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How to Avoid Huge Ships Paperback – January 1, 1993

by John W. Trimmer (Author)

4.0 1,420 ratings

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You are the owner-captain of a luxury fifty-foot trawler motoring across the bay with your family and a few friends one balmy summer evening. Off in the distance, beyond the bridge spanning the waterway, you can make out the lights and shape of a containership moving down the channel. Have you ever wondered what action you must take to keep clear of that fast-approaching ship? This book will tell you how to do so quickly.Conscientious skippers are wise to read this book and discover if a ship's radar will pick up a small boat at night. It is fascinating to learn what is taking place on the bridge or down in the engine room of one of these leviathans as it heads your way. Can it be stopped before it hits you? Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones by reading this book written for the private boat owner/captain.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cornell Maritime Pr/Tidewater Pub; 2nd edition (January 1, 1993)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0870334336
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0870334337
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.25 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,729,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,029 in Boating (Books)

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4.0 1,420 ratings

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Theresa

Best Wedding Present We Could Think to Give

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2015

Verified Purchase

I bought the book, How to Avoid Huge Ships, for my brother and his Bride based on other reader's comments on the advice in this 99 page book as the most insightful on avoiding a lifetime of Huge Ships which are apt to show themselves in even the strongest of marriages. For my brother, the self-proclaimed “Little Ship” of the family, these pages are full of wisdom that raises Captain Trimmer’s words well above any advice that could be gleaned from watching Dr. Phil or Oprah, or even writing for bits of encouragement from Dear Abby or her sister, Ann Landers, on avoiding Huge Ships that can be encountered in a marriage. The Captain goes step by step identifying in chapter one the characteristics of Huge Ships and in later chapters goes into detail of the forces and environmental impacts of Huge Ships – which is vital for the bride to know when entering into a lifetime commitment with a Ship. If these items are not recognized early on, Little Ships can run into Big Ships, or worse, Huge Ships. Anyone can buy sets of China, soup bowls, etc., but they can be smashed.. or otherwise ruined in events where Huge Ships are not avoided. What would be the point of these gifts without knowing how to avoid Ships of Magnitude! So read away my Little Ship brother and Soon to be Bride of our family's Little Ship. May you both have Fair Winds and Following Seas in your marriage, Vonny and Philip, and (of course) may you be blessed with a fleet of Little Ships!

69 people found this helpful

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A. Laguna

The Gift of Paper - One man's tale of nautical safety and anniversary presents

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2011

Verified Purchase

My wife and I are both avid boaters. We've often pondered the appropriate protocol while at the helm, for huge ship avoidance. Captain Trimmer has both educated and enlightened us on the subject. In fact, on a recent trip to Jamaica, we encountered what could only be described as a HUGE SHIP, and summarily avoided it with a deft hand at the controls. I credit this work of nautical genius with our cool response, eventual safety, and ability to live to tell the tale.

Should you doubt the need for this book in your library of nautical tomes, look no further than this review for affirmation that this is a must have for any seafarer. So much so that when I was looking for a gift for my bride on the one year anniversary of our nuptials, I chose this book to fulfill the gift of paper.

Happy Anniversary, Baby!!

61 people found this helpful

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Travis

Take this book seriously! My flippant approach of this book got my family killed

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024

Last July, I had plans to take my family on a summer voyage through the Gulf of Mexico. I had rented out a small fishing boat from my Uncle Tom. I thought that I had everything set and ready for the trip: life preservers, sunscreen, and drinks. About two weeks before the trip, I came across this book at my local library. Of course, I had heard about the danger of enormous vessels previously, so I naturally bought 5 copies of the book for each member of my family.
About halfway through the book, I was shaking with the terror of anticipating an interaction with a ship larger than my own. My wife and oldest son felt the same way, even though they had only read the introduction. It was time to take action. I canceled our vacation plans and sabotaged Uncle Tom's fishing boat so that he wouldn't have to test the fate of his own life either. At this point, I thought I was safe so I discontinued my study of the book. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The very next week, there was a severe flood caused by an Atlantic Hurricane. I was out in the office, when suddenly out the window in the distance I saw it. A behemoth of a maritime watercraft in the distance, making its way to our humble Mississippi town. The barge was headed straight for my home! I tried to call my wife to warn her, but it was too late.
Needless to say, I should have taken this book more seriously. If so, I could've avoided the catastrophe that took place. Let all hear my tragic tale and learn from my mistakes.

2 people found this helpful

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william r pollert

Did NOT work.

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023

I bought this book for my cousin last Christmas. His boat was crushed by a large ship two months later. To be fair, my cousin is blind.

20 people found this helpful

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Conor Knapp

Not to be that guy but…

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024

I’ve been getting fed up lately with all of the huge ships floating around with such an air of superiority about them. Just yesterday I was walking to get my biweekly Brazilian when a 50,000 ton Panamax tanker cut right in front of me! Understandably upset I tried to confront them but they just kept on steaming along, as if I was some insignificant bug or something! Well no more, and with this book I will finally be free of those cursed huge ships. Now I just need to find a place to live other than this shipping container port…

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Ronadlinho

Yes I avoided a HUGE SHIP, book is a bargain

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024

Underpriced for how valuable the advice is, I would pay $1000 for this! I was about to board a cruise ship I had booked, but I read this book the night before (safety first) and said HELL NO! When I arrived at the pier and saw a HUGE SHIP with no chance of avoidance. Thank you book!

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Dave

Be careful to get the latest edition

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

I don't want to be negative but none of the reviews I have read have addressed the fact that there are two editions. You want to make sure you buy the latest edition so that you have the most up-to-date information. Do you want to get run over by a huge ship just because you neglected to buy the latest edition? No, I didn't think so.

478 people found this helpful

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Newtronic

The absolutely necessary and comprehensive guide to avoiding huge ships

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024

Many other great reviews covered common topics, but I personally found that Chapter 17: Avoiding two Dimensional Thinking helped me escape a huge ship.