Boat architecture and design?

Question

I am interested in becoming a boat architect/designer. How do i get a career in this industry? What is the average Pat? What schools must i attend? What skills must i have?

I am a highschool student in the boston area

Thank you

Answer 1

WOW!  You are the kid I have been looking for...

A new graduate of a bachelor's degree in Boat Architecture and Naval Engineering program can expect to earn an annual salary of around $72,000. However, the salary is affected by location and the type of marine industry the graduate enters into, whether submersibles, small craft design or marine structures.

A recent decade long decrease in students in this field has resulted in a better than average chance of securing a position within this area of the marine industry.

Top schools:

1. United States Naval Academy-

This academy offers only a bachelor's degree program.

Undergraduate Student Body: 4,349; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:7; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: ACT: More than 50% had scores 24-29, SAT: More than 40% had scores 1200-1299.

2. United States Merchant Marine Academy-

This academy has an average freshmen retention rate of 89%.

Undergraduate Student Body: 962; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:11; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: ACT: More than 60% had scores 24-29, SAT: More than 40% had scores 1200-1299.

3. Webb Institute-

This institute has a rich tradition, founded in 1889.

Undergraduate Student Body: 76; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:7; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: ACT: Not Listed, SAT: More than 70% had scores 1200-1299.

Ok, of course there are more schools... I suggest you talk to your school's career counselor... If there is not one in your specific school, ask!  I am sure there is one for your school district.

Now... Here is how you can pay me back for answering your question:  

Be the first boat architect / designer to actually live on a boat.  As I know none of them now do... if they did, they would stop designing those "all in one" heads whereby you sit on the toilet to take a shower - and of course, wet the entire bathroom... which means, not only do you have to take out everything (ie: towels, toilet paper, shaver, hair dryer, clothes, etc.) in the bathroom you have no room to bend over and wash the sand from between your toes, and you can't raise your arms high enough to wash your armpits.  LOL

In addition, design in some walk in closets - there is never enough room for clothes and "stuff" on a boat... also... design in regular size beds... and stop saying a boat "sleeps 6" when it won't - that is unless you like to wake up with someone else's feet in your face, and / or you are all bulimic munskins, and even at that, you can't sit up in bed without knocking yourself unconscious.

So, when you get to school... you should live on a boat - not in a dorm or an apartment... Live on a boat!  Get your ideas from there.  Design a boat that will make yourself (and your first mate) comfortable... forget the sleep 6 trap... Who really needs it or ever uses it?  No one!  Because it is cramped, uncomfortable, and there is no room for there suit cases...

Man... if you will do this in both sail and power, and with models to choose from between 40 and 60 feet... You my young friend will have no problems in becoming rich and famous!

Answer 2

Ship or boat design is an engineering career.  If you're unsure that you are preparing yourself correctly for a college major in this field you should speak with your high school guidance counselor.  Typically the programs are small and competitive.

In the US there are three (civilian) schools that offer a BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.  These are (ranked in my PERSONAL opinion of most respected first) Webb Institute in Glen Cove, NY, University of Michigan and University of New Orleans.  UNO has more of a focus on smaller work boats, so it's a good choice if you are interested in tugs or OSVs.

There are additional schools that offer degrees in Ocean Engineering or small wooden boat design.  Typically Ocean Engineering focuses on the designs of ports and offshore structures.  Wooden boat design schools can be found along the east coast and more of an apprenticeship program taught as a trade or an art instead of an engineering program.

The Naval Academy and Merchant Marine Academy both have ship systems design programs but my understanding is that they are not hull design programs.

The average pay for any entry level Nav Arch  can vary widely - depending on the area of the country you work in and the area of the field you choose to work in.  Pay for a person working in a small boat design group will probably be a lot lower than the pay at a big oil company.  The starting salary range for my classmates (in 2005) was 48k to 61k (+bonuses).  Three years later I believe that the salary range among my classmates is along the lines of 60 to 80k + bonuses (keeping in mind that there are now several people in that group with advanced degrees too.)

FYI: At Webb (virtually) 100% of students have SAT scores over 1200... the average was 1410 for my class and similar if not slightly higher for the other classes while I was there.  (That was before the writing section - I'm not sure how scores are calculated now.)  Good luck!  Start preparing for a competitive program now and you have a great field and wonderful opportunities ahead of you!

Answer 3

You could try the mcnaughtongroup.com and tom will mail you himself

hope this helps