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