Get Your Captain's License, 5th

Hundres of questions and answers for 6pack exam. Many colored diagrams as well.

...but I haven't ploughed through it all yet, and have not dared apply for the license. I will almost definitely need to attend a course. It is a large amount of material. I am not trying to become a captain in order to charge people. I just want to be a better (safer) sailor.

I bought this as a supplementary review. Its OK for that, if you already are familiar with the material. Its pretty lousy as a primer though. If you don't already have some experience with plotting current vectors or intercepts, advance and transfer problems etc. you won't find a good explanation of the material here. The stability section is about as clear as mud. You can figure most of it out, but there are probably other better texts. I sure hope so.The question sections are also cumbersome. You have to flip back and forth to the answer page to check. I wound up just cutting mine out of the book so i could refer to them more quickly. Plus you have to flip to the back every time a question refers to a diagram. Way too much time wasted flipping back and forth. The CFR is bad enough, you don't need even more energy wasted on such. Oh, and one answer section had about half of the answers missing altogether. Then there is the plotting sheet.Be careful with it, since it is a misprint ( I think 130 degrees is listed twice on the compass rose) I would check, but i'd have to go and fetch my magnifying glass. That reminds me... the print is hard to read.Pretty lousy book actually. I give it three stars for just existing. Ah, heck... two and a half.If I had to do it again though, Id probably do the same thing. Buy a book like this one and find an online source of current coast guard questions (try googling "questions cost guard" or some such)

AFTER POSTING MY REVIEW, I WENT TO THE SITE PROPOSED IN THE BOOK, CALLED EXAMIAM. IT IS RUN BY THE BOOK PUBLISHER AND INCREDIBLY, IT SHOWS AN OPTION WHERE I CAN NOT ONLY GET UNLIMITED EXAMS ONLINE (LIKE THE OLD CD), BUT I CAN GET A COPY OF THE BOOK I JUST PAID 30 DOLLARS FOR ONLINE. SO, I BOUGHT A PHYSICAL BOOK FOR 30 DOLLARS AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE BOOK (ONLINE ACCESS) AND THE UNLIMITED TESTS (WHAT THE CD USED TO OFFER) FOR THE SAME 30 DOLLARS. TO NOW ACHIEVE WHAT I WANTED, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 60 DOLLARS. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCT ON AMAZON BY THE SELLER IS DECEPTIVE AND UNFAIR. IF YOU WANT THIS BOOK AND WHAT THE CD HAD TO OFFER, GO TO EXAMIAM SITE AND GET BOTH INSTEAD OF PAYING TWICE. DISSAPPOINTED.I pre-ordered this book, because I wanted the latest edition to be able to take the test. I have an earlier version, which was fine, but I feared it was dated, and what I wanted was assurance that I was dealing with the most current rules. I was most interested in the CD/DVD that came in prior versions, which allow you to take tests on the computer and be evaluated. To me, that is the feature that sets this method of studying for the exam apart. Anyway, I assumed that it, like all past versions would come with a disc. IT DOES NOT, which is a disappointment and a surprise as the description does not mention its absence, but I now see does mention that you have access to a website to do what the disc used to do. THE USE OF THE WEBSITE requires another $30.00 (apparently you get a 20% discount). This info is not in the item description and is deceptive as the prior versions contained a disc and suddenly one is missing from the newest, revised version. So, if you buy this book, which I didn't really need, for the purpose of getting the ability to use an updated ability to take tests on the computer, you are not getting that, simply a reference as to where you can purchase it.

If you're starting out from scratch, this isn't probably the best way for you to learn. But, if what you really need is an in-depth refresher on stuff that you "think" you already know, then this is the most cost effective way for you to prepare for the exam.

Not wanting a Captain's Liscense but desiring the knowledge. It's been a very interesting read so far. NOT boring.

Did not come with the CD/DVD....others had the questions on CD?

well organized, appears to be be a good start.