Special Events

If properly installed and maintained, diesel engines are remarkably reliable with almost all problems self-inflicted due to neglect. Tech guru Nigel Calder, author of the best-selling ‘Marine Diesel Engines’ (now in its 3rd edition, and used as a textbook in numerous diesel classes and co-founder of www.BoatHowTo.com), brings his broad experience to a class for boatowners, both power and sail, who want to get the most out of their time on the water. Distinguishing between contemporary and older diesels, Nigel will dive into a detailed look at fuel, oil, cooling, airflow, and powertrain systems, describing all normal maintenance procedures. He will define what the untrained boat owner can reasonably be expected to do and what should not be attempted. You will come away from this seminar with the confidence to carry out routine maintenance. This alone will save you the price of admission! This class is for anyone who does not mind getting their hands dirty. While a basic familiarity with engine components and prior experience with tools will be beneficial, they are not a necessity.

This is the first of Thursday’s two half-day classes. The two classes are designed to be complementary, but also to stand alone for those who cannot attend both. The first dives into the heart of diesel engine fundamentals, focusing on core maintenance tasks that can be undertaken by every boat owner (and some that should not be attempted), while the second class includes a detailed description of essential troubleshooting skills and techniques, including with a multimeter. Learn more and buy tickets to the second Thursday class.

This event will take place on the Cruising and Technical Stage which is on the 2nd floor of the yellow building at the Northwest Maritime campus. The stage can be reached by our elevator, with accessible parking nearby.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events and activities that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact access@nwmaritime.org.

Nigel Calder is best known for his Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines, both considered definitive works. In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, he has also authored A Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean, Cuba: A Cruising Guide, Nigel Calder’s Cruising Handbook: A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors and How to Read a Nautical Chart. He recently released a memoir, Shakedown Cruise, details his family’s first extended cruise from New Orleans to Venezuela, via the West Indies, and back. Nigel was the technical director of a European Union-funded investigation of marine hybrid systems. He has been a longtime member of the American Boat and Yacht Council’s Electrical Project Technical Committee. Nigel is a freelance consultant on marine energy issues. He and his wife, Terrie, spend several months every year aboard their Malo 46, Nada. Over the past 35 years they have cruised and written about the East Coast of North America and the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and points as far north as the Faroe Islands and Scandinavia and as far south as Portugal.

My Diesel Engine Is Acting Up: What May Be Wrong, and Can I Fix It? The answer, commonly, is: ‘Yes’. But this requires an understanding of the operating principles of a diesel engine together with a familiarity with the core systems that keep the engine functional. Armed with this knowledge, it is possible to determine the likely causes of most common operating problems, other than those related to electricity; troubleshooting these requires the ability to conduct simple multimeter tests. Nigel will cover all these topics focusing on the most commonly experienced diesel engine problems, including overheating, a failure to develop full power, exhaust smoke of various colors, rough running, vibration, and a failure to crank or to fire when cranking. Over the years, Nigel has received thanks from numerous people he has enabled to get up and running in the boonies. This seminar will help you do the same. While familiarity with engine components and participation in the morning class will be beneficial, this is not a necessity.

This is the second of Thursday’s two half-day classes. The two classes are designed to be complementary, but also to stand alone for those who cannot attend both. The first dives into the heart of diesel engine fundamentals, focusing on core maintenance tasks that can be undertaken by every boat owner (and some that should not be attempted), while the second class includes a detailed description of essential troubleshooting skills and techniques, including with a multimeter. Learn more and buy tickets to the first Thursday class.

This event will take place on the Cruising and Technical Stage which is on the 2nd floor of the yellow building at the Northwest Maritime campus. The stage can be reached by our elevator, with accessible parking nearby.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events and activities that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact access@nwmaritime.org.

Nigel Calder is best known for his Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines, both considered definitive works. In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, he has also authored A Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean, Cuba: A Cruising Guide, Nigel Calder’s Cruising Handbook: A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors and How to Read a Nautical Chart. He recently released a memoir, Shakedown Cruise, details his family’s first extended cruise from New Orleans to Venezuela, via the West Indies, and back. Nigel was the technical director of a European Union-funded investigation of marine hybrid systems. He has been a longtime member of the American Boat and Yacht Council’s Electrical Project Technical Committee. Nigel is a freelance consultant on marine energy issues. He and his wife, Terrie, spend several months every year aboard their Malo 46, Nada. Over the past 35 years they have cruised and written about the East Coast of North America and the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and points as far north as the Faroe Islands and Scandinavia and as far south as Portugal.

