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In this issue:
Maritime News
Kiwi Sailor killed by his own boat
MV Dali fatal allision caused identified
Boat Chat Focus - Looking back at 2025
In Other News (letters)…
Boat Maintenance Tips
Surveyor’s Top Tip
Latest YouTube Video
Great Kit Ideas
Boaty Terminology - Fair Winds…
On the bright side of life
How you can support Boat Chat
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Maritime News
Round The World Kiwi Sailor Dies
74 year old Lyall Babington died after being dragged into and crushed by a powered deck winch on his own boat. The tragic accident happened in August 2025 and the MAIB have recently published their report following investigation.
Lyall’s yacht Mollie was three years into a round the world trip and he picked up volunteer crew as and when he needed for passages.
The cockpit was fitted with 24V DC powered winches, operated by control switches activated by the operator’s knee. One of these switches had developed an intermittent fault whereby the winch would sometime keep running after the switch was released.
Story credit: Marine Accident Investigation Board
Link: https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/fatal-accident-on-board-the-recreational-sailing-vessel-mollie
MV Dali Allision Caused By A Single Wire
MV Dali Allision (NTSB Picture)
The US National Trasnportation Safety Board released their report into the allision of container ship MV Dali with the Francis Scott Bridge in Baltimore which killed six highway workers. Investigators said a loose wire in the ship's electrical system caused a breaker to unexpectedly open beginning a sequence of events that led to two vessel blackouts and a loss of both propulsion and steering before the allision with the 2.37-mile-long Key Bridge in March 2024 .
The investigation found a single point of failure caused by a poor connection of a wire into a spring clamp which was only partially inserted due to the wire label banding slipping from its intended position, preventing full insertion of the cable.
Story credit: NTSB
Boat Chat Focus - Looking Back At 2025
It has been an up and down year in the UK small craft surveying sector with activity levels for this surveyor ranging from quiet to insanely busy. Calendar Q1 was quiet, Q2 busy, Q3 quiet and Q4 has just been nuts. A wide variety of surveys undertaken this year ranging from over 40 foot Hanse and Southerly yachts to a 15m houseboat plus plenty of motor and narrowboats. The ‘office’ kept changing as it always does from shiny marinas to muddy fields or sea trials on the beautiful south coast of England.
Portland Bay Sea Trial in December
More satisfying than the survey work has been playing a small part in developing the marine industry. From helping new aspiring marine surveyors learn the everyday skills of the role, to sitting on the management board of the IIMS to creating written and video content to ‘Help People Understand Boats Better’.
IIMS HQ in Portchester
Looking out of the window, the boat market seems to me to be in mixed health. Globally, orders remain robust in the superyacht end of the spectrum. The top three countries for superyacht building remain Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands. The total number of boats on order has dropped slightly on 2025 but the average Gross Tonnage has increased. Fewer superyachts being built, but they are getting larger.
At the smaller end of the market here in the UK, volume builders such as Princess continue to struggle to make headway. Around 240 jobs already cut this year with a recent announcement that another 40 may follow soon.
Sunseeker are in a similar position having cut 200 jobs this summer due to a “softening in global demand”. The UK builds lots of smaller yachts rather than large masterpieces, that demands slick logistics, efficient production lines and capable tradespeople to make a profit. No easy task in the current economic climate.
In Other News (Letters)…
Time is precious, let others do the sifting so you can make best use of your time catching up on the news. That’s what Boat Chat does in boating and it’s what the Morning Brew newsletter does every day in global news:
Trusted by millions. Actually enjoyed by them too.
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Sure, the Brew’s take on the news is witty and sharp. But the games? Addictive. You might come for the crosswords and quizzes, but you’ll leave knowing the stories shaping your career and life.
Try Morning Brew’s newsletter for free — and join millions who keep up with the news because they want to, not because they have to.
Boat Maintenance Tips
Keep Your Scuppers Clear
Now that most of the leaves are off the trees, take 5 minutes to run a hosepipe through your scuppers to clear any debris and make sure they are clear and ready for any winter storms.
Read more. Whether you are a boat owner, surveyor or a broker, time spent reading within and around your specialisation is seldom wasted.
Or to put it more simply: “Every Day Is A School Day”
This year I’ve been reading about how to improve my story telling skills and writing online. Seeing which posts and videos do well, examining why they resonated with people and trying to develop those skills.
Find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MLC2cT
Trying to be 1% better every time I post online.
Boat Chat Growth
Boat Chat continues to grow well and now has nearly 1000 subscribers across all platforms. It’s all about:
‘Helping people understand boats better’.
YouTube Growth
The White Hat Marine Surveying channel now has over 2,000 subscribers and is growing well. The most recent video looked at why marine surveyors need to be like a nosy detective, asking the ‘why’ questions based on what they find.
Great Kit Ideas
With the boating world now getting ready for Christmas, why not treat yourself to some new gear for the boat owners or marine surveyors in your life or as a treat for your boat. I have put together several collections on Kit.Co which are all personally recommended items and most of which I own.
From boat safety equipment to books about sailing and the tools and books a marine surveyor needs; there really is something for everyone!
Boaty Terminology
Fair winds and following seas – A blessing wishing a boater a safe journey and good fortune
On The Bright Side Of Life… 🤣
Q: How many sailors does it take to change a lightbulb?
A; None, because the right size bulb isn’t on board, the local chandlery doesn’t carry that size, and the supply ship is stuck in the Suez Canal (again).
How You Can Support Boat Chat
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And Finally…. 👍🏻
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