YACHT DESIGN

The Yacht Design program teaches the technical design process for both power and sailboats from concept through preliminary design. While the curriculum is engineering based, the aesthetic aspects of yacht design are also an important element. The fundamentals of hydrostatics and hydrodynamics form the basis for hull-form design. The keels and rudders, rigs, engines, propellers, ergonomics and aesthetics are all considered in the development of interior arrangements, outboard profiles and deck plans. Structural design and layout is founded on the fundamentals of engineering statics, strength of materials and structural mechanics within industry standards. Students also study system design and installation including engines, shafts, steering systems, tanks, piping, ventilation and electrical systems.

How You'll Learn

Students begin the first quarter of the program employing manual drafting skills in order to gain appreciation for drawing appearance and layout. The remainder of the year they use CAD software using a networked PC at each student’s workstation. Students use industry-standard software for calculations, two-dimensional drafting, three-dimensional hull fairing and general three-dimensional modeling. Throughout the year, the scope of the studies is supported and extended by lectures by industry experts, field trips and reviews of case studies on business practices and client relations. Students spend much of their time preparing preliminary designs for safe and practical small craft. As a final project, each student prepares a set of preliminary plans and calculations covering multiple salient aspects of the design for his or her own choice of a sailboat, powerboat or commercial craft. A student’s designs comprise a portfolio that he or she may use to demonstrate his or her skills and experience when seeking employment. The Yacht Design program is technical in nature and very demanding. Some exposure to high school level physics is also helpful. The material covered in the school year usually takes two academic years to complete at other institutions. Students devote a substantial amount of time outside of lab and lecture periods in order to successfully complete school assignments and projects.

admissions pre-requisites for yacht design

• A solid and successful background in algebra and geometry required. (In general, grades B or higher)

• Basic computer skills-Microsoft Office Suite.

• Official High School Transcript

• College Transcripts (if applicable)

• 2 Letters of Recommendation-1 must be from a math teacher.

classroom size

The maximum number of students enrolled at one time in the Yacht Design Program is 24.

YACHT DESIGN Curriculum

The following courses are taught through lecture and lab work as part of the Yacht Design Program:

DSN 110 Introduction to Yacht Design (GA)

DSN 120 Introduction to Naval Architecture

DSN 130 Marine Engineering: Mechanical

DSN 140 Materials and Construction Methods

DSN 150 Drawing and CAD I

DSN 160 Design Topics I