Scapa Flow in War and Peace by W.S. Hewison published by Bellavista Publications at £8.00 ISBN 0-9525350-0-9 Although mention of the name Scapa Flow immediately brings to mind the area's naval connections this 270sq mile patch of protected anchorage has a history which stretches back beyond the Vikings (who gave it its name) and which extends from the stone age to today's North Sea oil industry - via the herring fishing fleets and the scuttling of the German fleet in 1919. However the How's naval involvement is perhaps its most significant, and it is this which takes up the majority of the volume.

And who could better be placed to recount this history than a man who was on the editorial staff of the local paper, The Orcadian, for 34 years? Bill Hewison not only has a deep interest in - and knowledge of - this fascinating stretch of water but is also able to recount it in a way which brings history to life.

The severe weather which can be encountered around the Orkneys and the vicious tidal streams which run around and through Scapa Flow are partly responsible for there being no fewer than three lifeboat stations there - two of them on the Flow itself. Kirkwall, Stromness and Longhope lifeboats all have a proud history - sufficient to warrant a separate chapter - but it is Longhope which is perhaps best known to the general public after the tragic loss of TGB with all of her crew of eight in 1969.

A fascinating book which although of great local interest also extends its appeal far beyond the Orkneys themself.

The book can be obtained from the publishers, Bellavista Publications, Bellavista, Carness Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1TB for £8 including post and packing.Shipwreck Index of the British Isles - Volume 1 by Richard and Bridget Larn published by Lloyds Register of Shipping at £49 ISBN 0 900528 88 5 This massive, large-format volume must certainly fulfill the authors' intentions of being the most comprehensive listing of shipwrecks around the British coast - or at least Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Stilly which are covered in this first volume. (It is the authors' intention that further volumes will extend the coverage nationwide.) With some 7,000 wrecks covered in this single volume (and tens of thousands anticipated in the completed work) the information on them is basic - being limited to that obtainable in existing historic documents and records.

As the compilers point out, the work of researching in depth even the 7,000 entries of Volume 1 would be more than one person could achieve in a lifetime, let alone the tens of thousands eventually to be covered.

What the register does achieve is to group previously scattered and often inaccesible information in one volume so that anyone with an interest in a particular wreck can identify it and obtain enough leads to carry out further research.

The entries are listed chronologically within each area, and with an alphabetical index to aid location.

Undoubtedly a very yaluable reference volume, the review copy having already been used in this way within our office!Safety is not just a matter of carrying the right flares and enough lifejackets - it is more a state of mind. If a small boat sailor knows how to handle his boat in any conditions and can rely on her not to break down in moments of stress he stands a good chance of avoiding the RNLI's annual statistics. The books reviewed here will all help...

Boat Handling under sail and power by Bill Anderson and Tom Cunliffe published by Fernhurst Books at £11.95 ISBN 1-898-660-15-8 The provenance of Bill Anderson and Tom Cunliffe to produce a comprehensive, accurate book on this subject is undoubted. Bill is the RY A's Training Manager (the man who is responsible for administering national standards) and Tom is a yachtmaster examiner and a true seaman of vast experience as well as being the author of several other books on the yachting scene.

The subject is tackled logically - starting with the essential theory, moving on to manoeuvring in harbour under power and sail (an art rapidly being forgotten but of great value) and finally at sea under sail.

A good basic primer which will also prove more than useful to 'improvers' and also as a handy aide memoire to the more experienced.

Inflatables by Dag Pike published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £13.99 ISBN 0-7136-3881-8 A good basic primer for the owner, or would-be owner, of any inflatable or rigid inflatable boat (RIB).

Dag Pike has many years of experience with powerboats of all kinds (he was once an RNLI inspector of lifeboats and has been navigator aboard the trans-Atlantic Virgin Atlantic Challenger) and in this volume he covers the whole gamut of inflatable and rigid inflatable choice and use.

Given the RNLI's heavy involvement with the development and use of seagoing inflatables and RIBs it is inevitable that its methods will be used as examples (and illustrations) in a book of this kind.

An owner who reads and assimulates the contents of this volume would be well placed to say that he was doing his bit for safety at sea.

The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible by John C. Payne published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £22.99 ISBN 0-7136-4110-X Yes, it sounds boring and no, it probably won't challenge Jeffrey Archer at the top of the best sellers list.

But would a best-seller help ensure that when the chips were down all of your electrics and electronics carried on working in the way you intended? This comprehensive volume tells you just about everything you need to know about your boat's electric and electronic systems, and is invaluable if you ever intend to leave your marina berth!A Short History of the Padstow Lifeboat by George C. Phillips published by the author at £3.25 Padstow claims to be the second oldest lifeboat station in the Duchy of Cornwall, being set up in January 1827 mainly as a result of Chief Officer of Coastguards' efforts.

