. He tells you the basics to to give you the boating knowledge you need, but lets you know when you will need more, as in the case of navigating. As you grow in your knowledge and experience of boating, you may need to move on to other books that give greater detail in some topics, but Power Boating for Dummies is the only book you will need to get started boating safely and confidently.

Power Boating for Dummies is an Important Addition to Powerboating

Power Boating for Dummies, written by Boating Life magazine's Editor-in-chief Randy Vance, is an informative guide for beginner powerboaters. Whether you are a person interested in buying a boat or maintaining the one you own, Power Boating for Dummies has something for you. With the easy-to-read, conversational tone, reading the book is like standing with Vance on the dock while he patiently answers your boating questions from the perspective of 45 years of experience on the water.

In the book, Vance writes to boaters with all types of boating interests including fishing, water skiing, day trips or more lengthy cruises. He walks you through buying a used or new boat, how to accessorize it properly, trailer it and handle it. His chapters on boating safety, navigation, radio communications and weather are all vital to know. He even includes a section entitled "Enjoying Your Boat" with chapters on food tips, boat clubs and finding storage for your boat. The "Part of Tens" section and the tips and online resources he provides in each chapter are worth more than the cost of the book to a boater.

Don't Let the Title Fool You

Nobody likes to be called a "dummy," but don't let the title fool you. This book is written for beginner boaters with little to no knowledge of boating, but a more experienced boater will benefit from the wisdom in its pages, too. I have been boating for nearly 20 years with specialized boating experience as a former Coast Guard coxswain, but even I learned a thing or two while reading the book for this review. The only "dummies" are those who take on the considerable responsibility of boating without first gaining vital skill and knowledge. I guarantee if you read this book, you won't be a boating dummy for long!

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the author. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.