Scuttlebutt

For years, Robert B. Kieding has shared his nautical knowledge with the residents of Santa Barbara, California, in his weekly column in the Santa Barbara News-Press. Now, with Scuttlebutt: Tales and Experiences of a Life at Sea, 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, Scuttlebutt 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.