Affordable CAD(2D) software?

[liki]

Any suggestions for an affordable CAD package, 2D capabilities are enough for me. Specific purpose is to loft and draw construction plans for a small skiff.

I have already bought QCad for a few euros, but it lacks splines that meet their control points which is about the only requirement I would have for now besides the normal layers.

I think I will try TurboCAD or ViaCAD next, both are sold for 39 USD. Anyone able to share any experiences with either of these entry level versions?

[ruysg]

You could check out DraftSight, by dassault. It´s quite similar to Autocad, and it's free.

Cheers
Ruy

[liki]

Indeed, with a quick test it seems to offer all that I'll need.

[alanrockwood]

DoubleCad XT is free. The Pro version costs about $700.

The free version claims to be a AutoCAD LT work-alike.

I have used the free version in a casual way. I'm not an experienced CAD user, but it seemed to work OK for me.

[Hawkabilly48]

Affordable CAD(2D) software?

How about FREE? LEGALLY

Download AutoCad and 3DSMax and most other Autodesk Aps - free student versions at

http://students.autodesk.com/

You just need a student ID number from anywhere. If I remember right, they work for a year. Full working applications. AUTODESK Education Community. All kinds of benefits.
If you are not a student it's easy to find one. Relative, neighbor, bar, craigs list. hehe

[conceptia]

zwcad and brickscad, i remember, too were good. But it might crash if we open more than 3-4 windows. the normal versions were free.

[adt2]

See www.3ds.com/DraftSight. Free and works a lot like AutoCAD. Made by the same folks who make SolidWorks and Catia.

If you need a little primer on its use, see here for some how-to's I've been putting up for drawing lines using DraftSight and Rhino.