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
Support Sailing Zingaro
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Sailing Zingaro invests in crafting each and every video or voyage. Their passion for delivering exceptional ocean content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos here and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore the gear, sponsorships, and boat partnerships highlighted in the "Nigel Calder: The Truth About Philosophy, Gunboats, and Marine Engineering" video description, or directly on YouTube. By engaging with these offerings or purchasing services and items, you directly support Sailing Zingaro, their collaborators, and the brands they're associated with.
To ensure you never miss an offshore update, consider visiting their official YouTube Channel to subscribe, like, and join their community directly.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Sailing Zingaro or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
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
Sailing Zingaro
Join James Evenson of Sailing Zingaro as he documents his 2026 technical refit of his Crowther Spindrift 38 in Colombia and his 'Sailing Truth' mission.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Latest Episodes from Sailing Zingaro
Explore the most recent voyages. Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update!
The Breeches Buoy: A Lifeline from Ship to Shore
The breeches buoy used a line fired from shore to a wrecked ship, a heavier rope, and a ring with pants to bring people back to the beach one at a time. The method depended on a stationary, grounded vessel close enough for the line to reach. Full Video: 📗 Get My Book:
Give Your Crew a Job Before Panic Takes Over
When the Pendleton broke apart, chief engineer Raymond Sybert took charge of the 32 men left with him and assigned them duties. In an emergency, specific jobs give a frightened crew something useful to focus on and help keep panic from taking over. Full Video: 📗 Get My Book:
This Tanker Broke in Half at the Dock
The tanker Schenectady broke in half while tied to a dock in Portland, Oregon, in flat calm. Its failure illustrates the difference between riveted and welded ships, and how cold wartime steel could behave like glass. Full Video: 📗 Get My Book:
One of the Greatest Sea Stories Ever Told…
Discover the legendary 1952 Coast Guard rescue of the SS Pendleton, where Bernie Webber and three men crossed the violent Chatham Bar in a 36-foot wooden boat to save 32 lives.
4 Men Sent to Die in 60-Foot Seas | The Finest Hours True Story
Sailing Zingaro analyzes the true seamanship behind the 1952 SS Pendleton disaster, Raymond Sybert's battle on the stern, and CG-36500 crossing Chatham Bar.