Boat Design Forums

  1. Design

    1. Boat Design

      Discuss boat design concepts, projects, plans, reviews, resources, and general design topics.
      Discussions:
      15,195
      Messages:
      230,253
      Latest: What's the difference between lifeboats and a normal boat? BlueBell, Jan 13, 2026 at 12:42 AM
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    2. Hydrodynamics and Aerodynamics

      Technical discussion on fluid dynamics: theory and analysis.
      Discussions:
      1,051
      Messages:
      23,819
      Latest: Wagner Keel. Eurosnob, Jan 12, 2026 at 4:58 PM
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    3. Stability

      Discuss stability issues and calculations, power and sail.
      Discussions:
      1,024
      Messages:
      16,898
      Latest: GM calculations with laterally shifted center of mass laukejas, Dec 30, 2025
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    4. Class Societies

      Scantling Rules, updates and discussion on Society Classification: Lloyds, ABS, DNV, ISO ...
      Discussions:
      418
      Messages:
      4,773
      Latest: Structural stiffness related to material and scantling rules william stokes, Jan 8, 2026 at 8:35 PM
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    5. Powerboats

      Discuss production and custom powerboats and powerboat design.
      Discussions:
      2,715
      Messages:
      29,203
      Latest: New build coming soon Cajunpockettunnel, Jan 11, 2026 at 1:23 PM
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    6. Propulsion

      Discuss marine engines, drives, and propulsion systems.
      Discussions:
      6,076
      Messages:
      72,048

      1. Props

      2. Surface Drives

      3. Jet Drives

      4. Outboards

      5. Sterndrives

      6. Pod Drives

      7. Inboards

      8. Diesel Engines

      9. Gas Engines

      10. Electric Propulsion

      11. Hybrid

      12. DIY Marinizing

      Latest: Help & ideas for easy steering Vietnamese style longtail engine / prop (to heavy operation) Adler, Jan 9, 2026 at 1:00 AM
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    7. Motorsailers

      Discuss monohull and multihull motorsailers and motorsailer design.
      Discussions:
      160
      Messages:
      4,018
      Latest: Offshore Sportfishing Motorsailer, innovations & alternatives brian eiland, Dec 13, 2025
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    8. Sailboats

      Discuss monohull sailboat design, production and custom monohull sailboats.
      Discussions:
      4,517
      Messages:
      82,948
      Latest: "Designing" a double-handed racing dinghy Dolfiman, Jan 12, 2026 at 6:40 PM
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    9. Multihulls

      Discuss multi-hull sailboat design, production and custom sailing catamarans and trimarans.
      Discussions:
      3,390
      Messages:
      90,609
      Latest: 45' solar catamaran fallguy, Jan 12, 2026 at 10:02 PM
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    10. OnBoard Electronics & Controls

      Discuss onboard mechanical, hydraulic, and electric control systems, monitoring, navigation, communication, systems integration and onboard computer systems.
      Discussions:
      884
      Messages:
      11,104
      Latest: New powercat build on Youtube for tech nerds Eurosnob, Dec 27, 2025
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    11. Software

      Discuss marine design software: hull design, fairing, modeling, rendering, and CNC.
      Discussions:
      3,150
      Messages:
      25,381

      1. General Computing

      Latest: BoatCadCam is now free John Hulen, Jan 7, 2026 at 3:06 PM
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  2. Collaboration

    1. Option One

      Collaborative design of a power cruiser: trailerable, 300 mile range, economical at cruise & displacement speeds.
      Discussions:
      67
      Messages:
      1,727
      Latest: Cool trailerable boat parkland, Jan 9, 2015
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    2. Projects & Proposals

      An open forum to generate ideas for collaborative design projects.
      Discussions:
      451
      Messages:
      8,753
      Latest: Electric Launch Design optimized for semi-displacement speeds Stephen Ditmore, Nov 28, 2025
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  3. Construction

    1. Boatbuilding

      Discuss boatbuilding projects, methods, plans & kits, ask questions, and share your experiences.
      Discussions:
      11,013
      Messages:
      136,141

      1. Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building

      2. Metal Boat Building

      3. Wooden Boat Building and Restoration

      4. Electrical Systems

      Latest: Forming and stretching plate william stokes, Jan 12, 2026 at 6:23 PM
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    2. Materials

      Discuss boatbuilding materials: composites, woods, metals, plastics, and finishes.
      Discussions:
      3,028
      Messages:
      32,436
      Latest: Engine Room makeup air vent filter media? BlueBell, Jan 13, 2026 at 12:38 AM
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    3. Marketplace

      Boatbuilding materials, tools, equipment, molds, tooling and custom projects for sale or trade.
      Discussions:
      2,936
      Messages:
      13,267

      1. Boat Molds

      Latest: 20 ft seaskimmer mold David Whittaker, Jan 4, 2026
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  4. Employment and Education

    1. Education

      Discuss schools and programs of Naval Architecture and Yacht Design and entry paths into a boat design career.
      Discussions:
      907
      Messages:
      6,489
      Latest: SNAME Power Boat Symposium 2024 | SNAME CDBarry, Nov 13, 2025
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    2. Services & Employment

      Post positions available and marine design and boatbuilding services offered.
      Discussions:
      1,883
      Messages:
      6,476
      Latest: Best Florida region for long-term boatbuilding workforce? Jeandupont, Oct 3, 2025
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  5. Community

    1. All Things Boats & Boating

      Enjoy friendly conversation with other forum members and boaters on marine-related topics, boats, and boating in general.
      Discussions:
      4,300
      Messages:
      142,476

      1. Press Releases

      2. Wiki Archive

      3. Forum Questions and Suggestions

      4. Post-Tsunami

      Latest: Venezuela Shipping portacruise, Jan 8, 2026 at 8:06 PM
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