Jeff Toghill – författare

In response to many request, Jeff Toghill has now written a basic handbook for everybody who wishes to learn the principles of small boat coastal navigation. The aim of this book is simplicity - the author deals with the essentials of coastal navigation but avoids using vast quantities of figures and formulae. At the same time accuracy is maintained through the use of diagrams, line drawings and charts, as well as photographs.

In fact, the maximum mathematics involved in the new sight reduction systems is the addition of three lines of figures. Similarly, the apparent complexities of the solar and stellar systems take on a less frightening appearance when related to the lighthouses and similar earthly objects used for coastal navigation. Throughout this book, the author uses such a comparison between earthly and heavenly objects in explaining the close relationship between coastal and celestial navigation. In doing so, he reduces a complex subject to a simple and interesting one that can be absorbed by even the most non-mathematically minded. The book concentrates for much of its length on the plotting of the boat's position by sun, planets, and stars when out of sight of land. It also deals with related navigational routines such as checking the compass by using heavenly objects, taking radio time signals, and adjusting the sextant for day-to-day corrections. This is celestial navigation in its simplest form, presented in a way which even the most amateur navigator can understand and absorb.

It doesn’t take a university education in naval architecture to understand the components of a boat. But it is important to have that basic knowledge before undertaking repair and maintenance work. A poor repair job can create weaknesses that could place the boat and her crew in danger. 'The Essential Boat Maintenance Guide' is the ideal reference to ensure that such problems don’t arise. It details the various repair and maintenance jobs that crop up with every boat after every summer season, and describes how these jobs must be tackled so the boat is as sound and seaworthy as the day she was built. Covering the make-up of both sail and motor boats, this book is packed with detailed instructions, tips and hints that reduce the cost and effort of maintenance work. It is a must for every boat owner who wants to keep their boat well maintained and in shipshape condition.