Design Software?

[Neverbehind]

I'm looking for some (amateur friendly) small boat design software, any recommendations?

[CGN]

Freeship, Archimedes and Hexagon (polygon modeler), the last one could be little bit tricky to use for an amateur, but for the cost and what it does i think is a good way to go.

Or skip Hexagon go to the magazine store and look for computer arts magazine i think there is a free version of a render and modeler software, to start nothing beats free!.

You can use freeship to start designing your hull and using archimedes to check basic stability, and i added hexagon becouse you can use it to model the rest of your boat, like the house and more.

Please whatever you do, do not ask for a "do it all" sofwtare...... : )

Now if you think to invest some money, then download Rhino and TouchCAD and go from there.

Good luck

[jamac]

As an alternative to Hexagon, I use Silo. only $109 and free upgrade to ver 2 when it is released.

Cheers

JA

[CGN]

Great program (silo) but is more of a "sub-D polygon modeler", Hexagon, instead, "works similar" to rhino it has a good set of splines and curves and surfaces types that are used similar to rhino is not rhino for sure but the cost is low and the features are really good.

[Raggi_Thor]

I am trying out RhinoMarine 3.5 now, and it's a lot of useful features there, like automatically updated sections (in all planes and directions).

[doctor]

Silo , use it .. its affordable

[nero]

What are your ambitions ... as far as boat designing?

[wind]

Where can I get the License of rhino marine without pay?

[Chris Ostlind]

You can download a demo copy of Rhino at www.rhino3d.com. The demo is fully featured but it only allows, what is it, 25 or 30 saves, I think? Then you can still work in the software, but the Save function is disabled.

Chris Ostlind

[Raggi_Thor]

RhinoMarine can also run in demo mode for a while.
"Wind", I'll pretend I don't understand your question!

[Herbert lotz]

Hey, is there any kind of software that will build my boat after I have completed the design...?
And how many of you still know how to use a spline wait..?Exept of course for Robert Perry and the boys

[Herbert lotz]

.....

[spank]

Geez Herb....funny you should find yourself here...on the internet with your computer. Many of us know how to use (and still use) ducks. The fact is though, dealing with others is far easier if all parties are conversant with cad, particularly 3d cad. A hand drawing, while nice, and certainly fine, is just not as useful at the end of the day as a drawing done in CAD.

[atahawaii]

Try the free version of Hullform at www.hullform.com that should do all you need, for the beginning at least. FreeShip will give you really fair surfaces but, as far as I know, it does not have as many calculative outputs as hullform. For instance hullform does powering calculations, conical projections, tanks, etc.

[Herbert lotz]

Hey, to all you guy's for all your help thanks.
Us little africans dont get much exposure to all this info.
Is there any one out there from the landing school I had a fantastic time there in around 1995 and have lost track of all the guy's.
Herbert Lotz