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Nigel Calder: The Truth About Philosophy, Gunboats, and Marine Engineering
25 February 2026 · 1h 21m · 13K views
Nigel Calder and host discuss marine engineering in studio
What this video covers
Nigel Calder — author of the widely used cruising guides and marine electrical and mechanical manuals — describes his philosophy degree background, his 1995 arrest by a Cuban gunboat while charting Cuba's coast for a cruising guide, and the nine-day detention that ended with official permission to survey every navigable bay and harbor on the island.1:06 He recounts how he and his wife Terry built an Ingrid 39 from a bare fiberglass hull, then moved to a Pacific Seacraft and later two Malo 46s built in Sweden.29:42 On marine electrical systems, Calder argues that battery chemistry matters less than manufacturer quality and a properly engineered battery management system designed for the marine duty cycle; he warns that lithium iron phosphate cells can still reach thermal runaway and that assembling cheap cells with an off-the-shelf BMS is a fire risk.39:02 He covers 48-volt versus 24-volt system architecture, high-output alternator development (including stress-testing by disabling ramping and temperature limits), engine room heat management (fan orientation: suck air in, don't blow it at the alternator), ABYC through-hull load testing standards, lightning protection loop conductors, and the limits of electric propulsion on offshore passages.32:39 He also addresses the Boat How-To project with Dr. Jan Athenstadt.8:17
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