The north Cornwall coast has been a dangerous area for shipping since the age of sail, when its geography seemed almost tailor-made to take advantage of the wind's habit of flying into the west or northwest after a south-westerly blow.

With a rocky and inhospitable coast to leeward Padstow may have seemed a safe haven, but shipping soon found that its approach was difficult and confusing and that the sands of the Doom Bar stretched across its entrance were very aptly named.

It is hardy surprising that even the town's lifeboats have fallen foul of the elements, with disasters in 1867and 1900 - when both of the station's lifeboats were in trouble and 11 men were lost.

George Phillips is the station's Honorary Secretary and, in this latest version of his booklet, has brought his history right up to date with the work of the current lifeboat, the Tyne class James Burrough.

Copies of the A5, 46-page book can be obtained from G.

C. Phillips, Little Gambia, Near Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8LB for £3.25 including post and packing, of which 50p will go to the RNL1.

The Memoirs of William John Harman 1854-1944 Shipwrecks and Rescue off Wells-Next-The-Sea Norfolk by Graham B. Walker published by the author at £4.95 Graham Walker is the current coxswain of the Wells lifeboat and it was while he was researching the history of the station for a book on the subject - due to be published shortly - that he found himself referring again and again to a copy of some memoirs which he had been lent.

These memoirs, of William Harman, seemed to be the only written history of shipwrecks in the area during the late 1800s and the early 1900s.

Graham discovered that the originals were lodged with the Greenwich Maritime museum, and while glad that they were at least safe he felt that they should be more widely available.

Hence, with the support of Harman's family and of the National Maritime museum, he set out to publish them - for which anyone with an interest in maritime history should be grateful.

Although essentially a local book this volume gives the reader a fascinating, first-hand glimpse of the world in which Harman lived.

The illustrations too are fascinating, bringing to life a world long since forgotten.

Copies of the book can be obtained from G. C. Walker at 16 High Street, Wells-Next- The-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1EP for £4.95 plus £1 post and packing-Strong to Save by Ray and Susannah Kipling published by Patrick Stephens at £14.99 ISBN 1-85260-495-6 Author Ray Kipling is well placed to understand the special ambience of the RNLI - having been a member of staff for than 20 years and the Institution's Deputy Director since 1988 there is little he doesn't know about the men and the boats.

Ray already has two lifeboat books behind him and his wife Susannah is also an accomplished writer. Between them they have produced a volume which gives a splendid insight into both the way the RNLI operates and that particular blend of dedication, humour and occasional irreverance which makes the RNLI what it is but which defies definition.

Looking at the coast section by section the authors blend history with the activities of today's lifeboatmen with skill, keeping the imagination alive and giving us insights into the lifeboatman's way of life - afloat and ashore.

With such an inside STRONG TO SAVE Dr.m«H flr.i-li.MMl ««««nt. •« «NU Ray and Susannah Kipling knowledge of the RNLI it is hardly surprising that there are one or two revelations - not the least being that the RNLI was almost 'nationalised' in 1970 and also the struggle by women to become recognised crewmembers A book which can be highly recommended to anyone with an interest in the lifeboat service - and which adds 50p of the purchase price to RNLI funds.Troon Lifeboat by Ian Cassels published by Cluny Publishers A fact-packed booklet which traces the history of Troon lifeboat station from its inception in eary 1871 through to the latest Arun class City of Glasgow III with many illustrations, mainly contemporary and some in colour.

The booklet can be obtained from Troon's station Honorary Secretary, James Manson, at 118 North Shore Road, Troon, Ayrshire KA10 6RB for £2.50 including postage and packing.

Cheques should be made payable to 'RNLI Troon Branch'.The Story of the Selsey Lifeboats The Story of the Weston-Super-Mare Lifeboats The Story of the Ramsgate Lifeboats The History of the Tynemouth Lifeboats by Jeff Morris Published by the author - prices and availability at the end of review Four new volumes in Jeff Morris' series of station history booklets (or rather three new and one up-date - Selsey).

Each continues the familiar format with a detailed and well-illustrated account of the station from its inception to the present day, taking in the more notable services and events during that time.

The booklets are available from the following sources (all prices include p & p) - Selsey: Mrs V. Littleboy, 71 East Beach Road, Selsey, West Sussex PO20 OES at £3.

Weston-Super-Mare: Mrs J. Allam BEM, Cotteswold Court, 72 Birnbeck Road, Weston-Super-Mare, Avon BS23 2EF at £3.

Ramsgate: Mrs L. Burgess, 13 Dorothy Drive, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6TN at £3.

Tynemouth: Jeff Morris, 14 Medina Road, Foleshill, Coventry, West Midlands CV6 5JB at £2.50..