There’s no point getting any older, if you don’t get any wiser. And when you do, pass it on.

Boat Chat’s mission is ‘Helping people understand boats better’. It contains a mixture of maritime news, boat maintenance advice, marine surveying tips and other boat related stuff.

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MV Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on 26th March 2024. The allision led to the deaths of six road workers on the bridge at the time and closed the port of Baltimore for several weeks. The total claim is estimated to be in the regions of US$5 billion. At the time it was reported that the ship suffered a number of power black outs and lost propulsion and steering.

In one scenario, Chief Engineer Karthikeyan Deenadayalan is facing accusations of failing to report a known hazardous condition within the vessel’s fuel system to the US Coast Guard prior to departure.

In a second, the shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea are in the spotlight. The Dali’s owner / operator claimed that they designed and installed a faulty switchboard that led to repeated electrical failures on board.

And finally the City of Baltimore hold the owner / operator liable of negligence alleging they knew the vessel was not seaworthy.

Last weekend Plymouth Yacht Haven hosted the second Plymouth Boat Fest. The event was fully booked and saw thousands of visitors enjoy looking at all things boating. From RNLI, police, pilot and tug boat displays to yachts for sale, classic yachts to view, trade stands, try your hand at gig rowing, e-foils and plenty more. There really was something for everyone interested in boating.

Planning is already underway for Boat Fest 2027 and it would not surprise Boat Chat if the event grew to a full weekend. Organiser Steve Cox said:

Read more on British Marine: https://www.britishmarine.co.uk/news/2026/june/plymouth-boat-fest-2026-showcases-south-wests-marine-strength-record-crowds

Buying your first boat is a BIG THING. There are a whole raft of things you need to think about and for the inexperienced first time buyer that can be pretty daunting. Being able to take a knowledgeable boaty friend along with you on the journey makes sense, but not everyone has one. That’s where 'How To Buy Your First Boat' comes in.

This free 50 page booklet will take you through the key steps you will probably encounter in a typical boat purchase. It will do this in a logical order and with suggestions, tips and advice along the way. It will equip you with enough knowledge to help you go from the first tentative steps of working out what you want, to looking at adverts, to how to view and then buy your first boat, taking the keys for the first time and preparing to head off into the sunset. You will gain the knowledge and confidence you need to make sensible decisions, choose the right boat for you and navigate the buying process from start to finish.

Every skilled industry needs to find a way of passing on the knowledge and experience of its senior members to the next generation. Failure to do so usually spells terminal decline. As true in marine surveying as it is in many other workplaces.

Princess Yachts in Plymouth recently advertised for 45 places on its 2026 apprenticeship scheme and received over 400 applications. The scheme covers trade and office disciplines and is run in conjunction with City College Plymouth, which is a short walk away from the Stonehouse factory.

Katie Fear, Director of Talent and Culture, said:

My mission to ‘Help People Understand Boats Better’ brings me into regular contact with IIMS students and led to a recent collaboration with professional cameraman and IIMS student Clemens Majunke. We spent two days filming me doing a condition survey on a 1988 Westerly yacht, trying to capture as much knowledge and as many surveying techniques as we could. We’re still in the editing phase but will upload it to my YouTube channel next month.

The International Institute of Marine Surveying has over 1000 members in over 100 countries covering all aspects of marine surveying from the smallest craft to the biggest ships.  The Institute prides itself on offering a through life career pathway for surveyors from their first steps taking one of our fantastic courses, to ongoing CPD and training events to eventually becoming a mentor and trainer. 

Training the next generation is an ongoing challenge where the fear that the newcomer will take your work persists. But it is an essential activity in any skilled industry that wants to endure. The IIMS is Dedicated to Excellence in Marine Surveying and has been developing an in-house mentoring scheme to help address this issue. I am proud to join the team of Mentors and look forward to training and helping new marine surveyors get better more quickly.

After hundreds of downloads of my free boat buying guide ‘How To Buy Your First Boat’ I have recently published the first of three premium in-depth buying guides diving deep into buying narrowboats, yachts and motor boats.

‘How To Buy Your First Narrowboat’ will give the knowledge and confidence you need to make sensible decisions, choose the right narrowboat for you and navigate the buying process from start to finish. If you know someone who is in the market for a narrowboat, please forward this email to them.

Exercise the sea cocks on your boat at least once a month to help keep them free and moving. This also helps keep them in your mind for maintenance planning and where to find them in an emergency.

I’ve been subscribed to Morning Brew for several months now and enjoy the mix of news stories from across the Pond. Getting a balanced selection of news and stories from the USA for free is a challenge, but Morning Brew does the job perfectly for me. Take a look for yourself:

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Boat Chat continues to grow well and now has OVER 1000 subscribers across all platforms. It’s all about:

‘Helping People Understand Boats Better’

Please help Boat Chat continue to grow by forwarding this email to at least one of your mates / shippers.

In a recent YouTube video I took a look at one of the most comment stern gland seals found on small craft - the Volvo Penta rubber shaft seal. A simple but effective piece of kit, but with a surprisingly short service life.

Across the Pond – To travel to the USA across the North Atlantic ocean (pond)

Why are Pirates called Pirates?

(In your best Pirate voice) Because they arrrrr!

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In a recent poll of Boat Chat readers, over 93% said they Loved It! So in this issue, let’s dig deeper into what bits you actually love….

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