Suitable Book for Small Power Boat Design

[info@mds.org.nz]

Hi guys
Im intending on designing myself an 8 meter (26 foot) power boat sport fisher with Jet propulsion.
Im a boat builder and marine draftsman for 15 years but not a naval architect.
Can anyone recommend a book or books suitable to help me out in designing this type of craft?
Im thinking a book dedicated to small powerboat design would be suitable and perhaps chapter or two on jet propulsion.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.

[marshmat]

Hi guys
Im intending on designing myself an 8 meter (26 foot) power boat sport fisher with Jet propulsion.[quote]
Hmm, that's quite a project.... a lot of stuff to learn.... are you confident you're up for it?
[quote]Im a boat builder and marine draftsman for 15 years but not a naval architect.
OK, sounds like you have a pretty good start :) I say go for it.....
Can anyone recommend a book or books suitable to help me out in designing this type of craft?
Im thinking a book dedicated to small powerboat design would be suitable and perhaps chapter or two on jet propulsion.
Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Some of the best guides I've come across regarding the implementation of waterjet propulsion systems are published by the jet makers themselves. (Hamilton, Ultra, etc.) After all, they have a vested interest in making sure your hull design is suitable for the jet they're selling you- if the hulls people put their units in aren't appropriate for jet drives, they get one hell of a bad rap.

Books.... well, since you already have a boatbuilding background, I take it you're looking for more technical stuff- Lindsay Lord's "Naval architecture of planing hulls" as an older example, maybe the chapter on high-speed hydrodynamics in Larsson/Eliasson "Principles of Yacht Design".... any specific info you're looking for, so we know what kind of literature you need?

[info@mds.org.nz]

Hi Marshmat, thanks for your reply.
The sort of literature im looking for is specifically on hull design, hydrodynamics, stability, weights, the purposes of different underwater appendages such as spray rails, chine’s and all the things that make up a powerboat or planning hull.
Im not a sailor so not interested in round bilge design specifics as such.
Im very proficient in the manufacturing side of boats due to my trade as a boat builder and software knowledge is not a problem due to my drafting career.
It’s the theory in hull design I need to learn. All the stuff a Naval architect typically knows but I want to make sure im not killing time learning things I don’t need to know like round bilge design, displacement hull design or tanker design.
I hope this explanation helps you get a better understanding of what im after.
I will do some digging into the books you suggest, thanks for your suggestions.

[Timm]

There are very few books dealing with planing hulls. Other than the couple already mentioned, you may want to find a copy of High Speed Small Craft by Peter DuCane.

I once asked my teacher at The Landing School why there were so few books on powerboat design. His answer was the powerboat guys were too busy working to write a book! With things as slow as they are at the moment, maybe a few of us need to work on a book!