Hi all,
I am recently reminded that there is an author who I consider way under-appreciated: Dave Gerr. He is not only a Naval Architect, designer, educator, writer and journalist but has the distinction of being all those things and enjoying the ability to communicate effectively with the average boater: a very rare combination. He can also be very very funny in some of his writing.
I would start with (from memory and with no internet to check) “The Nature of Boats” as his most approachable book for general reading. More technically, one might go to “Boat Strength” or the bible for those who deal with propellors: “The Propellor Handbook”. But there is no book I would not recommend.
Enjoy.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy