Hello & Westlawn vs YDS

I'm very sorry that "Guest" above seems to feel that we take a long time correcting lessons. Obviously there is no way I can help without their name! I will say that if they have not received a correction for "months" on any single lesson this has got to be a lesson lost in the mail, an email to them asking for math corrections or something lost, or just plain that the undersigned some how lost track of a lesson. Without a complaint to me I cannot help, of course. However I can say that normally lessons are corrected within a few days of receipt. It can take hours of work to correct one lesson. If we get a bunch all at once there can be several days before we can get to a particular lesson. However I hope I can say that it is quite unlikely that anyone is really in the literal sense waiting "months" for lessons to be corrected. Out of several hundred students there is some problem caused by me on around two lessons per year. I am very sorry about this and assure students that if you contact me I will correct any problem. These days with two of us working on lesson corrections everyday any delay has just got to be a mistake that I've made or one of the "mailing" snafus mentioned above. I hope everyone reading these columns will make a point of helping me find any student who is unhappy.

Sincerely,
Tom MacNaughton
Yacht Design School Director
www.macnaughtongroup.com

[Geert-Jan]

Some information on my selection of YDS above Westlawn:

1. The way mr MacNaughton writes: He makes a clear distinction between what he thinks is true, what is proven to be true, and what he likes to be true. He is also not afraid to mention sources outside his own design studio. (for instance: Bolger) This attitude makes sure that students develop their own ay of thinking, instead of copying the instructors thinking.
2. YDS also provides information on how to start up a business, and how to maintain profitability. Very, very few schools do this.
3. The PR. The YDS website makes it clear that being, or becoming a NA is hard but fun work. Also, Mr MacNaughton clearly does not spend his valuable time, or the students valuable money, on overdone PR. The site is clear, no irritating moving stuff or strange pop-ups. The lessons are very cost effective: only color where its needed, but with an impressive amount of blue-prints.

My experiences so far:
Turn around time of emailed questions: 1 day, mostly caused by the time-difference.
Turn around time of homework: mail time +2 or +3 days. (with an email with comments at the time the homework arrives)
Do a lot of research yourself. So far, the lessons are using information from the books in the bibliography. Many subjects are not explained from begin to end. You have to fill in the gaps yourself. (that whats called learning, this is not a complaint!)
So be prepared to do a lot of research yourself. Get the books on the bibliography.

So far the home study has not been easy for me. I've never drawn a boat before I started the course! When drawing, I notice a moment in time when alterations make the drawing look wurse, instead of better. That's the moment that I send in the drawings. Usually I don't expect the drawings to be OK at that time. But to continue drawing will only ad to my frustration, it does not ad to my learning experience. I do wonder what Mr MacNaughton thinks of my drawing. So far, his comments help in improving the drawings to an acceptable level.
(I am now working on lesson 3. I ordered lessons 1 to 6 to be able to work when I get tired of my own drawings)

So far, I still feel I made the correct choice when I chose YDS.

[chandler]

I know this is an ancient reply, however I used felt on my ducks. Not a good idea. I'm still trying to find something like basketball skin. The felt just has no grip.
chandler

[chandler]

Something on the bottom that grabs.

[Geert-Jan]

I use neoprene, from an old diving suit. Remove any thing fabric that covers the thick layer of neoprene, it can erase pencil!

[chandler]

That sounds good. I'm thinking something like basketball skin, I know I've seen it on the bottom of desktop pencil sharpeners..Felt sucks

[kip2404]

Hi. I have just decided to pursue yacht design. I am aware of schools like Westlawn and YDS, the Landing School, and others. Does anyone have advice concerning whether my first move should be to attend one of these design schools vs. going to a University for an engineering degree in naval architecture and/or marine engineering? Let's pretend for now that time and $ are not a concern.

[chandler]

My wife came home the other day with some stuff from wally world. It's intended purpose is to open jars. Works great on the bottom of my whales. They will not slide, I mean you actually have to pick them up to move them.

[CDBarry]

Go to Stevens Institute (also in Hoboken) and talk to someone there about it.

[chandler]

Mark
Just wondering how you are doing with YDS

[Jack MacDonald]

Suggest you do not use felt since it slides on the paper or mylar surface and that can be very frustrating. I use Dipit...it doesn`t slide anyway near as much, and it is washable .

[grant837]

Hi, I just read that Professional Boatbuilder will have an article reviewing all the yacht design courses they could find... it is not clear if its the next issue, or later...

[luckettg]

I have just checked the Professional Boatbuilder #97 (Oct/Nov05) and #98 (Dec05/Jan06 for the designing school comparisons but there is nothing yet. I hope you are right and that there will be something about this subject soon. Thanks for the heads up about it.
Greg Luckett

[wdnboatbuilder]

ok can someone please explain the difference between the 2. price, # of courses,ect......
thank you for your help

[CaptScot]

Regarding this thread about Westlawn and YDS, I'm familiar with Westlawn, but what school is YDS? Also, what yacht design software does Westlawn use? I plan on enrolling with Westlawn in the near future, already have experience in drafting manually, but would like to start with some software now. I hear a lot about Rhino being good, made for Windows, and a low learning curve. I have no CAD experience. Thanks, Scott