The only reason why I'm considering purchasing CAD software is because all the most successful companies in the world, whether it is to do with yachts or to do with cars are using Cad software.
I do not agree, the companies are sucessfull because of the draftpersons and engineers behind the computer. It takes months to to become efficient with a specific CAD software and it is still the person behind it that will draw the boat.
I also understand that most of the modern catamarans are designed using CAD software. So if these companies that have turnovers of £500 million, then they must be doing something right!How much did you pay for your maxsurf software?
tom
Maxsurf was purchased by my naval architecture school last year. Before that we were using AutoShip 1988.
The hull design process that I used is to find out the requirement for the boat and to find the main dimension. Once this is one, you can try to find a reference hull or build a simple hull using 3 mastercurves. After, it is a matter of refining the hull. Maxsurf is limited to six surface so you will need to use another cad program to produce the fabrication drawings.
Using excel to design a hull is possible. You have to use a drawing program of to draw the hull to scale on paper. After, you can take some measurement on the drawing and perform the calculation for the stability, buoyancy and even speed prediction. After that it is back on the drawings to refine the shape of the model and it back to the calculation. It takes some time but it is the best way to optimize the hull.
Right now at work I am working with autocad for the drawing of my current project and Excel for weight, buoyancy and stability. I wish that I would get my hands on maxsurf but I have to work with the tools I have.
Charles Leblanc
Nacra 5.2
