Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting Jan C. Athenstädt and Nigel Calder—the inspiring duo behind BoatHowTo. I already knew Nigel’s name from his articles in sailing magazines. Many sailors also know him as the author of Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual and Marine Diesel Engines, which have been the go-to sources for countless boaters. It was such a treat to hear some of his stories drawn from years of experience on board.
Jan, the creative mind behind BoatHowTo, brings his impressive background and skills to the team. A seasoned sailor who has navigated over 10,000 nautical miles on tall ships and rewired countless yachts, Jan blends hands-on experience, with a talent for making technical topics accessible. Together, they’ve built BoatHowTo into a trusted hub for marine electrical training.
Hoisting the sails
BoatHowTo started with a simple but powerful idea: to make marine electrical systems easier to understand for everyone. During the pandemic, Jan and Nigel collaborated remotely to create an online platform that combines technical and practical knowledge on boat systems with engaging visuals.
Since its launch in 2021, BoatHowTo has become the go-to source for motivated boatowners venturing away from the dock, needing reliable electrical systems and the skills to maintain them offshore. Their courses have also been widely used by professionals in the marine industry.
“We’ve seen boatyard technicians, surveyors, and even trade schools use our courses,” Nigel says. “Two boatbuilding schools in the US now include our material in their curriculum, and boat surveyors can even earn Continuous Education Units with our programs,” Jan adds.
What sets their courses apart is the use of real-world examples drawn from Nigel and Jan’s extensive experience, presented with Jan’s easy-to-follow and engaging visual skills. The combination of practical insights and the use of widely recognised products in the marine sector, such as Victron, makes their teaching material relatable and highly applicable, giving students the confidence to apply their knowledge to their own systems.
As Nigel puts it, “We come at this from what works and does not work in boats rather than an academic approach to electricity.” Their course content builds knowledge step by step, making it easy for non-technical boatowners to follow. He adds, “For forty years, my primary focus has been on translating complex technical subjects into language that is accessible to non-technical boatowners.”
Battery bank testing
Moving against the current
When it comes to electrical faults on boats, Nigel notes: “The typical electrical system is installed to minimum standards with little resilience in the face of problems.” He continues, “The installers are frequently very poorly trained in basic installation requirements, especially related to overcurrent protection. Almost all the photos [of incorrect installations] come from new boats direct from the boatbuilder!”
BoatHowTo helps bridge this knowledge gap, teaching students the skills needed to design and maintain safe, reliable systems. Nigel mentions that students often share photos of their “beautifully installed, standards-compliant electrical systems” after completing the courses.
Student installation – Before the course
Student installation – After the course
One of their students, Torsten Hansen, shares this lovely feedback:
“I recommend BoatHowTo any chance I get and consider it an essential investment for anyone who is about to tackle the electrical system on their boat.
The Boat Electrics 101 course provides essential information and knowledge in an easy-to-consume format; the Advanced course takes it several steps further. Together, the two courses give the viewer an excellent, cohesive understanding of how the elements of a boat electrical system tie together. Combine that with Nigel’s Boatowner’s Manual for the details, and you will be much less likely to make costly and potentially dangerous mistakes.”
Trimming the sails
Nigel and Jan are constantly evolving their courses. “We have learned a lot over the past couple of years, both in terms of how to improve the presentations and also from the questions our subscribers ask,” Nigel explains.
Nigel’s boat in the Scottish Highlands
They plan to update their basic electrical course with additional technical content and incorporate recent changes to ABYC standards. Their recently released Diesel Engine Maintenance course will also soon be translated into Spanish and German. Looking ahead, Jan and Nigel envision creating a boat-buying guide in collaboration with a new partner. Nigel sums up what’s ahead for BoatHowTo, “We see BoatHowTo growing into the go-to site for accurate information on all things boat technical!”
Dropping anchor
Whether you’re a sailor wanting to be more self-sufficient for longer trips, or a marine professional looking to sharpen your skills, BoatHowTo has something for you. Their courses break down tricky topics into practical, real-world lessons, giving you the knowledge and confidence to handle your boat’s electrics with ease.
Curious to learn more about their courses? Head over to BoatHowTo.com
