Westlawn Alumni Are Everywhere

[dgerr]

Westlawn Alumni Are Everywhere
Even in a Single Issue of Professional Boatbuilder Magazine

Westlawn alumni are actively working in all corners of the boatbuilding industry, and have been for over 75 years. A superb illustration of this happens to be the April/May 2006 issue of Professional Boatbuilder magazine (issue 100)— http://www.proboat-digital.com/proboat/200604/. Here’s the breakdown:

• Page 3, editor at large, Dan Spurr, is a Westlawn Yacht Design Lite grad.
• Pages 12-13, designer Steven Pollard’s work in CAD/CAM is featured (http://www.specmar.com/). He’s a Westlawn grad.
• Page 40, designer and Westlawn director and graduate, Dave Gerr’s (http://www.gerrmarine.com/), Nancy Lakin motorcruiser is pictured.
• Pages 42-55, feature article on designer Doug Zurn (http://www.zurnyachts.com/), a Westlawn graduate.
• Page 46, designer for Doug Zurn, Craig Gorton, is a Westlawn student.
• Pages 92-111, part 3 of Dave Gerr’s four-part article on rudders and steering systems.

Westlawn alumni are part of the foundation that keeps the boating industry running. Pick up any boating magazine and the chances are the work of more than one Westlawn alumnus will be present in some form or another.

Take a look at Westlawn (http://www.westlawn.edu/). You too could be helping to keep the boating industry humming along.

See also:
http://www.westlawn.edu/who/testimonials.asp
http://216.119.80.31/who/success.asp
http://216.119.80.31/gallery/gallery.asp

Dave Gerr
Director
Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology

[SailDesign]

Dave,
Since we are naming names of well-known institutes of Yacht Design, I would like to name my own Alma Mater, Southampton College (now the Solent University) in England, which offers a full-time degree course (BEng if I remember rightly) in Yacht Design that has produced many well-known designers at the top of their fields (self not included due to modesty)
Anyone else?
Steve "sounds like Monty Python to me" Baker

[kmyd]

I would love to study at Southampton but they don't offer distance learning. My only choice is Westlawn than.

[RANCHI OTTO]

Thank you Westlawn...for all I have learned.

I'm today, 30 years later proud of my diploma...

[kmyd]

I believe it is great school but studing in "imperial units" would be difficult for someone from Europe. Do they offer "metric" course?

[RANCHI OTTO]

You can imagine to do the offsets table using feet, inches.....and 1/4"...or something like that!!
But at the end only good memories, 2 years spent well, I would say.

[dgerr]

It’s great to hear from Otto. When I say Westlawn alumni are everywhere, Italy is no exception. You should take a look at Otto Ranchi’s website: http://www.ranchidesign.com/. The videos of his innovative ASD hulls running are spectacular.

Another Westlawn grad in Italy is Massimo Gregori. His website at http://www.yandel.it/english/contatti.html features some truly impressive motoryachts.

With regard to metric, Westlawn is gradually moving to 100% metric and English units for the course. We aren’t there yet, and a lot of the early lessons are in English units only, but you can do all your actual design work completely in metric.

Dave Gerr
Director
Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology

[RANCHI OTTO]

Your best financial investment isn't to play in stock exchange...but to invest in your talent...become a Westlawn student!

[Ike]

Hello Dave:

[dgerr]

Hi Peter. Good to hear from you too. I keep wondering how many in the Coast Guard have done Westlawn. Unfortunately—since most of our records are pre computer—we have no way to accurately check.

Hope you’ll be able to come to the big opening party for ABYC’s new Annapolis building. Email me if you haven’t gotten the details.

Dave Gerr

[Willallison]

G'day Dave
If you haven't done so already, this might be a good place to post a 'note' to all those lost Westlawn students who haven't heard about the Annapolis do...

[Ike]

Sorry Dave, won't make the BIG opening day. But I will be out there this Thursday (the 25th) to talk to John Adey.

Answer to how many in Coast Guard have done Westlawn? Quite a few. I personally know three and I recognized a lot of names on your list that's on the web site. I am sure there are lots more who aren't on that list.

[Redsky]

well the online course deal shure sounds interesting..iv been considering a study course..however my main intrest is in steel or wood boats/ships....not fiberglas composites...is that covered in enough detail?

[dgerr]

When Westlawn was founded, way back in 1930, wood was the only material boats were being built of. Wood construction was the heart of the course. Of course, for the last 35 years, the Westlawn program also has included extensive training in fiberglass/composite and in metal boat design. Wood, however, remains—as it always has been—part of the course.

Keep in mind that the Westlawn program is intended to educate fully-rounded boat designers. So—though wood construction is covered in detail—you also have to learn fiberglass and metal construction as well.

You can review a detailed syllabus of the Westlawn program at:

Overview:
http://www.westlawn.edu/course_info/overview.asp

Module 1:
http://www.westlawn.edu/course_info/module1.asp

Module 2:
http://www.westlawn.edu/course_info/module2.asp

Module 3:
http://www.westlawn.edu/course_info/module2.asp

Module 4:
http://www.westlawn.edu/course_info/module4.asp

Student Guide (Technical Reference Manual for All Modules and YDL):
http://www.westlawn.edu/news/index.a...ayfile=SG2.htm
(Scroll down the page for a detailed table of contents.)

Yacht Design Lite (YDL) Overview:
http://www.westlawn.edu/course_info/YDLiteOverview.asp

Yacht Design Lite (YDL) Detailed:
http://www.westlawn.edu/course_info/...escription.asp

There’s plenty more information at on the Westlawn website. Lot’s to explore.
http://www.westlawn.edu/

Dave Gerr

[Redsky]

thank you