
Lying with Numbers
Engineering BusinessA critical review of my previous analysis with an eye towards statistics and the importance of context in numbers.

The Value of Life
Engineering Business, InsuranceWhy would you pay more for engineering than for the ship? The value of engineering comes from the lives protected, not the design of the yacht. How much is that protection worth? This risk analysis has an answer to the value of safety.

Class Societies
Engineering Business, Legal, Project ManagementOn land, cities inspect new house construction. But who inspects new ships? And how does that work with an international industry?

5 Steps to (NOT) Build a Boat
Engineering Business, Hull Structure, Integration / Engineering, Production Engineering, Project Management, Shipyard And Support ServicesWhen building a yacht, pick a design you finish. Here are several steps that help before embarking on any boat construction project.
Composite Materials
Engineering Business, Hull Structure, Materials, Special Purpose Structure, StructuralDon’t let composites disappoint you. If you understand their practical limits, composites far exceed the capabilities of steel.
What is a Stability Test
Engineering Business, Fluids, Fluids Testing, Stability TestWhat is a stability test? What exactly are you paying for? This article introduces a stability test and why you want one.
Weight Control
Engineering Business, Project ManagementIf we ignore weight control, we risk a potentially unusable ship. Understand the risks and the necessity of how to perform correct weight control.
Underway Replenishment
Auxiliary Systems, Engineering Business, Equipment Integration, Mechanical, Mechanical Handling Systems, Piping, Replenishment Systems, Ship Control Systems, Special Purpose Mechanical SystemsIt’s difficult to see where systems integration adds value to ship design. So I want to show how none of this is possible without systems integration.
Which Engineer
Design Support, Engineering Business, Hiring Consultant, Integration / Engineering, Production Engineering, Project Management, Shipyard And Support Services, Support ServicesIf you want a modern vessel, expect a modern team of experts. So let’s meet all the different roles and learn who it takes to create a modern ship.
Ship Model Scaling
Engineering Business, Fluids, Fluids Testing, Propulsion Plant, Propulsor Shrouds and Ducts, Propulsors, Towing Tank, Transmission and Propulsor SystemsIt is impossible to perfectly convert between model scale and ship scale. Learn how to get around the scaling correlation problem.
Next Level Hydrodynamics
Engineering Business, Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, Fluids Special Methods, Fluids Testing, Propulsion, Propulsion Plant, Resistance, Towing TankThe modern towing tank expanded into a Swiss Army knife of experiments. Time to see what new tricks the tank holds for us!
The Ship Towing Tank
Engineering Business, Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, Fluids Special Methods, Fluids Testing, Propulsion, Propulsion Plant, Propulsion Units, Propulsors, Resistance, Towing TankIt may look like a swimming pool, but towing tanks exist for a different purpose. They are a fundamental tool of ship design.
How to Cut the Bunker Bill
Energy Generation, Engineering Business, Fluids, Mechanical, Propulsion, Propulsion Plant, Propulsion UnitsIMO 2020 promises to be a time of uncertain fuel prices. Here are eight practical ways to reduce your fuel consumption.
CFD Workflow
Engineering Business, Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, Fluids Special MethodsWhat happens behind the curtain when the CFD engineer goes to work? What goes into making a CFD simulation? As a project manager, you need to understand the workflow of a CFD project; this helps you plan the project and track budget expenses. When we understand the workflow, we know the right questions and can anticipate project delays.
Improve Engineering Value
3D Modeling, Arrangements, Drafting, Engineering Business, Fatigue, FEA / Numerical Methods, Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, Fluids Special Methods, Hull Structure, Hydrostatics, StructuralWe all want to feel good about paying for engineering analysis. Sometimes the best answer drives us to maximize value, rather than minimize cost. In those cases, you do better to go beyond basic safety and search for enhancements. Today we discuss four engineering tasks where you can maximize your value. Extract every last drop of knowledge from your engineering project.
Hydrodynamics and Hull Design
Engineering Business, Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, ResistanceA refined hull shape epitomizes the link between tradition and science. When we link the science of ship design with the experience of past ships, we identify the successes and isolate previous failures. This article glimpses into the background of hydrodynamics by exploring the link between the science of Bernoulli’s equation and the shape of ship hulls.
The TRUTH of Hull Speed: How to Break the Sailing Speed Limit
Engineering Business, Fluid Dynamics, Fluids, Propulsion, ResistanceHull speed is bogus, but not because the math is wrong. This formula supposedly predicts the maximum speed of a yacht based solely on length. But don’t sell yourself short; there are ways around speed limits. Today we discuss the basis for hull speed and fill in the rest of the story.
Six Keys to Better Marine FEA
Engineering BusinessAn experienced engineer doesn’t have some magic button to deliver great FEA. Masters of FEA trade-craft hoard many little tricks and nuggets of wisdom to deliver better FEA. Today we share six nuggets of wisdom for better FEA.
Reviewing FEA Analysis
Engineering BusinessCan you interpret an FEA report and glean all its secrets? Results alone are useless without appreciating their significance. Learn the basics of interpreting FEA reports and gain much more value from that analysis you just paid for.
Miami Bridge Collapse and Professional Engineers
Engineering Business, InsuranceHow do we prevent disasters like the Miami bridge collapse? It takes more than technical knowledge. Enter the professional engineer. Be grateful, because these people save lives. Maybe even YOUR life.
Six Hours of AWESOME SUPERSHIPS!
Engineering BusinessI confess. I get excited about ships. They show amazing complexity and materialize to answer so many unique industrial needs. Imagine my joy when I came across this little gem on Amazon.com: Superships
What Are Single Point Moorings?
Engineering Business, Shipyard And Support Services A single point mooring is a floating buoy, secured outside the harbor. These are commonly used for crude oil carriers.
The True Cost of Steel
Engineering Business, StructuralWhen you see the next bunkering bill, you will desperately care about structural optimization. Learn about the hidden cost of steel: extra fuel costs.
Understanding Ship Model Testing
Engineering Business, Project ManagementModel testing in the towing tank. It's expensive. What do you actually get from this? Read this five minute article to get the basics.