Technical books are rather expensive (although some cover their cost many times over with the use of the information provided) but it is disappointing to start reading a book and the topics are getting superficially covered. At the moment i am reading "Marine Diesel Engines" by Nigel Calder. Now thats a fine book indeed. So please give us your recommendations for books. It is disappointing though that there are so few books for superyachts whilst the small boat owner and crew have many books available...... if anybody has the inclination to write then there is definitely a market for superyacht related books.
As Technical Books and Manuals arenĀ“t written in your ordinary School English, what I think is useful is a Technical Dictionary from English and perhaps German to your native language. I have an English/Swedish of more than 1.000 pages that has paid for itself many times over...
In http://www.marinecomposites.com/ you will find an excellent free online book regarding composites. It has proved priceless many times
Basic information and the next step up I haven't seen anything better than Nigel Calder (diesel,Boat electric etc).Chapmans piloting has some good dope and is one of the books req'd on larger boats (US,may use duttons bowditch or knights or chapmans) . I have my clients that crew for themselves get these and a boater's pocket reference for the pilothouse.
'The nature of boats' and 'the elements of boat strenght' by Dave Gerr, 'Principles of yacht design' by Larsson and Eliasson, 'Handbook of Marine Surveying' byThomas Ask and reading now 'Bridge resource management for small ships' by Daniel S. Parrott. I am very interested in learning what others members recommend to read.
+2 (3?) on Nigel Calder's book. Voyaging Under Power by Robert P. Beebe (3rd Ed. rev. by Leishman) is also recommended.
Juan Baader: Motorkreutzer und schnelle Sportboote excellent book about hull characteristics. No longer available but it will be available as a free download version soon since Mr. Baader jr. gave permission to publish it some time ago.
In "The Big Boat Bible" there's quite a bit of good basic info about superyachts. Very useful for prospective owners for example. http://amnautical.com/show/9780984270101 Bruno
Seeing that you are a Nigel Calder fan, the Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual has been serving me very well in increasing my overall engineering knowledge. I too am reading his Marine Diesel Engines book.