Elements of Technical Boat Design
(Formerly called Yacht Design Lite)

Curriculum

Introduction To Hydrostatics
The study of upright displacement and other aspects of hull form which are related to static flotation. Topics include the meaning of a set of hull lines, calculation of displacement using Simpson's Rule or the Trapezoidal Rule, the Center of Buoyancy, Wetted Surface, and Coefficients of Form. Students will also learn to perform weight studies and locate the Center of Gravity of a vessel.

Stability Part I
This lesson covers the principles of transverse stability. Students will gain an understanding of how a boat resists heeling and rolling in response to external forces. Hull characteristics that contribute or detract from a vessel's operational or ultimate stability are examined. Mechanisms involved in transverse metacentric stability and dynamic stability are discussed, and students learn to calculate initial stability and stability at large angles of heel.

Stability Part 2
Longitudinal stability, the effects of adding or removing weight, and the effects of ballasting are examined in this lesson. Methods for locating the Center of Flotation and problems involving change in trim are also examined.

Principles of Resistance
This lesson examines resistance and discusses ways to minimize its effects. Topics include fluid dynamics, flow characteristics, the boundary layer, frictional resistance and residual resistance.

Drawing of Lines
In Part 1 of this lesson students learn how to describe boat hulls by orthographic projection. Topics include hull form, preparation of preliminaries, the use of waterlines, sections, buttocks, and diagonals, and the fairing process. Practical application includes the preparation of a complete set of lines and offsets and a set of hydrostatic calculations based on the faired lines.

Interior Design
The elements of designing comfortable, attractive, safe, and utilitarian interiors are covered. The effect of recent trends on interior design, and the application of ergonomic principles in planning accommodations are examined.

Fiberglass Boat Construction- Part I
Introduction to fiberglass boat design and construction. This lesson covers the properties and uses of the reinforcement fibers and material found in current use in FRP boat building; the purposes and properties of resin systems, additives, and gel-coats; core materials and sandwich construction; plug and mold construction; building processes such as hand lay up, spray molding, and vacuum bagging; assembly of component structures.

Fiberglass Boat Construction- Part 2
This lesson examines laminate design. Students learn how to perform the engineering calculations used in designing principle boat and yacht structures.