Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has become an essential skill. This course covers theoretical and practical aspects of FEA applied to structural analysis. In the theoretical section, you will explore concepts like material resistance, beam models, finite element fundamentals, and how a FEA software works. The practical lessons will guide you through model preparation, meshing, local axis, boundary conditions, materials, loads, post-processing, key results to look for, and how to prepare a professional report. The course also features multiple examples based on a bulk carrier ship and a fast craft and culminates in a final project involving a planning motorboat, which will allow you to apply everything you have learned in a practical context.

Before a boat can be placed on the market or put into service, it must obtain a certification issued at the end of a homologation process. This process of homologating and certifying a boat is often not very well known, which leads to frustration, loss of time, and money. This course presents the process of homologating and certifying a boat under the European Union legislation in a clear, concise, and appealing way. It covers the European Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/UE (RCDII or RCD2) and focuses on the key elements to obtain a boat's CE marking.

Master how to model vessels of any type and length with Maxsurf and learn many Naval Architecture and Yacht design concepts along the way! In this course, the instructor will guide you through the process of modeling two vessels using the Maxsurf modeler: a sharp-bilge Pilot Boat and a Sailing Boat with a round bilge. By the end of the course, you will not only know how to model hulls from a linesplan, but you will also have learned how to model details such as appendages, propeller tunnels, bulwarks, cabins, skegs, forecastle decks, and more, how to use modeling techniques and most of the modeling commands, and how to interpret the results obtained and validate your models.

This course will bring you from an intermediate to an advanced level. After taking the course, you will be ready for a real-world experience. It begins by diving into pro-surface techniques. Then, it continues by mastering continuity and advanced solids tools. It culminates with a 60-foot ocean sailing yacht as a final project, where you will apply all the concepts covered during the course to create impressive curves, shapes, and seamless connections.

Structural design and scantling determination are crucial steps in a vessel’s design process since providing sufficient structural strength is one of the main objectives when designing floating devices. Moreover, they also affect other aspects of a vessel, such as resistance and stability. By completing this course, you will be able to design the structure of a boat, understand the ISO 12215 norm and the fundamentals behind it, and apply this norm to evaluate the scantling of either motorboats or sailing yachts.

This course will teach you composite materials, their components, manufacturing processes, and their applications. You will learn terminology, processes, datasheets, and criteria to select processes and materials. You will develop a laminate calculation spreadsheet, which will be a helpful tool for your future projects. After the course, you will be able to apply the knowledge acquired to use composite materials in manufacturing components and products.

This course provides detailed explanations about the software interface and all the basic geometries used in naval and yacht applications. It also defines a consistent workflow for an organized design with Rhinoceros. The last part is dedicated to the hands-on development of a daysailer boat 3D model.

After completing this course, you will deeply understand ship stability in the context of yachts and small craft and how to apply this knowledge to use the ISO 12217 Standard, “Small craft — Stability and buoyancy assessment and categorization,” Part 2, “Sailing boats of hull length greater than or equal to 6 m.”