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Introducing the crew: Tim, Cindy, Marianne and Alan.

Tim Ridge, co-proprietor of Boat Books Limited.
Tim is an Auckland Compass Adjustor, a marine examiner, and is most involved with the publishing and distribution aspects of the business. Tim's seagoing background was originally as a deck officer in the British merchant service, and subsequently as a nautical teacher and examiner in the New Zealand government service. Tim sails a Davidson 28 keel yacht, and occasionally serves as master on the New Zealand sail training ship Spirit of New Zealand. He started Boat Books Limited in August 1990 as a solely owned New Zealand company. Tim has co-authored two books: Marinas in New Zealand, and The Work Book for Boat Masters.

Cindy Schleier, the retail manager and finance controller of the business.
Cindy has sailed to New Zealand from Sweden with her husband and settled in New Zealand in 2001.

Marianne Bosman (Click to meet Marianne), co-proprietor of Boat Books Limited, retailer in the bookshop and debtor manager.
Marianne was born in The Netherlands to a Rijn river ship family which meant spending the first 7 years of her life onboard ship. Not able to completely escape the "nautical touch" Marianne married a Kiwi, who just happened to be a Master Mariner! Marianne writes:
Taking advantage of my husband's profession, I was lucky enough to have been able to visit many corners of the globe ,in vessels ranging from sailing ships to small coasters to container vessels.
17 years ago we decided to go and settle New Zealand and a chance to work in a Nautical Bookshop seems to fit in perfectly with my family background as well as my years in the Booktrade in The Netherlands and New Zealand. And it is certainly very nice to be "on watch" with Tim and Cindy.
As from May 2006 I have been a shareholder and director in the company and I am looking forward to using my experience to make it grow and have even more fun!

Alan Brown, part-time assistant in the bookshop.
In ‘past lives’ Alan has owned and operated small businesses, and worked in the corporate world in operations and general management. Most recently he ran a business consultancy helping companies with planning and marketing.
A keen sailor, Alan enjoys cruising on his small keeler (when he is not working on restoration and maintenance projects)! Joining Boat Books in March 2008, Alan brings to the business his interest as an avid reader of anything nautically themed, and recent experience working part-time in a retail boat chandlery.
Alan notes “I am delighted to be part of the Boat Books team.”



Click to visit the shop.


Boat Books Limited is at street level with kerb-side car parking at Auckland City Council metered rates (currently $1 per hour). Please come and visit if you are in town.

Boat Books Limited is a specialist nautical book and services provider in Auckland, New Zealand. It is also the home of largest specialist nautical bookshop in New Zealand, located in Westhaven, Auckland, beside the largest marina in New Zealand. Auckland has been the home of the America's Cup and has the biggest per-capita sailing market in the world. The Hauraki Gulf outside our "front door" is arguably the finest cruising area for sailboats and launches to be found anywhere.

Our bookshop is New Zealand's only dedicated nautical bookshop and stocks over 2000 marine titles. We are a principal and correcting chart agent, being one of three outlets in New Zealand approved to sell corrected paper charts to commercial users; we have a mail order service and specialise in services to the nautical teaching fraternity of New Zealand. Obviously you already know about our WEB page!

Boat Books Limited distributes nautical books and chart table equipment within New Zealand and exports to retail bookshops and similar businesses in North America, Britain and Australia. Boat Books Limited publishes under the name Captain Teach Press and currently has over 20 titles, including cruising guides, logbooks, nautical Flashcards and other specialist marine publications. The company also designs and manufactures innovative chart-table equipment.
All our staff are active boaties - with their own boats. And we all love books!

We have over 2000 book titles in our database, news of books and magazines are listed here.
Contact us for further information

You’re welcome to visit us - we’re open 7 days a week. Alternatively, our phone is manned during business hours and we have a 24-hour fax line, along with our e-mail address. All correspondence details are listed below.

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