Getting Into Boat Design

[captanarchy560]

I am 17, and a Senior in high school. For my honors marine science course I have to do and extended primary research project and I was thinking about doing something with hull design. I know a little bit allready, and I plan on studying Naval Architechture in college ( either at SUNY Maritime, Webb, or Stevens), but, for the time being, where would the more experienced people on this board recomend getting started (reading, web sites, ect. ). Also, any ideas on what my project should focus around.
thanks.
-Sam

[Raggi_Thor]

I don't know how much work you are expected to do in the project, but since you mention hull design, one good start could be to design and draw (lines) a small boat, focusing on the process, not the result (even if that may be good also).

One nice book to start with (thin and easy to read) is John Teal, "How to design a boat", probably available on Amazon.com.

[Raggi_Thor]

You probably saw this also :-)
http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13549

[lewisboats]

http://boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12451&highlight=what+design+books

http://www.macnaughtongroup.com/publishingform.htm

A good bunch of books to start with, some traditional and some newer:
my personal fav is Skene's elements of Yacht Design by Francis S Kinney

[CDBarry]

Go to www.sname.org, look around there. See if you can make a local section meeting or two.