I hear what you're saying, and most of what you say is why the process of
making the PE required will be slow. But in spite of those make-sense
economics, several states have already done it, including the State of
Washington, where they have a very large boat design and manufacturing
industry. Precedents like these will make the PE trend tough to fight. So
will litigation against boat designers and the companies that manufacture
the boats. Liability insurance is not bad now, usually low cost and based
on last year's sales, but if the boat industry follows in the tracks of
others in this country, then that insurance will grow too expensive and
licensing will become required in order to obtain it. Write it down and
watch. None of us like it and most of us would disagree with the trend
....until you get your own PE and then you have the advantage that is.

As far as the issue of experience goes, I have to agree...I've watched
businesses go out of business when run by some MIT MBA with no real-life
experience while others that are run by people that worked their way up
through the ranks thrive. Experience is not something you can buy. In the
mean time, I would still encourage those interested in the yacht design
career path to pursue a PE license, even if not yet required for small
craft. A side benefit to such an individual is that he or she will have
more choice about what direction their career takes. Small craft
design/sales is not high income, but expensive or high-end custom work can
pay better. May as well line up your credentials and start earning
experience.

Brian


"Jacques Mertens" wrote in message
.. .
While I agree that a background in engineering is a must to design yachts,
the PE requirement is completely stupid.
A PE license does not show that you are able to design boats. In addition
to
a good engineering base, a yacht designer must qualify in two other
fields:
extensive experience at sea and experience in boat building.
I have seen monstruosities designed by PE's while most beautiful and
efficient boats were designed by people without a PE.
The licensing requirement would have very negative effects on yacht
design,
on new designs availabilty and price, on boats prices and on boating in
general.
Most of the people who design boats today, while very able, do not have a
PE. They may be mechanical engineers, architects or as in my case, have
degrees in chemistry and physics. Some may just be autodidacts and there
is
nothing wrong with that.
The requirements of today's designs make the selection automatic: you will
not get a job as a yacht designer if you can not do your basic
calculations.
The reason for that licensing requirement was the move of many US ship
building activities to other parts of the world. Large ship naval
architects
were looking for work and discovered yacht design. A licensing requirement
would have them "supervise" the work of real yacht designers but the PE's
would charge for their stamp of approval thereby increasing the costs of
designing new boats and almost certainly killing creativity. They just
want
their cut . . .
I have no immediate concerns because I don't design large yachts but
tomorrow, the requirement may extend to the type of boat I design, less
than
65'.

I became a member of the SNAME at a time when membership required two
senior
fellows a sponsors. That was a sufficient guarantee of expertise: work a
few
years for another designer and then for a yacht manufacturer and they'll
decide waht you are worth.
An exam during which I would have to calculate the efficiency of a steam
engine will not prove that I am able to design a yacht.
No school or diploma will ever give you all what is needed to become a
good
yacht designer. To take a beating in a mean storm and hands on boat
building
experience are absolutely necessary but not taught in schools.
If one day I need the help of a PE, I will ask for it. I worked with an
excellent one at James Krogen. I don't think that I would get a commission
to design a larger yacht without setting up such a collaboration but let's
not make it a blanket requirement. It would kill our profession.


--
Jacques
http://www.bateau.com

"Brian D" wrote in message
news:9Agfb.670589$Ho3.141187@sccrnsc03...
Here in Oregon, they differentiate between 'architect' (no PE required)
and
'engineer'. Boat design still falls under 'architect'. The State guys
get
all pinch-faced and whiney when you ask them about it...you can tell
there's
pressure to get licensing onto boat design. Knowing Oregon, they'll put
a
Grey Davis TAX on it too.

Brian


"Michael Porter" wrote in message
...
"Brian D" wrote:


I'd rank the Landing School (if you can afford a year off) and
Westlawn
higher. Westlawn (now run by Dave Gerr) is now associated with the
American
Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and was previously associated with the
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) ...two huge greats
in
the
boat industry.
snip I agree

Two states now require the naval architecture PE. Others may
follow.

Actually, almost all states do -- now that there is a PE exam, naval
arch falls under the def of engineering, which is quite broad in most
states. Maine has just passed a law exempting work on boats under
200', RI (and maybe one other state) explicitly exempts naval arch,


I would not want to be starting out now without an engineering degree.

Cheers,

Michael Porter

Michael Porter Naval Architect / Boatbuilder
mporter at mp-marine dot com
www.mp-marine.com