The Anti-Pirate Potato Cannon: And 101 Other Things for Young Mariners to Build, Try, and Do on the Water
David Seidmangot into boats when he was nine and has been hooked ever since. He has designed and built his own boats and sailed the world in others. The first person to reach Bermuda from the U.S. in an outboard-powered boat, Seidman has also crossed the Bering Strait on a personal watercraft, holds the world record for distance traveled in a boat on a gallon of gas (103 miles), has followed the route of Lewis and Clark, crossed the country twice by boat, and has traveled by boat up the Amazon and down the Yangtze and Mississippi rivers. Equally fascinated by power, sail, and paddle, he is an accomplished sea kayaker and has sailed across the Atlantic. He is the former executive editor of Boating, the world's largest powerboat magazine, and is the author ofThe Complete Sailor, a bestselling sailing instructional guide. Most relevant of all, however, David is the proud father of a 6-year-old boy who he hopes will share his love of boats and the sea.The Anti-Pirate Potato Cannon and 101 Other Things for Young Mariners to Build, Try, and Do on the Wateris David's attempt to ensure that happens.Jeff Hemmelis a lifelong boater, and contributing editor toBoating Magazine, PersonalWatercraft.com, and BoaterMouth.com. Always interested in watersports, he raced sailboats in his teen years, competed as a professional personal watercraft freestyle rider in his 20s, and remains an avid wakeboarding enthusiast. Hemmel was recently inducted into the International Jet Sports Boating Association Hall of Fame, as well as given that association’s “Lifetime Achievement” award. Jeff loves a fresh story angle, and in that pursuit has battled Class IV rapids in a Hells Canyon jet boat, surfed the waves of South Africa on a stand-up Jet Ski, rode a wakeboard through the Grand Canyon, even pulled the 12-person water-ski pyramid at Florida’s Cypress Gardens. Like David, Jeff is passing on his love of the water to his two young daughters, both of whom are already proud skiers.