A Collection of Our Articles on
Boat Design & Boat Building
Kasten Marine Design, Inc.
Copyright 2000 - 2007 Michael Kasten
Updated 1 March 2007
Among the articles linked below are several that first appeared in
other publications such as Cruising World,
Soundings, Good Old Boat, Boatbuilder, Pilothouse
Online,
Professional Boatbuilder, Metal Boat Quarterly, and
among the publications of the
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. These
various articles may help shed some light on the myriad questions we
encounter about boats and boat design.
General boat related categories are:
The Yacht Design Process -
How is a new boat design created?
The boat design process is made up of a series of incremental
steps. This is a summary of how a new yacht design is
imagined, sketched, planned, calculated and drawn.
Our CAD Design Stream
- What are the benefits of using CAD?
Here's an outline of the process we use to generate a hull
model and then make use of it for concept, layout, detailing,
and to create NC Cutting files, plus a description of the
software we use.
Stock Boat Designs -
What is a stock boat design?
This article answers that question and outlines what to expect
when purchasing a 'stock' yacht design.
Essential Design Data
- What essential data should be readily available for a modern
boat design?
Being concerned about your vessel's survivability in ultimate
conditions makes ultimate sense! In view of the cost
of the vessel, and the cost of the entire expedition that any
ocean voyaging represents, the cost of thorough design analysis
does not amount to a significant percentage of the cost of
ownership. It does however amount to a high percentage of
one's peace of mind on the briny deep...
Yacht Design Costs -
The inevitable question... what does a stock or custom yacht
design cost...?
An extremely common question... I've posted this article
in order to first review the cost of stock boat designs, then to
explain a few of the various fee approaches designers may use
for creating a new custom yacht design.
So, You Want to Learn Yacht Design...?
- What's the routine?
I receive various
questions from prospective yacht design students who want to
know if it is a good career for them. This brief note is
in way of advance response to that commonly posed question...
Testimonials
- What do our
clients have to say...?
A few selected
comments from our yacht design clients.
Computerized Boat Building
- Computer aided boat design... What's the benefit?
Computer cutting... Does it save building costs? Is it
accurate?
Computer modeling is by far the most efficient means of
defining hull form, offering a designer access to powerful
analysis tools for assessing stability and performance, as well
as a highly accurate means of creating the structural parts and
pieces of a boat via computer controlled cutting. For more
information about the benefits and cost savings offered by
up-to-date computer aided boat design and computer aided
boat building check out this article.
NC Parts Cutting Example
- What is NC...? It simply means
Numerically Controlled... Here's a chronicle of one NC
boat cutting project.
The aluminum tug-yacht Boojum made excellent use of NC cutting.
Here are several images taken during the course of Boojum's
construction, along with a brief description of the various
steps along the way.
NC Prototyping & NC Lofting
- Creating a prototype and a few other possible uses for the
computer model.
When considering a new vessel, what's the best way to get a
preview of the shape? The computer is an enormously useful
tool for creating a vessel prototype in order to visualize the
shape in a "virtual" 3D environment. What about lofting
and fairing? One can then use the computer generated model
as a fairing and lofting tool.
Terrier Vessel Specification
- A typical specification for a small (32') power
vessel. NOTE: Larger vessels have a much more detailed
specification.
The Vessel Specification is the central document from which
any boat gets built. The Vessel Spec is intended to be a
guide to construction as well as a valuable estimating tool for
a builder to calculate the cost of building the boat.
Lightning Protection Specification
- A strategy for lightning strike prevention on vessels of
various materials.
According to
published reports, in the
US, out of the annual
average of about 100 deaths due to lightning, 13 are aboard boats.
If lightning is a hazard where the boat will be used, a plan should
be developed to deal with the possibility of a strike. In the
Pacific Northwest, lightning is relatively
rare. In
Florida, strikes are measured in
numbers annually per square mile, with some areas having more than
ten!
Estimating Boat Building Costs
- What does it cost to build a new vessel? Are
there advantages to having a boat built overseas?
This article looks at the economics of boat building,
including the possible advantages of building a boat outside the
US. This article provides a method for estimating approximate
construction costs and design costs for creating a new custom
yacht, then compares those costs to those of production boats.
Affordable Boat Building
- What is the best strategy toward making a new vessel
affordable...?
What is a practical approach? What are the factors that
save the most? This article reviews the basics of
affordable boat building.
Composites for
Boats
- How do fiberglass
and other composites compare to aluminum and steel...?
What about fiberglass? Here is a brief
overview of what we consider to be important with regard to
strength, cost and finish.
Evolution of a Traditional Sailing Type
- Are large wooden craft a thing of the past? Are
they still being built anywhere in the world?
This article is an introduction to the large wooden
sailing and cargo craft of Indonesia, locally called Phinisi.
Indonesia is a nation as large in its extent
and population as is the US, however it consists of some 18,000
islands and quite a lot of water! These wooden cargo
vessels are effectively the "semi trucks" of Indonesia. These
are not small craft...! It is a stunning sight these
days to see several dozen large wooden vessels ranging in size
between 20 and 55 meters being built right on the beach.
