distance learning westlawn or YDS

Discussion in 'Education' started by Velja, Feb 16, 2015.

  1. Velja
    Joined: Feb 2015
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    Velja New Member

    quick question

    Which of course Westlawn or YDS or ... is more oriented towards technology and less to design.

    * I'm looking for a course that pays more attention to the technical skills rather than aesthetic.(i am mechanical engineer)

    Thanx in advance!!!
     
  2. Velja
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    Velja New Member

    Common guys,

    It is really important to me. If u are lazy to type words just sent me a link where it is described.

    Anohter question: What happend with Westlawn? noboydy answered on my email almost 4 days.Still work?

    Thanx in advance
     
  3. vkstratis
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    vkstratis Naval Architect

    I dont know anything about YDS but Westlawn is working as usual. It is under a transition phase, since it changed ownership. It used to belong to ABYC, but since Jan this year it is privately owned. It offers a 4 year program leading to a diploma in Boat & Yacht design and a smaller 12 month course. You can find all the info on their website (www.westlawn.edu). I believe you can find the complete syllabus on their website.
     
  4. vkstratis
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    vkstratis Naval Architect

  5. FMS
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    FMS Senior Member

  6. cmckesson
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    cmckesson Naval Architect

    We at the University of British Columbia offer a 12-month-long M.Eng in naval architecture, specifically designed for people who already hold an engineering degree in another discipline. It is a purely technical program, with nothing explicit about aesthetics.

    http://name.engineering.ubc.ca/

    Chris McKesson
     
  7. vkstratis
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    vkstratis Naval Architect

    I found some time to properly answer this.

    I am currently a Westlawn student, having covered more than half of Module 1 which covers the fundamentals of naval architecture or boat design if you prefer. It also expects the student to submit some drafting exercises but does not imply any previous experience.

    Having said that, and with my limited Westlawn experience, the course is not an engineering nor a naval architecture course. In my opinion there would never be a distance learning course substituting a traditional courses which includes lab work, experiments in a towing tank and general education courses such as physics and maths. Westlawn is a boat design course covering what a boat designer will need to evaluate and design vessels. As any course it will not make you a professional but you will have to qualify yourself with whatever your field requires.

    To this point the course has provided the tools and methods for doing various calculations without getting into deep explanation on their origin and derivation. BUT as with all courses being distance learning or campus based, one should further explore the subjects, use alternative references and research the topics presented. Therefore if you have already a science or engineering degree you should have the necessary ability to get into the details of the material presented in westlawn books.

    Depending on your goals, you could just get the standard boat design reference books and start studying from there without enrolling to any course.

    Westlawn on the other hand will give you the guidance, the motivation and the opportunity to "test" your knowledge and skills. You will also have the opportunity to work with professionals in the field of boat & yacht design and gain a qualification which is always a good start.
     
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  8. Qvox
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    Qvox Junior Member

    There are accredited online degree programs in engineering. Typically they are fairly expensive, and would take a hell of a lot of self-discipline, and effort to actually complete one. But they do exist.

    Here's one example, but there are several out there.

    http://distance.und.edu/engineering/

    I suppose if a person were so inclined they might complete an undergraduate course in mechanical engineering online, and then either attend a graduate program in naval architecture, or use a course like Westlawn or YDS to gain design experience.

    Here's the problem, yacht design is a very niche market. People don't need yachts. So the market for yacht designers and builders is small and very cyclical. A yacht designer probably needs excellent marketing and sales skills MORE than professional technical expertise.

    If you can market and "sell" yourself, and your designs, or your firm, then getting a highly technical degree is probably unnecessary. If you can successfully generate business and attract commissions, you can always hire engineers, technologist, and technicians, to help you get the jobs done.

    If on the other hand you love theory, mathematics, science, and the technical aspects of ship design, then you should probably pursue an engineering degree.
     
  9. Alik
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    Alik Senior Member

    Disagree. In yacht design business, before one can hire someone he has to work alone, sometimes for years. And this requires exactly technical skills and taste to styling. This is reality.

    Once You are successful and reputable, when Your designs speak for themselves and business is running out of one persons capabilities, only then You can hire someone. Note hiring technical specialist is not cheap; much more expensive than Westalwn course.
     
  10. vkstratis
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    vkstratis Naval Architect

    Alik, I aggree with you. And this applies to any professional field. You cannot expect other people to do the job for you and just pay for it and advertise it. You have to become a good professional for people (clients) to invest money on you and your business.
     
  11. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    I am reading comments on this forum who can lead the reader to think that designing and building boats is something like "child's play". There are even some who, imo carrying things to absurdity, advocate sweeping experience of building ships without plans and, proud of their feat, aim to share and exchange views with those who have also experienced such sublime pleasure.
    Let me say that all this is unfair. It is clear that when you know a topic, a course of a few months helps you go deeper into that topic. But if you donĀ“t have a theoretical knowledge, those fast and expensive course, are not much. I doubt that in a few months is one capable of reaching assimilate only, the specific terminology of a profession. Fewer still, therefore, technical, theoretical basis in it.
    It is clear that current methods allow many people to do something that looks like a boat and even obtain listings with a collection of values that they are unable to interpret.
    Neither the thing is to buy things, put them together and present the whole as the project of a ship. The designer, who is defining an artifact, which can pose a danger to persons, assumes a responsibility that does not expire until his death, including liability, which can be pursued by the courts. Therefore, buying a technical calculations without knowing what you buy, not knowing analyze and interpret it, it's totally risky and unwise.
    Unfortunately, or fortunately, in this life there are no shortcuts.
    This is my opinion. Thanks for reading.
     
  12. Alik
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    Alik Senior Member

    This is exactly true. Take the software and crunch the numbers without any knowledge on what is inside. How one can use Holtrop method for small craft hull, and moreover - publish this is Westlawn's Masthead newsletter? But who cares, if marketing is good?
     
  13. Velja
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    Velja New Member

    I did not receive answer from Westlawn and YDS yet.

    So I ask you guys: Can I expect that both course are pure technical naval archtitect courses or design courses with basic recognation boat building princips?
     
  14. vkstratis
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    vkstratis Naval Architect

    As I have written above, I dont know anything about YDS. Concerning Westlawn, and having completed just half of module 1 (there are 4 modules to be completed in 4 years max), I would say that the westlawn course is not an engineering course. Regarding Module 1 of westlawn course, you will get the material found on books such as Principles of Yacht Design or any other introduction to boat design book. If you require more detailed insight you will have to research for yourself. You will have assignments though, feedback from instructors and drafting exercises.

    If you need an engineering oriented education you would have to enroll to an a traditional degree course, attending classes and labs.

    Hope this helps.
     

  15. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    As a mechanical engineer, you have all the technical background to understand the physics of naval architecture. Some famous designers, like Francis Herreshoff, only had a degree in mechanical engineering. In other words, you will be able to read and understand the literature about boat design. You may be able to attend a school that offers naval architecture, and only take the courses specific to boat design. In the USA, some states don't recognize naval architecture as a degree, so mechanical engineers do the work.
     
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