Nigel Calder: The Truth About Philosophy, Gunboats, and Marine Engineering
Nigel Calder has kept more sailors safe than perhaps anyone alive. But his path to becoming the world's foremost marine engineering expert was anything but standard.
Get my book Be The Captain: https://bethecaptain.com/
Support the journey on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro
In this interview, we dive into the stories you won't find in his textbooks. From his philosophy degree to being arrested by a gunboat in Cuba, Nigel opens up about his life, his pragmatic approach to mishaps, and his latest mission with BoatHowTo. Whether you are troubleshooting a marine diesel engine or planning a lithium battery upgrade, Nigel's insight is the gold standard.
Topics covered:
The Philosophy of Engineering & Boat Systems
Chased by gunboats: The Cuba incident
Survival on offshore oil rigs
Hybrid Diesel Engines & Electric Propulsion
Managing heat in modern lithium engine rooms
The Aleutian Island pirate treasure?
Check out Nigel’s courses here: https://boathowto.com/boat-electrics-101/#aff=BeTheCaptain
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro: The Philosophy-Degree Felon
00:35 - Secretly Mapping Cuba for Cruising Guides
08:22 - The Real Nigel Calder: Fact vs. Fiction
10:03 - Getting Arrested by the Cuban Military
10:52 - Boat Naming Traditions & "Nada"
11:32 - Surviving Three Oil Rig Meltdowns
14:57 - Early Sailing Mishaps & Lessons Learned
19:20 - Writing the "Bible" of Boat Maintenance & ABYC Standards
22:01 - Environmentalism & The Ethics of Sailing
24:09 - BoatHowTo & Modern High-Power Alternators
28:56 - Nigel’s New Custom Boat Build
36:05 - Patreon Q&A: Solving Viewer Problems
43:05 - The Truth About Lightning Protection
47:37 - STOP DOING THIS: Stray Current & Grounding Mistakes
52:55 - Plastic vs. Bronze Through-Hulls
54:39 - Maintenance Blind Spots You’re Missing
58:12 - Electric Propulsion: Hype vs. Reality
1:04:59 - The Death of Lead Acid: Is Lithium Mandatory?
1:11:54 - Engine Room Ventilation & Exhaust Tips
1:16:04 - Will Nigel Switch to a Powerboat?
1:18:40 - Future Adventures: The Aleutian Islands
1:20:17 - Closing Thoughts
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Nigel Calder has kept more sailors safe than perhaps anyone alive. But his path to becoming the world’s foremost marine engineering expert was anything but standard.
Get my book Be The Captain: https://bethecaptain.com/
Support the journey on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/svzingaro
In this interview, we dive into the stories you won’t find in his textbooks. From his philosophy degree to being arrested by a gunboat in Cuba, Nigel opens up about his life, his pragmatic approach to mishaps, and his latest mission with BoatHowTo. Whether you are troubleshooting a marine diesel engine or planning a lithium battery upgrade, Nigel’s insight is the gold standard.
Topics covered:
The Philosophy of Engineering & Boat Systems
Chased by gunboats: The Cuba incident
Survival on offshore oil rigs
Hybrid Diesel Engines & Electric Propulsion
Managing heat in modern lithium engine rooms
The Aleutian Island pirate treasure?
Check out Nigel’s courses here: https://boathowto.com/boat-electrics-101/#aff=BeTheCaptain
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: The Philosophy-Degree Felon
00:35 – Secretly Mapping Cuba for Cruising Guides
08:22 – The Real Nigel Calder: Fact vs. Fiction
10:03 – Getting Arrested by the Cuban Military
10:52 – Boat Naming Traditions & “Nada”
11:32 – Surviving Three Oil Rig Meltdowns
14:57 – Early Sailing Mishaps & Lessons Learned
19:20 – Writing the “Bible” of Boat Maintenance & ABYC Standards
22:01 – Environmentalism & The Ethics of Sailing
24:09 – BoatHowTo & Modern High-Power Alternators
28:56 – Nigel’s New Custom Boat Build
36:05 – Patreon Q&A: Solving Viewer Problems
43:05 – The Truth About Lightning Protection
47:37 – STOP DOING THIS: Stray Current & Grounding Mistakes
52:55 – Plastic vs. Bronze Through-Hulls
54:39 – Maintenance Blind Spots You’re Missing
58:12 – Electric Propulsion: Hype vs. Reality
1:04:59 – The Death of Lead Acid: Is Lithium Mandatory?
1:11:54 – Engine Room Ventilation & Exhaust Tips
1:16:04 – Will Nigel Switch to a Powerboat?
1:18:40 – Future Adventures: The Aleutian Islands
1:20:17 – Closing Thoughts
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