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Design Software

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  • 30 Mar 2012 10:22
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    Message # 872314
    Deleted user
    This is a general enquiry to all.  I hope I am in the correct part of the site!

    I am trying to source free or very cheap boat design software for my Apple Mac Pro. My interest lies in hard & multi-chine hull forms for construction in plywood using laser cut flat panel technology as typified by Jordan Boats and others.  There appears to be a number of products available for PCs but not Macs.  Can anyone help?  My last (and first) design was awarded runner up in the Classic Boat magazine design competition of 2009/10 and was printed in the JRA Newsletter No 55.  This was hand drawn but I feel I need the accuracy of the computer to produce lines for a kit for my next design which will be a small weekender.  It will of course have a junk rig!

    Many thanks in advance,

    Tom Bomford
  • 30 Mar 2012 11:59
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    Reply # 872337 on 872314
    Anonymous member
    Tom the pickings exclusively for Mac are limited. You can run Freeship and Delftship on a Mac but it has to be though something like Virtualbox or Crossover. Both create a virtual Windows environment to run them.
    There are of course various CAD programs that can be used to design boats.
  • 30 Mar 2012 13:12
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    Reply # 872369 on 872314
    Anonymous member

    Tom,

    why not pick up a second hand PC,  they practically give them away.

    Ulterior motive is that I am PC based and fancy dallying with a bit of CAD boat design.  Waht do you recommend of the free programmes?

    thanks

    Mark
  • 30 Mar 2012 14:38
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    Reply # 872426 on 872314
    Deleted user
    I have tried DraftSight, works like a regular CAD program, and is free for Mac's.
  • 31 Mar 2012 17:08
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    Reply # 873316 on 872314
    Deleted user
    Garry P, Mark & Garry K,

    Thank you for your responses.

    DraftSight is a CAD programme which does not include the hydrostatic calculations; Angle of Vanishing Stability, Co-efficients etc.  These I need as my maths are not up to it!

    Mark; I have managed to find Carlson Chine Hull Developer & Carene free design software, all for PC.  I have no experience with them and have no idea if they are any good.

    The stuff for Macs with the addition of other software to run them is a mystery to me.  I haven't a clue what they are.  My problem!

    Further thoughts welcome,

    Tom Bomford




  • 31 Mar 2012 20:15
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    Reply # 873378 on 872314
    Anonymous member
    Tom,
    I've used Crossover, which is a supported version of Wine, to attempt to run technical PC programs on my Mac, and the results have been disappointing. I wouldn't advise you to go this route. Either you have to get a cheap PC, or you have to press Free!ship, Delftship, etc, to release a Mac version, I think.
  • 01 Apr 2012 00:27
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    Reply # 873480 on 872314
    Deleted user
    Or just run windows in bootcamp. Macs can run any OS after all.
  • 01 Apr 2012 20:23
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    Reply # 873970 on 872314
    Anonymous member
    Tom, Delftship runs perfectly under Wine on Linux systems so probably will do likewise on the Mac. To install Wine on the Mac you need to set up Macports (just Google for instructions). CrossOver is the commercial version of Wine and is easier to set up but if you install Macports on your machine, you then have access to the entire (mostly) Linux eco system.

    Qcad runs on Mac, Linux and PC and it is very, very good value for the money. It is however a 2D system and is not ideal for boat design. For that, Delftship is the way to go. HullCad is also not to bad and is reasonably priced. It also works under wine.

    You could also set up a virtual PC using VMware Fusion or Parrels, both work well.
  • 09 Apr 2012 10:16
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    Reply # 885261 on 872314
    Anonymous member
    Tom, You could try Virtualbox available at https://www.virtualbox.org, after all it is free for personal use. You would need a copy of Windows to load on the virtual machine that you create. Then you could test all the CAD software that others suggested as well as any other Windows software you may wish to use. I have used Virtualbox on my Ubuntu Linux host PC for years and have never had any problems with reliability. A draughtsman friend runs his Windows CAD on a similar setup and reports that the VM is faster and more stable than the same program on a Windows host. The Virtualbox documentation is also very comprehensive.
  • 02 May 2012 10:35
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    Reply # 908877 on 872314
    Deleted user
    Many thanks for all the comments on design software.

    I think I will eventually get a PC as this would appear to be the simple solution.

    Tom Bomford
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