Snooty Wooden Boat Magazine types would just simply wilt on the
spot (not kidding)...!
Indonesian Phinisi Sailing Types vs. KLM
(Motor Sailors)
- What's the difference? Can they Sail? Are they
seaworthy? What is their range under power?
These notes have to do with the more 'modern' Indonesian KLM
types (Kapal Layar Mesin) vs. the older traditional Sailing
Phinisi types. Additional notes are provided
regarding vessel size, displacement, and hull materials.
And... if sailing performance is important, the hull type and
the hull materials have much to do with what is possible.
Building An Indonesian Phinisi
/ KLM
- How to do it Right? What are the
essential ingredients for a successful project? Can these cargo
vessel types actually be transformed into Yachts...? Into
charter vessels?
Yes they can...! In order to successfully create a yacht
or luxury charter vessel out of the traditionally built Phinisi
or KLM types, it is first a matter of adequate planning, and
then of follow-through during construction. This is a good
introduction to the process we recommend.
Indonesian Boatbuilding Photo
Gallery
- A travelogue of sorts...
This is a collection of images taken during the last several
years which show our involvement with the traditional Indonesian
craft, including a number of wooden boats being built and on the
water. Several good photos of the local builders and their
culture as well... Check it out...!
Metal Parts for Non-Metal Boats - What is so important about the metal parts on our
boats...?
Much of this article may well be plain common
sense to the majority of boat builders and to many boat owners,
however even a casual stroll through just about any boat yard or
marina will quickly reveal the need for considerably more
awareness of metals and how they should be used aboard...!
Applies to boats of all materials!
Metal Boats for Blue Water
- Why choose metal for a boat's structure?
Any discussion of metal boats inevitably encounters the
question of whether a boat should be aluminum or steel.
Not often realized is that there are other metals that may be
effectively used. "Metal Boats for Blue Water" is intended
to provide an overview of the possibilities, and to discuss why
one might choose metal for a boat's structure.
Metal Boat Building Methods -
When planning to build a metal boat, what's the best
approach...?
Should you erect the
frames first and then apply the plating, or vice versa, should
you first pre-cut the plating, weld it all up, and then install
the frames afterward....? Or are there yet other
approaches...? These are the questions we've addressed
here, primarily to define terms, and then to outline the
alternatives and their relative benefits.
Steel Yachts -
Some people claim that steel is too heavy for use as a yacht
building material. Is there any truth in that claim...?
Given the weight of steel as a structural material, isn't it
too heavy for small yachts...? What is a practical size
limit...? In the mind of the public, there seems to be
quite a bit of misleading information. What's the deal...?
Check out a few thoughts on the possible advantages of steel.
Aluminum for Boats
- Is there good reason to consider aluminum over other
hull materials?
This article first appeared in the September 1997 issue of
Cruising World magazine. It includes several good images
showing different hull forms suited to metal construction, the
relative advantages of each, and what factors one should have in
mind when considering the use of aluminum as a hull construction
material.
Aluminum vs. Steel -
A comparison of their relative strengths, and the advantages of
each...
The choice of hull materials is the most fundamental of choices
when considering a new vessel design, or even when considering
the purchase of an existing boat. If you intend to make
use of metal as a hull material this article will be of some
value in that choice. It will shed some light on the
various ways to compare steel versus aluminum for a boat's
structure.
Corrosion Prevention -
A simple summary of the critical elements of what one can do to
prevent corrosion in metal boats (or any boats that have metal below
the water!).....
The strategies
outlined here are aimed at the boat building process, at which
time one has the very best opportunity to create a hassle free,
low lifetime maintenance situation for any metal vessel.
Vigilance and good workmanship are vital...!
Roll Attenuation Strategies
- Roll reduction for power vessels and motor sailors.
This article was originally prepared as a response to a post
to the Trawler World mailing list on the subject of Twin Keels
and Roll reduction. It includes a brief description of the
research done by Lord Riverdale and includes a summary of the
research of others on the benefits of various roll reduction
strategies for power vessels and Motor Sailors.
Motor Yacht Layout
Considerations - What's the best layout arrangement for a
motor vessel...? For a motor sailor...?
Should the galley and / or saloon be located on deck, or should
they be located below...? Here are a few brief notes on
the whys and wherefores and the benefits of each type of layout.
Ideal Passagemaker Hull Form
- Can you judge hull form just by looking?
Most of the elements of good boat design are readily apparent
when looking at a boat. Among them, one can usually fairly
easily judge whether a power vessel is designed to be a true
passagemaker, a good coastal cruiser, or possibly a fast boat
for short hops in protected water.
Designing For Ultimate Conditions
- One question that seems to always arise among power
boaters is: "Run off or head into heavy weather?"
The usual "head into it" philosophy among power boaters needs
to be heavily qualified by including relevant data about the
boats in question, about the weather conditions, the route, and
so forth. In particular, several boat design attributes
are relevant...
Beam vs. Ballast for Seakeeping
- An overview of a few common misconceptions regarding Beam vs.
Ballast for seakeeping.
Does increased beam provide greater comfort in terms of roll
motions? Does increased ballast provide greater safety?
