Brian D wrote:
snip
If you want to play the safest bet, then go to school and get a degree in
mechanical engineering followed by a highly respected yacht design
school -or- get a degree in naval architecture (U. of Mich. etc). Follow
this by taking the FE, putting in some time, joining SNAME and taking their
PE preparation training, then getting your naval architecture PE.
snip

As far as I know, the only places in the U.S. to get an undergraduate
degree in naval architecture are Webb Institute (in NY), U Michigan, U
of New Orleans, and the U.S. Naval Academy. MIT, U Mich, and Webb have
graduate programs. I think all the undergraduate programs are actually
naval architecture AND marine engineering. The various state merchant
marine academys generally offer a degree in marine engineering that
concentrates on machinery and systems with little or no exposure to
stability, arrangements, hydrodynamics, or structures.

When I was at Webb there was no academic coverage of recreational boats,
although a far amount of interest among the students (and a very active
racing program). The theory is of course all the same, but the examples
and practical experience are on commercial and military ships. A 120'
offshore tug was the smallest ship I remember. There were some small
boat thesis topics senior year.

Some of the students also found work in small boat design offices during
summer breaks or winter work terms. At least one worked for free in
order to get the experience.

If a young(ish) person really wanted to get into small boat design, I'd
go for the academic degree and work in a boatyard or on the
commissioning crew of a new boat dealer during the first summer, and
find employment in small boat design firms during the remaining summers
as well as the winter if the break is long enough. Try to get in with
Sparkman & Stephens for one of those work terms. Take the EIT
Fundamentals of Engineering exam immediately on graduation; it is really
hard to crank back up for it later. Start collecting material for a
library early: look for design and installation guidance for engines and
other systems, follow the publications and activities of the SNAME Small
Craft Committee (one of my roommates chairs the sailing craft
sub-committee), join the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and
follow their small craft group (they recently started publishing journal
of small craft technology), and follow boatdesign.net.

dave
B.S. Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering '82
no longer in the industry

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