Maritime Life and Traditions published by Le Chasse- Maree and WoodenBoat at £5.50 (quarterly) Newsagent's shelves are awash with magazines catering for almost every conceivable interest or hobby, and the maritime world has its fair share - some with its own specialised subject matter and others fighting for circulation in the vast middle ground.

So, how can any new magazine offer anything different; what niche can it find which isn't covered by any of the others? Read an issue of Maritime Life and Traditions and you will discover that its own 'niche' is more of an aching void - that vast range of subject matter which goes beyond boats and their design, beyond the history of a particular vessel, beyond any narrow viewpoint.

To a reviewer somewhat inured to the claims of new publications the arrival on the editorial desk of another new magazine was the cue for a somewhat half-hearted flick through the pages - which admittedly appeared well laid-out and exceptionally well illustrated.

And then began the process which makes this particular publication stand out. First you find an article which catches your eye and read it. You find it well written and illustrated and find yourself reading it from end to end.

Then you glance at another piece and find yourself drawn into something that you didn't think was quite your cup of tea. Before long you are avidly reading an article that you originally thought was of no interest to you whatsoever, and making new discoveries on the way...

Brixham Trawlers have always been an interest of this reviewer, and the piece on their history and development in Issue 1 was where he began. That he ended up reading the magazine from cover to cover and ended up deeply immersed in a piece on a marine artist of whom he had never heard before says much for Maritime Life and Traditions' appeal! This is a publication which draws from many sources and which casts its net wide. If it is historical and maritime it is ripe for inclusion. The origins of the word 'Shanghaiing' and the way it changed the face of 1800s San Francisco? Issue two explains all - plus the Cornish Pilchard industry and Eric Tabarly's yachting exploits.

Issue three gives us the early history of the classic ocean racing yacht Stormy Weather, the Maine lobster fishery and Irish famine ships among others.

And future issues? Well, we've seen some page proofs for a very interesting article on the history of lifeboats which is due to appear soon...

At £5.50 per issue MLT may sound expensive — but the 84 pages of high quality production and the total lack of advertising help put things in perspective.

And, if you're a reader of The Lifeboat and take out a subscription before 31 December this year the RNLI will receive 20%. For further details contact Maritime subscription services on (01275) 842487 ext. 221 quoting 'RNLI'.

For Those in Peril by Nicholas Leach published by Silver Link Publishing at £19.99 ISBN 1 85794 1292 Lifeboat Enthusiast Society member Nicholas Leach has embarked on an ambitious project with this volume - detailing the history of every one of the RNLI's current lifeboat stations.

With constant improvements being carried out at the stations, new boats arriving and even station name changes it is quite an achievement to provide both a history and a 'snapshot' of the current situation.

For Those in Peril opens with a fairly brief but comprehensive look at the RNLI's history and progress over the past 175 years - illustrated with contemporary photographs before moving on to the station-by-station heart of the book.

Most lifeboat stations get their own A4 page - although some are smaller - with at least one illustration. There is a brief location history, details of medals and awards, an account of notable rescues, a section of background information and a panel giving details of the lifeboat on station in 1999.

The background information is often fascinating and gives unusual glimpses of lifeboating in earlier times. At Anstruther, for example, there were once six coxswains, each of which managed the station for three months at a time, and four separate crews! Although this unwieldy system operated for the first 40 years of the station's life it is hardly surprising that it was then abandoned.

All-in-all a valuable addition to the written works about the lifeboat service, both as a good read and a 'dipinto' reference book. The book is available through RNLI (Sales) as well as highstreet bookstores and every copy sold is worth 50p to the RNLI.

Up Aloft with Old Harry by Des Sleightholme published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £5.99 A warning panel on the back of Des Sleightholme's latest hilarious (and quite penetrating!) look at the world of the yachtsman carries the message: This book should not be read in public where giggling is likely to be misinterpreted'.

There is not much more to add - this is Des Sleightholme at his best, seeing the funny side of everything we do afloat and sending it up unmercifully.

Every yachtsman will recognise someone in Des's tales - often themselves - and have had a close call with some of the scenarios. There but for the grace of God… The books reviewed here are NOT available from the RNLI (except where stated). Please see either the address given in the text or contact a good bookseller quoting the author,.