Being a great reader since childhood, often under the bedclothes with a flashlight, was an advantage for a career at sea. Before all the electronic gimmicks now available we only had books and an occasional tin box of movies from 'Walport Films'; remember those ? So it is that NAUTICAL LOG is still never without reading material particularly when travelling.
On our return from two weeks in Hawai'i, a complete vacation without even going online, there was lots to catch up on. Amongst all the mail was a copy of "Seized" by Max Hardberger, it is my current reading and it is a good one. All about tall tales of the sea which are tall enough to have that certain nautical romance without going overboard so as to be unbelievable. The characters and places are well drawn, the vessels typical of the Miami River. This is a working river where commercial shipping, tow boating, Cuban fishermen and yachting meld as one. The world of such people as Plato Cox of Auto Marine Engineers, Boucher Boatyard, the original Allied Marine, Bertram's and Merrill-Stevens Drydock.
Living a short drive from the Miami River NAUTICAL LOG can travel along South or North SW River Drive to see the ships and people Hardberger writes about on any day. Haitian freighters loaded with bicycles, mattresses, and containers with cars lashed on top - all with a minimum regard for stability calculations !!
The stories are well written and authentic, this book is definitely worth reading. For anyone who might be thinking of following this Caribbean seafaring life first learn fluent Spanish and the culture and traditions of this Spanish colonial region. French will also be useful as it forms the base for understanding Kreyol, the patois of Haiti.
Good Watch.
On our return from two weeks in Hawai'i, a complete vacation without even going online, there was lots to catch up on. Amongst all the mail was a copy of "Seized" by Max Hardberger, it is my current reading and it is a good one. All about tall tales of the sea which are tall enough to have that certain nautical romance without going overboard so as to be unbelievable. The characters and places are well drawn, the vessels typical of the Miami River. This is a working river where commercial shipping, tow boating, Cuban fishermen and yachting meld as one. The world of such people as Plato Cox of Auto Marine Engineers, Boucher Boatyard, the original Allied Marine, Bertram's and Merrill-Stevens Drydock.
Living a short drive from the Miami River NAUTICAL LOG can travel along South or North SW River Drive to see the ships and people Hardberger writes about on any day. Haitian freighters loaded with bicycles, mattresses, and containers with cars lashed on top - all with a minimum regard for stability calculations !!
The stories are well written and authentic, this book is definitely worth reading. For anyone who might be thinking of following this Caribbean seafaring life first learn fluent Spanish and the culture and traditions of this Spanish colonial region. French will also be useful as it forms the base for understanding Kreyol, the patois of Haiti.
Good Watch.
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