Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2026

*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here

If your boat has an electrical system, unfortunately, there’s a good chance something isn’t quite right.
In fact, many of the most common electrical system problems on boats—both power and sail— are built in by the boatbuilder. Poor design and questionable installations are compounded over time by well-intentioned but incomplete upgrades. 
Most mistakes remain hidden until vibration, corrosion, or some other factor results in an electrical system failure. Some are inconvenient. Others can be unsafe. The majority of boat fires originate in electrical systems.
Nigel Calder has seen it all.
In this workshop, Nigel walks through the most common electrical installation mistakes found on boats today—many of them surprisingly widespread—and shows you how to identify and correct them. From wiring issues to system design flaws, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what’s happening behind the panels on your own boat.
You don’t need prior experience. This is about learning what to look for, what matters, and how to make your system safer and more reliable.
Chances are, you’ll recognize something that needs fixing on your own boat.
This workshop is the first of two complementary electrical sessions on Friday. Each stands alone, but together they provide a deeper understanding of onboard electrical systems.

*Additional ticket purchase required for this paid workshop. Purchase workshop tickets here


When something electrical stops working on your boat, it can feel like a mystery.
Is it the battery? A connection? A wiring issue? And where do you even begin?
In this workshop, Nigel Calder breaks troubleshooting down into clear, step-by-step processes that any boat owner can follow. Using simple tools—especially a multimeter—you’ll learn how to identify the most common electrical problems and trace them to their source.
No prior experience is required. This is about building confidence—understanding what you’re looking at, knowing what to test, and being able to take action instead of guessing.
Along the way, you’ll also learn how to prevent common issues like premature battery failure and avoid unnecessary service calls.
On today’s increasingly complex boats, electrical systems can be one of the biggest sources of frustration—or one of the most empowering areas of knowledge.
This workshop helps tip the balance. It complements the morning session on electrical installation issues, but can be taken independently.

This workshop is the second of two complementary electrical sessions on Friday. Each can be taken independently, but together they provide a deeper understanding of onboard electrical systems.