Getting the simple things right

There are those who promise you the perfect yacht. One that offers everything you want and more. A yacht that is a no compromise work of art that shines in comparison to all others. But does this type of yacht really exist? I mean, there has to be some compromises in the design or construction of it, right? Ask any engineer and you will find that every machine, every electrical component and every vehicle we use on a daily basis is full of compromises. So how can there be a no compromise, perfect yacht?

Compromises are what yacht design and construction are all about. There is no perfect yacht for all yacht owners or for all sea and speed conditions. Even if it is custom-designed and built, the key to having your perfect yacht is knowing what the important factors and choices are, and making informed decisions about where your priorities lie. Let’s take a look at some yacht design basics that will provide a better understanding of how your next yacht is built.

Stability

One factor that yacht builders can’t compromise on is safety and that leads us to the stability of the craft. If you say more stability would be better, you would be wrong. Stability is dependent to some extent on vertical center of gravity, but is also highly dependent on hull beam. You could build a wider boat and have more stability, but then you would sacrifice in resistance and weight which would lead to a need for more horsepower and more fuel usage. The wider the boat, the greater the stability, but more beam also means more resistance and weight, and thus more horsepower and fuel, or less speed and range.

Speed

The top speed of a boat is another area where designers must make compromises. By adding more speed, you will be adding more weight and more cost. It could also mean that your hull could be less efficient at extended cruising speeds which will increase fuel consumption.

Hull

With hulls, you have a wide range of choices, many with their own positives and negatives. You have planing and displacement hulls, as well as semi-displacement hull (or semi-planing) with the latter not very good at planing or running slow. At the stern, you could have a fantail, cruiser stern, transom, or double-ender. You can have a raked and flared bow to lift the boat above the waves, a plumb stem to moderate pitching, or even a reverse stem to plow through the waves with almost no pitching, but with the potential for lots of water on deck.

Once you decide on the type of hull, you will need to choose how many you need. Then, you will need to choose a colour, with each colour option having its own positives and negatives. Finally, the material a hull is made from must be chosen. With steel, aluminum and several woods and composites available, the possibilities can seem confusing.

Propulsion

How will your boat be powered? Will you choose the wind in your sails, or gasoline, diesel or gas turbine engines? You could also choose batteries and solar cells or a combination of the above. This all leads to yet another compromise and another decision that must be made when designing and building your boat.

As you can clearly see, there is a lot that goes into the design of a modern yacht and there are just as many compromises. To own the perfect yacht, you must decide what is important to you and which features you want or need. To learn more about yacht design, contact Yachtwork today!

 

 






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