Best Free or Low Cost Marine Design Software? (2001-2005)

[8knots]

IF ANYBODY KNOWS IF THIS FELLOW IS CREDIBLE WOULD BE GREAT TOO! AS FAR AS SENDING CASH TO THAT IS!
8

[8knots]

I received an E-mail from the owner of HullCAO this morning. He said all of version 5 is now translated (user interface) the manual is still a product of an automated translator. It is a little off but I think if you are terminology savy you can sift through it OK.
I think I am going to bite on it and see what happens!
Again I'll keep you all posted.
8

[ekerebel]

Please go and see :
http://www.navaldesigner.com

I think it is the best value for money software. Have tried the evaluation version and I am convinced !

[CGN]

Any version on english?

Originally Posted by CGN

Any version on english?

Yes, Naval Designer is translated in US and UK english. The documentation has been 80% translated by an australian user, but is not available yet on the web site http://www.navaldesigner.com/

This should be done quickly...

You can download a software demo (don't forget to download the language files). Naval Designer is quite user friendly, easy to use... well, just try it.

Unfortunatly there are no versions for Mac OSX and Linux. Only Windows users (95 to XP) will be able to use it.

[Jeff]

Thanks Vincent - the web site doesn't seem to have an English translation so I didn't think the software would either, but now I'll have to take a look

Also I'm not sure where the cut-off between "free and low cost" and "standard" design software should be, but my feeling is that this is really at the high end of "free and low cost" at 240 € for three surfaces, 420 € for 100 surfaces, or 725 € for pro and might be more appropriate as an addition to this thread: http://forums.boatdesign.net/showthread.php?t=82

[yuriy]

Scott, thank you for your input.
I put a little video file showing how to create a surface.

http://www.geocities.com/dumchikov/b...atesurface.zip

Hope it will help to start up.
Yuriy

[Andrew Mason]

Please note that if you are a student of Naval Architecture, or currently doing a marine design course such as Westlawn, or if you a student in a boatbuilding course, you are eligible to use the Maxsurf Academic website.

This website allows you to download a free, unprotected, fully functional, three surface version of Maxsurf, as well as various sample designs, manuals, tutorials and technical papers.

See http://msacademic.formsys.com/ for further details.

[nico]

Great website

[Davor]

For resistance and propeller calculations visit:
www.sea-power.net

[Andy]

Here are some opensource modelling projects from www.sourceforge.net - havent had time to try many of them out, but they are all free so post your responses! A couple of these could be modified to include routines useful to Naval Architects...

http://ayam.sourceforge.net/
http://www.le-boite.com/minos.htm
http://aoi.sourceforge.net/
http://www.wings3d.com/
http://k3d.sourceforge.net/new/index.php
http://quesa.sourceforge.net/
http://www.exotk.org/

Andy

[Andy]

here's another one...

http://www.blender3d.com/

Pretty impressive if you ask me...and it too is free!

Andy

[Raggi_Thor]

Try www.navaldesigner.com

[PerCorell]

Hi

Maby Im'e just rigid minded , --- I am a boatbuilder know the old way's how to maneage a set of plans how to alter in all 3 planes loft and cut the timbers do the planking and caulk it the right way . But when I started with CAD 15 years ago my attitude was different than today.
Today I focus on the framework not the easy panels, --- you can alway's unfold these from the 3D model or measure them on site when the ribs are there no, it is the frames the ribs that make building easy or difficult.
From the start I focused on small boats, now they don't carry many ribe some even don't need any ; wrong some don't the rest just get more difficult to build without ribs. Now do you realy think a tiny bended piece of wood have any strength no, but it have when it form a structure together with a plank and a stringer the single rib hold nothing , it only offer some strength in forming a structure. ---- then how important can the unfolded panels be, sure they are but did you ever try putting just the panels together to form a shell, as if you did you know how important the framework the form of the hull is . So maby youe expensive software offer math. and center points all sorts of nice features --- but do it help you build the ship ?
No --- if you want such software it is better to look at the concept, to ask yourself why boatsbuilding like architecture is rather rewriting the old methods into fast computer code, than develobing new methods.

I will be to long a story to write why I ended up develobing and promoting new methods, but please open your mind Cyber-Boat was among the first to offer unfolded panels and true 3D drawings not just as projects but as prototypes and neat designs, these are not 70 year old designs drawn as how you drawn wooden warships in the 17' century but how you can profit from CAD and new methods, ---- That's when things happen not when a fancy new design surface but when a new method one that acturly uses the computer show, check Cyber-Boat it's an "old" concept in terms of web, but it is a concept that alway's been ahead it's times.

[Raggi_Thor]

I don't really get yout your point I think.
Whoever design the hull, in NavalDesigner, Prolines, FastShip/Yacht or whatever, can send it to me as an iges file. I can open it in Rhino and section it where I want. If I want a frame so thick that it has to be bevelled, I can make two sections, one on each side of the frame. There is no problem creating frames 45 degrees on the keel if you prefer that, or longitudinal stiffeners, or horisontal or angled interior parts (berts, benches). The outline of all parts (frames etc), to the inside of the skin, can then be exported to dwg and cutting files can be made in IntelliCAD or AutoCAD or FelixCAD or whatever, with slots for stringers.
So what do you find difficult?
(I don't mean to sound rude :-)