need help with finding hull designer

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Guest, Apr 8, 2002.

  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    We are starting a new boat manufacturing company and need some help with the computer designs so that we can have a plug milled. We are in the early stages and could use any helpful hints that people might have. It is looking like a very expensiive process to design a hull and have a plug milled. Any suggestions to help minimize costs would be greatly appreciated. Also any good contacts in marine design or mold building would also be greatly appreciated. We are located in the Seattle area but could travel elsewhere to have the work done if necessary. thanks
     
  2. David Dobbs
    Joined: Mar 2002
    Posts: 9
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10

    David Dobbs Junior Member

    What is the size of the boat you are planning? Sail or Power?

    Traditional? Modern Sportboat? Sportfishing? Performance? Cruising?

    Are you doing the 3D modeling and engineering yourself, or will you have the final engineering done based on your concepts? I gather you are going to produce the plug using CNC milling - do you also want to have the mold built or might you construct the mold yourself?

    Without a few more details, all I can say at this point is do every step to the highest quality possible and the end result will justify all the work you put in along the way.
     
  3. Jeff
    Joined: Jun 2001
    Posts: 1,368
    Likes: 71, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 923
    Location: Great Lakes

    Jeff Moderator

    Here is the section of our directory which deals with CNC Plug and Mold Making:

    http://boatdesign.net/Directory/Boatbuilders/CAD_CAM_and_CNC/

    If anyone has additional links that we should add to this section, I would love to have them, so please list any addition companies, large or small, in this thread.
     
  4. Jeff
    Joined: Jun 2001
    Posts: 1,368
    Likes: 71, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 923
    Location: Great Lakes

    Jeff Moderator

    While I'm at it, here is our list of Yacht Designers and Naval Architects:

    http://boatdesign.net/Directory/Designers/

    (small, medium, and large)

    Others reading this will probably jump in with some specific leads, though it would help if you could tell us more about your project and what specific roles or tasks you would like to outsource to a consultant or service provider.
     
  5. Guest

    Guest Guest

    sorry I wasn't a little more specific. We want to start a new boat manufacturing company. We would like to begin with about a 19.5 ft runabout and eventually move into other sizes. Anyone that is reasonably priced, creates good looking designs and works often with small companies would be what we are looking for. Yes we have contacted some CNC milling companies. We are based in Washington State and have talked to Janicki about doing the milling. But we need to find someone who can come up withan engineered design from our preliminary drawings. thanks
     
  6. Guest

    Guest Guest

    You should contact Ivan Erdevicki at ivanerdevicki@telus.net.
    He lives in Vancouver B.C. and often works in Seattle for various clients.
    He also does a lot of our hull predictions and is very talented.
    Good luck,
    Marice
    http://www.kazulinboats.com
     
  7. Stephen Ditmore
    Joined: Jun 2001
    Posts: 1,513
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    Location: South Deerfield, MA, USA

    Stephen Ditmore Senior Member

    There's a powerboat designer named Apolonio, or something like that, in your area who's very good.

    Before you mill a plug you might consider building a prototype using Duflex from ATL Composites <www.atlcomposites.com>
     
  8. Stephen Ditmore
    Joined: Jun 2001
    Posts: 1,513
    Likes: 67, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 699
    Location: South Deerfield, MA, USA

    Stephen Ditmore Senior Member

    I still think you would do well to speak with Apolonio (or perhaps it’s Appolonio or some other variation). He can most likely be reached through the Northwest Chapter of SNAME www.sname.org. Other people you might speak with there in the NW include Heinemann (again I’m uncertain of the spelling), an engineer who has often partnered with Ed Monk, and Paul Bieker (Rip Tide Design, Seattle), best known for his sailboats, but who could help you with sources of sheet composite material in your area, and who is a first class composites engineer. The guy who designed the various “Miss Budwiser” unlimited hydroplanes also lives in the Pacific Northwest (I can’t think of his name). You might also look into Art Andersen Associates. They'd be expensive to hire, but a good relationship with them might bring you other opportunities.

    Now that I’ve thought about it there are several people in other places you might also consider.

    Tim Barnett
    Marlborough, New Zealand
    contact through Frederic Laffitte
    www.pyiinc.com

    Duthie Lidgard
    New Zealand
    contact through
    www.atlcomposites.com
    or
    www.vacantisw.com

    John Kiley
    21 Cotachoiset Lane
    Osterville, MA 02655
    508-428-8449

    Peter Granata
    11 Old Ft Lane
    Hilton Head, SC 29926
    803-681-5688

    Robert Schofield
    Melbourne, Florida area
    Try reaching through www.preforms.com
    or www.proboat.com if you can’t find his web site.

    Harry Schoell
    www.pulsedrive.net

    Lou Codega (designer of the Contender line)

    Michael Peters
    http://www.mpyd.net/

    John Keisling
    550 Sand Hill Rd
    Crescent Beach, CA 95531
    707-464-9151
    kiesling@iname.com

    Dave Sintes
    Sintes Fiberglass Design
    New Orleans, LA (on Lake Pontchartrain)

    Richard Oehrli
    Ke Stanici 67
    159 00 Prague 5
    Lahovicki, Czech Republic
    Tel: 420-2-5499092

    The last three might be able to deliver particularly good dollar-for-dollar value.

    Good Luck!
     

  9. Stephen Ditmore
    Joined: Jun 2001
    Posts: 1,513
    Likes: 67, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 699
    Location: South Deerfield, MA, USA

    Stephen Ditmore Senior Member

    If the issue is just CAD lofting you should talk to Cliff Estes at
    http://www.basline.com/

    Rereading the initial postings, I think Dave Sintes in New Orleans is someone you should definately speak with (see list in my previous posting). He could lay out for you an alternative to milling a plug involving pre-cut parts and C-Flex.

    Just to complete the list of people in your area that I know about, there's:
    http://www.kastenmarine.com/
    http://www.tadroberts.com/
    Bill Garden and Ed Monk, of course, and the guy who designed the big jet pilot boat that was in Professional BoatBuilder a while back.
     
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