58 Degrees North

[Randygh]

I'm just finishing up the book titled "58 Degrees North". It's an interesting investigation of the sinking of the fishing boat Arctic Rose in the Bering Sea. The author presents biographical histories of the crew members, the ship, and it's owner. The owner is an upright guy but had a marginal ship for the Bering Sea. The Coast Guard investigation is presented and the cause of the tragedy is determined. It is a good read that describes work onboard a small head & gut processor.

[SomeSailor]

Sounds like a good book. I have a friend who crabs and fishes out of Alaska and he knew those guys well. He had about the same to say about the accident. Easily preventable.

I always thought it'd be fun to start a virtual loaner library or such for books like that. I've got many good books just sitting around here that would be good reads for folks interested in boating and military related stuff. Some sort of deal where all you have to do is pay the postage home and the book is yours to borrow. Probably some tools that would fit in that category as well.

I'll have to give that some thought.

[Randygh]

I just finished another very good true story of a fishing boat that sank in the Gulf of Alaska and the Coast Guard's incredible helicopter rescue in seas up to 70' and 110 mph winds. Damn near lost 2 choppers. The name of the book is THE LAST RUN. It is a real page turner about a POS fishing boat, a naive skipper, the crew and the Coasties that flew into the hurricane. The ship sank in 1996 and dumped the crew into the 38 degree water. The author did a great job in telling about the crew's and Coasties' backgrounds, hardships and personalities. I highly recommend this book. I finished it at 0100 this morning. Couldn't put it down until finished.