The number one source of problems on boats large enough to have an electrical system, both power and sail, lies in these electrical systems. Most problems can be traced to inadequate design and/or poor installation. Unfortunately, many commonly seen installation mistakes come directly from boatbuilders and equipment installers. Others are added by boatowners with inadequate electrical knowledge. A number are potentially unsafe. Nigel Calder, author of the best-selling ‘Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual’ and co-founder of www.BoatHowTo.com, has seen them all. Nigel identifies issues that are likely to be found on almost all boats, and explains how to fix them. You will leave class with a far better understanding of your electrical system and knowing how to ensure a more reliable and safer system than you currently have. No previous experience is required.

This is the first of Friday’s two half-day classes. The two classes are designed to be complementary, but also to stand alone for those who cannot attend both. The first of Friday’s classes will identify common electrical installation mistakes, many of which are built in by boatbuilders and equipment installers. These errors can upend the enjoyment of our boats and may also create serious safety risks. Once recognized, most are easy to fix. This will be followed by the second class which includes a detailed description of essential troubleshooting skills and techniques, including with a multimeter. These classes are for anyone who has a boat with more than a minimal electrical system. Learn more and buy tickets to the second Friday class.

This event will take place on the Cruising and Technical Stage which is on the 2nd floor of the yellow building at the Northwest Maritime campus. The stage can be reached by our elevator, with accessible parking nearby.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events and activities that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact access@nwmaritime.org.

Nigel Calder is best known for his Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines, both considered definitive works. In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, he has also authored A Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean, Cuba: A Cruising Guide, Nigel Calder’s Cruising Handbook: A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors and How to Read a Nautical Chart. He recently released a memoir, Shakedown Cruise, details his family’s first extended cruise from New Orleans to Venezuela, via the West Indies, and back. Nigel was the technical director of a European Union-funded investigation of marine hybrid systems. He has been a longtime member of the American Boat and Yacht Council’s Electrical Project Technical Committee. Nigel is a freelance consultant on marine energy issues. He and his wife, Terrie, spend several months every year aboard their Malo 46, Nada. Over the past 35 years they have cruised and written about the East Coast of North America and the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and points as far north as the Faroe Islands and Scandinavia and as far south as Portugal.

Nigel Calder outlines step-by-step troubleshooting techniques that can be safely conducted by any boat owner, including using a multimeter. The class is designed for the inexperienced (no prior knowledge is required), although it will be challenging for some; familiarity with volts, amps, and ohms will make the learning experience easier. The immediate goal is to enable participants to head off premature battery and systems failures, and to perform simple troubleshooting techniques that will rapidly identify the majority of electrical problems seen on boats. The overarching goal is to raise the confidence levels of boat owners given today’s increasingly electrically-loaded and complicated boats. You will likely save the price of admission by not having to make service calls.

This is the second of Friday’s two half-day classes. The two classes are designed to be complementary, but also to stand alone for those who cannot attend both. The first of Friday’s classes will identify common electrical installation mistakes, many of which are built in by boatbuilders and equipment installers. These errors can upend the enjoyment of our boats and may also create serious safety risks. Once recognized, most are easy to fix. This will be followed by the second class which includes a detailed description of essential troubleshooting skills and techniques, including with a multimeter. These classes are for anyone who has a boat with more than a minimal electrical system. Learn more and buy tickets to the first Friday class. This event will take place on the Cruising and Technical Stage which is on the 2nd floor of the yellow building at the Northwest Maritime campus. The stage can be reached by our elevator, with accessible parking nearby.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events and activities that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact access@nwmaritime.org.

Nigel Calder is best known for his Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines, both considered definitive works. In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, he has also authored A Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean, Cuba: A Cruising Guide, Nigel Calder’s Cruising Handbook: A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors and How to Read a Nautical Chart. He recently released a memoir, Shakedown Cruise, details his family’s first extended cruise from New Orleans to Venezuela, via the West Indies, and back. Nigel was the technical director of a European Union-funded investigation of marine hybrid systems. He has been a longtime member of the American Boat and Yacht Council’s Electrical Project Technical Committee. Nigel is a freelance consultant on marine energy issues. He and his wife, Terrie, spend several months every year aboard their Malo 46, Nada. Over the past 35 years they have cruised and written about the East Coast of North America and the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and points as far north as the Faroe Islands and Scandinavia and as far south as Portugal.