Recommended reading for newbie

[txh2oman]

I'm halfway through my first hitch on a 110' crewboat (very busy launch service). I signed on as third captain. Lots of experience in tour/head boats, but brand new to this industry.

May look to move to the oilfield down the road, and will have enough sea service to upgrade to 500 tons in another 18 months or so. In the meantime, what should I be reading? I'd like to have three or four readable reference books handy that will help me now and help me down the road as I add endorsements/upgrade. Thanks in advance.

[PR-9]

I will recommend "Race to big oil, Rise of the Cajun mariner". I am not a 100% sure about the title but it is an excellent book and it will give you a better understanding of the oilfield at least it did for me.

[txh2oman]

PR-9 - Thanks. Close enough for Amazon. Not exactly the "practical" sort of title I'm looking for, but looks like a great read.

[SirSandwich]

Read CFRs 33, 46 and 49.

[Kennebec Captain]

My wife picked up an old copy of Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship the other day for $1. I've never looked at it much before but I've been flipping through it. It is a good solid book. It leans a bit towards smaller vessels and non-pros, not exactly what you're doing but it is the bible in the small craft world. I'd say it belongs on the book shelf.

K.C.

[cappy208]

In my experience, I have referred to the Merchant Seamans Handbook. Cornell Maritime press.

This book has ALL the picayune details you (or your deckhand) would EVER need to do almost any job on a boat. This book is also great to 'settle' any sort of discussion on deciding the merits or direction of a job, action, safety or seamanship.


To a lesser extent the Merchant Officers Handbook is good too, BUT, it is geared more to day to day duties of an Officer.

You mention you being on a crew boat. I am pretty sure you won't have one, but ISGOTT ( International Safety Guide, Oil Tankers and Terminals) is THE bible on petroleum safety, transportation, terminaling, loading, discharging and stowage.

If you ever get a chance to find one, even an old copy they are an amazing collection of any knowledge you may ever need to do the petroleum end of the business. they are PRICEY, but IMHO, worth it.

[Cal]

I am pretty sure you won't have one, but ISGOTT ( International Safety Guide, Oil Tankers and Terminals) is THE bible on petroleum safety, transportation, terminaling, loading, discharging and stowage.

If you ever get a chance to find one, even an old copy they are an amazing collection of any knowledge you may ever need to do the petroleum end of the business. they are PRICEY, but IMHO, worth it.

Free if you know where to look...

ISGOTT - 5th Edition. The link says 2006, file says 2005. Not sure if it even matters.

The Merchant Marine Handbook on the other hand I believe will be a bit more difficult, if not impossible, to come by.

[Jemplayer]

WTH?!?! No body has said Bowditch yet!

Better start learning it now as you will have to learn it when you start to upgrade.

[Diesel]

Bowditch, Bowditch II, and Dutton's. The CFR's mentioned above would not be a bad idea either.

[cappy208]

WTH?!?! No body has said Bowditch yet!

Better start learning it now as you will have to learn it when you start to upgrade.

The Bowditch, Duttons should already be an ingrained topic since the OP already has a 1600 ton license. (Maybe)

[Diesel]

The Bowditch, Duttons should already be an ingrained topic since the OP already has a 1600 ton license. (Maybe)

The poster only has a 100 ton license.

[Miek]

Get a copy of all the reference materials in the rec test room and learn it. A list is available on the CG site.

[water]

The Merchant Marine Handbook on the other hand I believe will be a bit more difficult, if not impossible, to come by.

Try Amazon.

[cmakin]

Do you mean the "Amercian Merchant Seaman's Manual" from Cornell? The reason I say that is that I see mine in my bookcase here in the office. And yeah, I am an engineer, but the Manual is a valuable book to have for any mariner.

[cappy208]

Do you mean the "Amercian Merchant Seaman's Manual" from Cornell? The reason I say that is that I see mine in my bookcase here in the office. And yeah, I am an engineer, but the Manual is a valuable book to have for any mariner.

Doh! Yes, that's the one.

[txh2oman]

Thanks fellas for the good advice. I see almost all of what I don't have on Amazon.

[Kennebec Captain]

I used to keep a copy of a catalog from one of those outfits that sell marine supplies like chain, wire, shackles and so forth in my room. It has weights, dimensions, working loads and nomenclature of a lot of gear used on deck.

K.C.