These are perennial questions which require more than a cursory
analysis...
Controllable Pitch Propellers
- Are they only for special applications?
Although this article is brief and to the point, it considers
several of the issues that arise when asking the question,
"What, if any, are the advantages of using a CP propeller on a
'trawler-yacht' or sailing vessel...?" Links to more
information are provided as well.
Cool New Gimmicks... -
A Cautionary Tale
Here are a few thoughts on what should and what should not be
considered desirable features of any new motor vessel.
Most particularly, this article addresses the new power vessel
vogue: Passagemakers.... and the various gimmicks being
offered on them.
Boojum's Twin Keels -
What were the design parameters driving this specific arrangement of
twin keels?
A brief description of the various considerations associated
with the use of Twin Keels to solve a specific set of design
requirements on a small trawler yacht, including roll reduction.
Trailerable Trawlers - An
article containing a few bits and pieces of interest to
trailering...
Why trailerable...? To save moorage costs; to avoid
haul out fees; to quickly transit from one cruising spot to
another; to check out large inland lakes; etc... The
reasons are numerous.
What's the Ideal Sailing Rig...?
- Cat, Sloop; Cutter; Ketch; Schooner... these are the
basic configurations. How shall we choose among them?
The type of rig is often a pre-ordained choice once one has
determined vessel size, the preferred layout, and the maximum
size of sail one can handle. Is there a reason to prefer
one rig type over another? How does one choose an
appropriate aspect ratio? For one perspective on the
choices involved, please have a look at the above web page.
Is A Motor Sailor The Ideal Combination?
- This article appears twice, as it applies equally to
both power and sailing vessels...
For long range passage making, does the motor sailor have
merit? What is the optimum hull form for a motor sailor?
What's the best rig choice? Can a motor sailor be fast and
efficient? What exactly is a motor sailor
anyway? This article attempts to answer these questions
with an eye toward the requirements of ocean voyaging.
The Junk Rig -
A brief outline of the possible advantages of the Chinese Junk, or
Chinese Lug rig.
The junk rig shares many of the virtues of the gaff rig.
The "Junk" rig or "Chinese Lug" rig is easy to handle, very easy
to reef, easy and inexpensive to build, easy to rig, has no
complex hardware, requires no winches, is easy to maintain,
involves very low rigging stresses, provides a low center of
effort so requires less beam or depth of keel, and at least in
my view, looks great...!
Here are two PDF articles. They can be viewed by most
current web browsers, or they can be saved and opened directly using
Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for free at
www.adobe.com. The material in these two booklets was
first offered as part of a course I taught on Marine Metals and
Corrosion Prevention. I subsequently prepared these two
booklets as special issues of the Metal Boat Quarterly during the
time that I served as MBQ editor.
Summer 1997 Special Issue:
Marine Metals Reference (180k PDF download) by
Michael Kasten
The Marine Metals & The Appropriate Uses of Metals on
Boats
Welding Methods & Materials
Marine Metals Book List
Preventing Galvanic Corrosion
Marine Metals Physical Properties Tables & Galvanic Series
Tables
Summer 1998 Special Issue:
Corrosion, Zincs & Bonding (340k PDF download) by
Michael Kasten
An Overview of Corrosion Prevention on Boats
Lightning Protection; Radio Grounding; Shock Prevention;
Stray Currents
The Case Against Bonding vs. The Case In Favor Of Bonding
Wiring For Corrosion Protection; Bringing Aboard Shore
Power
ABYC Rules; Special Considerations for Metal Boats
Further Reading; Welding Power Connections; The Galvanic
Series
Between 1995 and 2000 I edited and published the Metal Boat
Quarterly, a publication of the Metal Boat Society. The
focus of the MBQ under my editorship was to promote metal
structure for boats, as well as to foster responsible metal boat
design, quality metal boat building, safe boating, and an
educated boating public. Check out the complete
MBQ Index, which has links to a number of prior
articles.
A few of the prior MBQ Editorials are available here:
What Tradition Has to Offer
- Spring 1995 #2
Naval Architecture of Voyaging
- Summer 1995 #3
Why We Like Boats -
Fall 1995 #4
The Cabin Boat Primer
- Spring 1996 #6
First Round the World Race
- Summer 1996 #7
Quantity vs. Quality -
Summer 1997 #11
Historic Role of Boat Design in Boatbuilding -
Spring 1999 #18
Boatbuilding Tools: Are We Still In The Dark Ages?
- Summer 1999 #19
Cool New Gimmicks...
- Winter 2000 #21
Two prior MBQ Special Issues are available as free downloads
above. Links to the Metal Boat Society web pages that
have been hosted by Kasten Marine Design since 1998 are as
follows:
Metal Boat Society
| Metal Boat Quarterly
| MBQ Index
On those pages you'll find links to the new Metal Boat Society
web pages which have become an excellent resource.
Kasten Marine Design, Inc. Professional Memberships
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Member
Royal Institution
of Naval Architects |
Member
Society of Naval Architects
and Marine Engineers |
Member
Society of Boat
and Yacht Designers |
Member
Metal Boat
Society |
Member
American Boat
and Yacht Council |
|
