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The following article is a summary of how a new custom yacht design is imagined, sketched and drawn. In addition to the following notes, our Introduction web page provides an outline of our general approach to yacht design. 

While seemingly complex, the design process is made up of a series of incremental steps, much like the building process itself. The goal of undertaking the design of any new yacht is to take a unique set of owner requirements and to turn them into the best possible solution to those requests. If the resulting design is to be what it should be, each of the steps outlined below must be addressed thoroughly. 

There is first the idea, and then the bringing forth of the idea into a functioning reality. In order to get the relevant information on the table, two primary ingredients are necessary:

I. Owner's Specification: The first 'design task' is actually performed by the prospective boat owner. It is first to imagine the goal, and then to create an 'Owner's Specification' or 'mission statement' for the proposed vessel. With that information understood, we will provide a written Design Proposal to outline how we propose to meet the goals that have been set forth. 

• Rather than being a detailed description of the result of the design process, the Owner's Specification is better if seen as a general guide to the intent of the design.
• Toward that end, ideally the owner's 'mission statement' will be kept fairly simple, since the details of the design will emerge as a result of the design process itself.
• The basic information needed is an outline of the intended vessel's size, layout, materials of construction, the intended use, range, speed, rig, and general aesthetic.
• The essential information should include the intended schedule for designing and building the yacht.

II. Design Proposal: My first job is to understand the preliminary Owner's Specification, then to provide the prospective client with a detailed outline for creating the new design. This is in the form of our standard written 'Design Proposal' which includes the following:

• A written outline of the design process itself.
• A list of the deliverable drawings and documents.
• An estimate for the design work required in order to create the design and to detail the plans for the vessel as described.

The following paragraphs describe our design process, and outline the deliverable drawings and documents.

Stage I - The Preliminary Design Study

After our 'Design Proposal' has been reviewed, if the prospective boat owner approves of what we have proposed, then the actual design work can begin.

A custom design starts with listening to the requirements of my clients. The objective is to create the best mutual design solution in terms of vessel type, layout, size and style. My goal is to propose an appropriate form and function to suit the vessel's intended purpose, and to follow that up with a thorough analysis of structure, stability and performance.

There will first be a series of information exchanges, possibly including clippings of similar vessels or sketched layouts provided by the client. After the owner's requirements have been articulated I will usually begin by creating a preliminary 3D CAD model of the intended vessel, which is most often created by adapting one or more of our existing designs or prototype designs to its new purpose.

The 3D model allows us to determine:

• The envelope available for the accommodations
• The overall size and hull form
• The preliminary internal structure (bulkheads and soles)
• The rig (if for a sailing vessel or motor sailor)
• The styling and features of the superstructure
• The preliminary hydrostatics

With that, I will prepare a few CAD generated drawings in order to show the proposed layout in Plan and Profile views and a perspective view of the proposed Exterior Styling. Combined with a description of the proposed dimensions and other particulars of the vessel, this is the beginning of what I refer to as 'Stage I' or the preliminary 'Design Study.' 

Stage I is basically a process of ‘discovery’ wherein we mutually discover the best solution to your requests. In pursuit of that ‘discovery’ process we will review our proposed design solutions against the original specification -- or possibly the initial specification will be revised according to what we discover. This process is both flexible and adaptable.

During Stage I we will strive to establish the accommodations, styling, size, dimensions, and the target displacement. Our goal here is to provide a "proof of concept" for the design so that further changes can be kept to a minimum. When the preliminary design has been approved by the owner, Stage II can begin.

Stage II - The Estimating Plans

The goal of Stage II is to create the first few sheets of the actual Building Plans, and to generate a number of essential documents that will be required by builders so that an accurate construction estimate can be provided. 

The first part of Stage II involves finalizing 'Stage I Study Drawings'. The preliminary Estimating Plans will therefore include:

• The proposed Sail Plan or Outboard Profile
• The proposed Interior Profile and Arrangement Plan

Once those drawings have been approved, we can proceed knowing that further changes will be minimized. When completed, the Estimating Plans Package will include:

• Sail Plan / Outboard Profile
• Interior Profile and Arrangement Plan
• Structural Profile and Arrangement Plan
• Equipment List
• Vessel Specification
• Painting Specification
• Preliminary Weight Study
• Preliminary Power and Range Analysis
• Preliminary Hydrostatics Analysis
• List of Boat Builders Suited to the Project
• Designer's Cover Letter to Builders
• Sample Owner's 'Request for Quotes' Letter to Builders