# Boat Designer | Reverse Engineering

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/boat-designer-reverse-engineering/30862>\
**Category:** Feature requests\
**Created:** [March 18, 2024, 8:06am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/boat-designer-reverse-engineering/30862 "2024-03-18T08:06:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![danielsthlm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/danielsthlm/32/10757_2.png) [@danielsthlm](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/danielsthlm)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 8:06am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/boat-designer-reverse-engineering/30862/1 "2024-03-18T08:06:15Z")

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How does the process work for those of you skilled in boat design or reverse engineering? My aim is to start from an existing hull construction and then invest time and effort into designing and visualising all other aspects, such as cabin, deck, storage spaces, interiors, exteriors, and so forth.

My reference boats regarding hulls are: [IRON 827 Coupe – Boats – IRON Boats](http://ironboats.se/boats/827-coupe) and [https://xoboats.com/xo-fleet/dfndr-8/](https://xoboats.com/xo-fleet/dfndr-8/)

What steps would you take to easily replicate the hull if you only have basic dimensions and cannot measure an existing boat? I need tips from those of you who are quick and efficient.

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**Author:** ![Aptilla](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/aptilla/32/11106_2.png) [@Aptilla](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Aptilla)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:05am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/boat-designer-reverse-engineering/30862/2 "2024-10-20T05:05:37Z")

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The tools I use to reverse engineer a boat hull are: main dimensions of a boat, 2D drawing pictures and photographs. Step 1: import the drawings in a sketch plane and scale to the actual dimensions. Step 2: same for photographs. Step 3: setup longitudinal profile plus cross section stations. Step 4: loft the hull using the station sketches. Step 5: adjust and improve the hull through iterations.

In the example of the 2024 AC40 sailboat I used about 40 reference pictures.

 ![AC40_01](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/5/b/5b3198d8bab0821268c9e16a9c749af1a2fc7c0c.jpeg)  
 ![AC40_02](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/5/1/51c66a520a189851824b0d4356168550d25ff1ba.jpeg)  
 ![AC40_03](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/e/a/eabc57a5bdb1f4f54e274e91f2b4e900a28f3c43.jpeg)