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

[PerCorell]

Hi

The panel rib stringer feature is the only structure that matter in ships building, with a honeycomb structure you get exactly the same thing just everywhere and so much stronger than focus on the single frame . Instead you "press the button, and as it's a CAD model it is easy to calculate a simple assembly framework , each frame just cut sheet metal not 20 different beams stringers, hangers nuts and bolts ,one material cut with a laser or water cutter .
Realy building a boat or a ship isn't that structuraly, to panel a box structure to get the strongest structure compared materials, that case why fiddle and focus on 20 different beams and screws when everything can be cut flat need no bending.
Such as 3D-H .

[Ray Hill]

Hi Tom
I downloaded sdn using 10.2.8 and also had problems starting. There was an error message and the program seemed to be absent. I restarted the computer under system 9.2 and downloaded again. No problems. I haven't done much with the program yet but the interface looks good and the buttons work so have another shot at it.

[rxcomposite]

Scott,
Where can i get a shareware version of HS8s? I have the 6s version but i cant get a perfect hull when i try the program. the only perfect shapes i can get is when i follow the step by step hull design sample/procedure.

Thanks,
Rx

[Jeff]

From the download page at http://www.hullform.com/ you can download the current freeware version hullform 9s...

[Andy]

Just found a new program which looks impressive and is totally free!
Check it out at http://homepages.ipact.nl/~martijn/i...iles/frame.htm
its called FreeShip and is still in development, but it could end up beating everything thats in this poll so far...

Andy

[Tino]

That links does not seem to work.
The actual link is www.freeship.org

[jamac]

Downloaded and it is really impressive.

Well worth a try and check out the screenshots on the site.

Rgds

John

[Andy]

Just checked out the latest version of FreeShip - it now has full hydrostatics, plate development and more!!! Pretty soon this poll will be pointless.....

andy

[nevd]

I did the free download of Alibre Design Express a couple of days ago. It appears that it is very limited unless you pay almost USD1000 to get the unlimited licence. I even had to do another download to get the help files.

Are there any Alibre users who can pass an opinion on the value of getting the unlimited licence?

Thanks for any comments.

[sdroberts]

I am looking for a free/low cost solution for building an electronic hull model from known offsets. Basically, I want to develop a 3d version of plans I have drawn by hand. The solution must not be limited to hardchined hulls nor be limited to a certain number of stations (or at least allow for up to 15).

Do any of these fit the bill?

Thanks,

Steven

[chandler]

Steven
I'm looking for something along the same line. I'm going to try freeship. I'll let you know how it works out

[sdroberts]

Chandler,

I actually tried FreeShip and found it didn't conform well to entering offset data. Actually, it is when I was demo'ing FreeShip that I got the idea because initially it looked like it might work. If you have better luck, I'd love to know how you did it.

Steven

[CGN]

playing around with Freeship

[chandler]

Hi Stephen
I couldn't even get the download to work, so thanks for the tip...A program I tried several years ago, though not free, comes with a good long demo, is aerohydro's multisurf. Lately though I can't get their demo to work either. Maybe it's my 7 year old computer that's the problem? But check out multisurf, 4 or 5 years ago, I was drawing hulls with my input in a matter of hours, lost interest for a while but I have the bug again.
Chandler

[chandler]

Stephen.
Another thing about multisurf is if you do buy it, They are based in Maine and do quite a few seminars in the area.