Scuttlebutt

For years Robert B. Kieding has shared his nautical knowledge with the residents of Santa Barbara California in his weekly column in the <i>Santa Barbara News-Press.</i> Now with <i>Scuttlebutt: Tales and Experiences of a Life at Sea</i> he brings his wit and wisdom to people across the country and around the globe.At sea the scuttlebutt was a cask with an opening called a scuttle around which crewmembers would gather and chat when weather or the captain's law allowed. It functioned in much the same manner as our modern-day office watercolor-a place to share and exchange workplace chatter and stories of dubious provenance. Eventually the term scuttlebutt came to mean shipboard rumors or gossip. In this tradition <i>Scuttlebutt</i> covers a wide range of marine-related topics-everything from boating history to sage seafaring advice to humorous personal anecdotes. Kieding's warm and engaging writing style and his obvious love of all things nautical will make this collection appeal to boaters and land lovers alike.