Hello, new to forum

[Rocinante]

Hello all,

My name is Scott, and I am an Industrial Designer new to this forum. I'm interested in boat design because, well, I like anything that rolls, floats, or flies! We moved down to the Chesapeake Bay last year to be on the water, and I'm looking for ways to channel my design experience - and passion for things that move- into boats.

I would like to know what advice members of this forum have for a guy like me. First, I've checked into the Westlawn correspondence course, which seems like it covers the bases pretty well -- any opinions? Although it would duplicate a lot of the courses I had in college, the emphasis on hull design would be worth it. On the other hand, there don't seem to be that many new hulls under construction in this area, so I wonder if a designer's skills would be better used on the deck and interior?

Second, what place do you think 3D CAD has in the boating industry? Is it the key to the future, a necessary evil, or just a useless investment for small boatyards? In my consulting practice I specialize in sophisticated 3D surface development in CAD. I would think there would be direct application here with boat design, but I have to ask myself if it is overkill for a cottage industry -- any opinions? If I get involved at some level in boat design, is the CAD angle (chuckle) something I should push, or do you get more milage out of illustrations and layouts? Or perhaps just use the CAD model for visualization purposes?

I realize there is a wealth of experience within this forum, so I'm interested in whatever advice/opinions you have. I'm not even a boat owner yet, so I hope you'll indulge me while I'm learning the ropes.

Scott Evans

[marcro]

Hi Scott,

I run a design office for a boat yard, we use Auto Ship, Solid Works and the new Solid Works marine module, as well as Autocad. The average drawing list for one of our vessels consists of around 700 drawings. All of the naval architecture and structural work is done using 3D programs, with developed shop and systems drawings done using auto cad or solid works. All internal joinery is modelled in 3D. The marine industry at my level is a multi million dollar concern with the average build cost of one of our vessels being around 25 million dollars. Computers play a huge part in the manufacture of a vessel from the design office to the shop floor as well as being part of a finished vessels systems. So I guess it depends which end of the industry you target to best utillize your engineering talents. On a new vessel I would budget around 2 million dollars for design work, the cost depends on vessel size, complexity and the shop floors requirement for detail drawings.

Regards

MC

[Marcel R C]

Hi MC,
Searching for boat design in the net I find the forum, and I’d like to express my opinion about something and ask for your advice.
I live in Brazil and I’m very interested in boats. Two years ago I was living in New Zealand and worked in a boat yard called Nautic Marine, which does sport fishing boats (40’ to 50’). On my short stay on the country I learned a few things about boat design abd building. New Zealand has 1 boat to each 7 citizens (probably one boat to each 2 families) and a “boat culture” very strong in the country. Here in Brazil we don’t have any of this. Half of the country doesn’t even have money to eat; on the other half you probably have 40% of the people that will never have money to by a boat, BUT the remaining 10% can be convinced to buy one. Well, most of the people in New Zealand have money and can have a decent life, but just 3,5 million people live in the country. In Brazil 180 million people live together and the 10% that might thing in having a boat sum 18 million people. Boat industry in Brazil is still creeping. We don’t have many industries; there isn’t qualified personal, most of the used technology is updated and the government doesn’t stimulate it. We have one of the biggest coasts in the world and there are not many people that realize how big this business can be. Considering all this I decide study and work with boats. I’m finishing my engineering degree this year and would like to do a master in boat design, or something related (preference to yachts), and would like to know if you guys don’t know any college around the world that can offer me this kind of course.
MC, what about the Solid works marine module? Because on my actual job I design machines and equipment with Solid works. I get in touch with my local support here and they don’t heard about it yet.

Best Regards
Marcel

marcelcastanheira@hotmail.com