Then you might be interested in.....
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex.
http://www.amazon.com/In-Heart-Sea-Tragedy-Whaleship/dp/0141001828
Excellent narrative of the ship that inspired Moby Dick.
Here's the Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_(whaleship)
Read the book a number of years ago. Just now learned it is being turned into a movie by Ron Howard, staring Tom Hanks, due at theaters next year!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Heart_of_the_Sea_(film)