The two most beautiful words in theEnglish language are "summer afternoon," and thisbook is dedicated to the proposition that there is nobetter place to while away a summer afternoon than on,in, or beside the water. When a lakeshore or seashore isyours to explore, you will never run out of things to do, and we'll showyou how to . . .

Row a boat or roll a kayak
Build a raft, a cardboard boat, a rope ladder,or a waterfront swing
Catch plankton, fish, or crabs
Skip a stone or win a sailboat race
Tie a knot or heave a line
Chart a secret cove or ski on yourbare feet
Go body surfing or have a clambake
And yes, make a potato-shootingcannon to fend off marauding piratesSo what are ye waitin' for, swabbie? Look lively!The sun is sparkling on the waves, and thecompass points to adventure. . . .

Autorentext

David Seidman (Oak Beach, NY) has spent a good portion of his life finding his way around the world. He has crossed oceans, toured central Asia and Mongolia without a map or the ability to speak the language, and found a Mayan ruin in Guatemala. He is the author of The Essential Sea Kayaker, The Essential Wilderness Navigator, and The Complete Sailor and a former editor of Boating magazine.

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LEARN TO BODY SURF;ESCAPE A RIP CURRENT;MAKE A SODA-BOTTLE WEATHERGLASS; WE SAY, THEY SAY;FIND FISH FAST;MAKE A SHIP IN A BOTTLE; STOCK YOUR DITTY BAG;THE SEA AND YOUR SENSES;BIG VOYAGES IN SMALL BOATS;WHAT'S ON THE BOTTOM? MAKE A COLLECTING DREDGE;CLEAN AND FILLET A FISH;CATCH A WORLD-RECORD FISH;HEAVE-HO: HOW NOT TO GET SEASICK;CREW (OR YOU) OVERBOARD;KNOTS: THE BIG FOUR; PLAY A BOSUN'S PIPE;DOGS ABOARD;BUILD AN ANTI-PIRATE POTATO CANNON;A HANGING AT SEA;LET'S GO CLAMMING;SUPERIOR STONE SKIPPING;HOW BOATS ARE DESIGNED; BUILD A HALF-HULL MODEL; WHY BOATS FLOAT; READ THE CLOUDS;MAKE A DIVER'S TUBE RAFT; NAME THAT WIND; LEARN TO WATER-SKI;DRIVE A 100 MPH BOAT;MAKE A VIEWING BUCKET;HOW BIG ARE THOSE WAVES?; RUN A SMALL BOAT THROUGH THE SURF;HOW TO HANDLE WAVES;WRESTLE AN ALLIGATOR;FELINE FORECASTING; WHERE'S THE WIND, SAILOR?;CATCH AND RELEASE A FISH;PLAY IN TRAFFIC;YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG;BUILD A BOAT;WEAVE A SAILORS' BRACELET;NAVIGATE BY SATELLITE;HAVE A BEACH CLAMBAKE;GET UP ON A WAKEBOARD;REPAIR A SAIL;CAPSIZED!; WHEN DOES THE SUN SET?;GO SHARK WATCHING-SAFELY;SIGNAL WITH A CD;WHAT'S OVER THE HORIZON?; PADDLE A SEA KAYAK; HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE . . .; BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR POLLUTION; RIDE A STAND-UP WATERCRAFT;SUBMARINE A JET SKI;PASS YOUR BOATING EXAM;SEND A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE; KNOW YOUR BINOCULARS;MAKE A PLANKTON NET; A PROPER SAILOR'S KNIFE;ALL YOU NEED IS THE NORTH STAR;A BOATERS' OLYMPICS;PADDLE A CANOE;IS IT GOING TO RAIN?; THE BEST WAY TO COIL A LINE;FIVE SEA BATTLES YOU SHOULD KNOW;ROLL LIKE AN ESKIMO; HOW FIBERGLASS BOATS ARE BUILT;SAILBOATS RACE ON THE ROOF;HOW DEEP IS IT?; SEND SEMAPHORE SIGNALS;A WALK TO THE ABYSS;ROW A BOAT;HOW FAST ARE YOU GOING?; BOATERS' PAINTBALL;IDENTIFY LARGE SEA LIFE;NAVIGATE LIKE ANCIENT MARINERS;WIN A SAILBOAT RACE;NAVIGATE WITH A KAMAL;MAKE YOUR OWN CHART;ARE YOU NEARING LAND?; DINGHY CRUISING;CAREERS AT SEA;MAKE A PADDLE; THE YOUNG MARINER'S FILM LIBRARY;DEEPWATER SLALOM SKI START;KEEP WATCH;FEND OFF A SHARK;COOK LUNCH ON YOUR ENGINE;A HOME FOR YOUR BOAT: MAKE A MOORING;FIND THAT "LOST" BUOY; THE YOUNG MARINER'S READING LIST; SURVIVE AN AIR-SEA RESCUE;PUT YOUR SAILBOAT TO BED; CARVE A COOL SLALOM TURN;MATCH YOUR SAILS TO THE WIND; ON-WATER PHOTOGRAPHY;MAKE HUCK FINN'S PVC PIPE RAFT;AVOID BAD LUCK;THAT FARAWAY LOOK: ESTIMATE DISTANCE OFF;THROW A CAST NET;BUILD A DUGOUT CANOE;GO CRABBING;BUILD A WATERFRONT SWING;WHO NEEDS A RUDDER?; BEGINNER-FRIENDLY WATER SKIS;GPS GAMES;BAREFOOT WATERSKIING;CAST A FLY;KNOT TRICKS;A WATERSKIING PYRAMID;BUILD A PAPER BOAT;MAKE VIEWING GOGGLES FROM A SODA BOTTLE; BREW YOUR OWN BIOFUEL;KEEP YOUR BOAT GREEN AND CLEAN;LEARN TO SCULL;USEFUL WEATHER RHYMES;SURVIVE A HURRICANE AT SEA; MAKE A ROPE LADDER; HEAVE A LINE AND MAKE A MONKEY'S FIST; A COMPASS IN YOUR HAND; RIDE A DISK; FIND YOUR WAY WITH HELP FROM THE SUN;SEAGOING TOILETS; EYE-SPLICE A LINE; TIE UP TO A DOCK; WIND FROM THE LAND AND SEA; WIN A COOL BET;A SEA OF WORDS;Credits;Index