Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual

The boatowner's foremost troubleshooting guide, now better than ever

If it's on a boat and it has screws, wires, or moving parts, it's covered in Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual. When you leave the dock with this book aboard, you have at your fingertips the best and most comprehensive advice on:

• Battery technologies
• 12- and 24-volt DC systems
• Corrosion, bonding, and lightning protection
• Generators, inverters, and battery chargers
• Electric motors and electric lights
• Marine electronics, antennas, and RFI
• Diesel engines
• Transmissions, shaft brakes, and propellers
• Refrigeration and air-conditioning
• Tanks, plumbing, and through-hulls
• Pumps and watermakers
• Steering, autopilots, and wind vanes
• Stoves and heaters
• Winches, windlasses, and bow thrusters
• Spars, rigging, and roller reefing

"If you had to choose a single book to help you assess and maintain your boat gear, this would be it."—Practical Sailor

"A truly remarkable bible. . . . This book is the best of its kind."—WoodenBoat

"A major achievement. . . . It would be hard to imagine anything going wrong on a boat that couldn't be figured out with this book."—Sailing World

"The world's best technical reference and troubleshooting book."—Sailing Inland and Offshore

"This manual will be of lasting interest to anyone who wants to know how their boat works, what has gone wrong when it doesn't, and how it could be fixed."—Classic Boat

"Without becoming too complex, the book covers almost every imaginable mechanical or electrical matter in the marine environment."—Work Boat World

"Calder lives what he writes, . . . [and] what he offers . . . is practical solutions to problems associated with increasingly complex marine systems. . . . [A] bargain for anyone in the construction and repair side of the boat business."—Professional Boatbuilder

Calder seems not to realize most boats are powered by gas engines. He doesn't mention them at all in his book. There's a long, detailed chapter on diesel engines. But NOTHING on gas engines!

He also doesn't cover sterndrives. He does deal with inboards extensively. But, again, many, many boats are propelled by sterndrives. Other than a small photo, he ignores them. How a book on mechanical systems can ignore mechanical systems is a small oversight, I guess.

Winterizing? Forget it. With no mention of gas engines, he can't begin to touch on proper winterizing.

I sent my book back. It's a waste of money for most boat owners.


Besides my Bible, this is the most valuable book I own.   September 29, 1998
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

I recently bought a 29 sportfish boat. I knew it had some problems but after owning it for a few weeks the list of problems was longer than I am tall. The initial estimate from the marina to fix these items was $14,000! I intially choked at the thought of spending $49 for this book but i knew I couldn't afford the marina. Now 4 months later and only $4,000 invested, I have completed the repairs of every item on the list. My book is now dog-eared and oil stained but it has a permanent place onboard. The best investment I made in my boat.


A Must Have for Boaters   March 12, 2001
Kathy (Middle River, MD United States)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

When electrical or mechanical systems go wrong on a boat afloat, you have a crisis. An uneducated repair can be costly. This book needs to be handy.

The book devotes 113 pages to aspects of the electrical system, then addresses auxiliary sources of power, electric generators and motors, marine electronics, diesel engines, transmissions, refrigeration and air conditioning, toilet systems, pumps, steering systems, stoves, heaters, lights, rigging, deck rigging and hardware. Its a gold mine.

Its guidance in the toilet repair and generator troubleshooting has been a great help to us.


The Bible for Novices   November 1, 2001
James Carter (Castro Valley, CA United States)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

I bought this book as a sailer who was getting ready to take a two-year hiatus with my new wife crewing aboard an 80 ft motorsailer. The boat was absolute mechanical and electrical madness compared to my 26 ft Pearson and I needed help in a BIG way. This book was the answer.

The book explained everything very simply and thoroughly. I am not sure if experienced mechanics (diesel) and electricians would find it useful, except as a resource, but if you are even a little unsure of your abilities you cannot go wrong with this book. As a result of reaading the book several times as needed, and receiving a bit of instruction from the knowledgeable captain, I am now fairly competent.

Pick up this book and keep it handy. You will use it.