Best path to learn boat design?

I currently have a NZCE in Mechanical Engineering and are looking to return to study and study towards a career in boat/hull design (my particular interests are small power boats W.I.G etc. I live in New Zealand where I dont believe there is a specialised Naval Architecture cource available. If a anyone could point me in the right direction for usefull study that would help with the above it would be much appreciated. Is a BE specialising in Hydrodynamics / Aerodynamics as usefull as a Naval Architecture cource in Australia?
Thanks
Steve

 

An aeronautics degree is probably more marketable, and aeronautics people who dabble in yacht design tend to get a lot of respect. But if you're set on naval architecture you might want to consider University of New South Wales or the Australian Maritime College.
Check out the discussion at
http://www.naval-architects.org/page/rforum/
under "New Career in Naval Architecture? (Yacht Design)" and "N.A. in Australia".

 

I would also note that the Mechanical Engineering Dept. at the University of Auckland has a Yacht Research Unit headed by Peter Jackson, an aerodynamics professor.

 

Thanks for the advice

 

I know Canada is along ways away but in St.John's, Newfoundland there are two programs you can take Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland www.mun.ca/engr
or there is a diploma degree in Naval Architecture at the Marine Institute.
Canadian dollar is low and the city is an excellent party spot.