RSantos Design
Design Journal
Technical writing on yacht and boat design — hull development, interior layout, 3D modeling, and the process behind each project stage.
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11 articles
Exterior Design
How yacht exterior design works: from hull lines to general arrangement
What hull lines actually are, how deck layout decisions get made, and what a GA drawing contains. The full exterior design process from a working designer's perspective.
Technical
What is a general arrangement drawing in boat design
The GA is the document a shipyard builds from. Here's what it contains, who uses it, and why projects that skip it cost more in the end.
Interior Design
Yacht interior design: cabin layout, materials and joinery detailing
How cabin layout decisions get made within a fixed hull, what material specification involves for marine environments, and how joinery drawings connect design to construction.
3D Modeling
3D surface modeling in boat design: what Rhinoceros 3D actually does
What NURBS surface modeling is, why hull fairing requires it, and how a 3D model connects design intent to the CNC machines that cut the parts.
Pricing
How much does custom yacht design cost
Real ranges for exterior design, interior design, and commercial visualization. What drives the cost, what's included in a proper package, and what to ask before signing anything.
Industry
Yacht design in Brazil: the market, the industry, and working internationally
Brazil has around 320,000 registered vessels and a concentrated nautical manufacturing base. Here's what the design industry looks like from inside it.
Propulsion
Hybrid propulsion in yacht design: what shipyards need to know
Hybrid propulsion is no longer optional — it is a baseline expectation. A technical guide covering system configurations, hull implications, cost, and interior design consequences.
Industry
Yacht refit vs. new build: the decision framework
When to refit and when to build new — covering hull condition, scope of work, timeline, technology, and real cost comparisons.
Materials
Teak alternatives for yacht decking: what actually works
Cork, composite teak, thermally modified hardwood, bamboo, and synthetic options — what each material delivers and where it makes sense.
Naval Architecture
Explorer yacht design: structural and interior specifications
What makes an explorer yacht different from a conventional motor yacht — hull form, ice-class notation, interior ergonomics for open-ocean conditions, and shipyard qualification.
Interior Design
Biophilic interior design for superyachts: beyond the green wall
Biophilic design is an evidence-based methodology — not a style. Natural light strategy, material specification for sensory properties, organic form, and multi-sensory design for restorative interiors.
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