Creating a brand-new vessel is an exciting endeavour. Whether you’re building a yacht for personal use or contracting a commercial vessel for your business, the process can be long and involved, so it’s important to know that you’re working with top-notch boat builders.
Skilled boat designers will craft the perfect vessel for you, balancing regulatory requirements with your dreams as a boat owner. If you’re just embarking on this process, read on for a full breakdown of the key factors to consider when selecting the best boat designer for your project.
The first thing to do is look for some kind of gallery or portfolio. Experienced boat designers and boat builders will proudly display their past work as a way to showcase their abilities.
One thing to note here is the importance of variety, complexity, and craftsmanship. Dive deep into their portfolio of past work to explore the types of boats they’ve worked on in the past, as well as how complex the designs were.
If you have a speciality vessel in mind, you’ll want to make sure your prospective designers are well-equipped for your concept. For example, Circa Marine is a speciality aluminium boat builder and fabricator, and under the aluminium boat building umbrella, we’re equipped to create any kind of vessel in-house.
One of the most important things to look for is a reputation for excellent work. A high-quality result demonstrates that boat builders know how to create great vessels, but there’s more to the process than that. It’s important that your chosen designers are reliable and professional, with transparent communication and a dedication to keeping you in the loop every step of the way.
The best place to gain further insight into their reputation is through client reviews. Look for testimonials from previous clients or ask around within your boating community to find out more about a particular company’s reputation. Boat designers and boat builders who receive consistently excellent feedback will be far more likely to deliver a great vessel and a great experience.
Explore How They Innovate
Boat design isn’t just about how the end result looks. This is a complex field that requires a deep understanding of marine engineering. No matter whether you’re looking for a ‘standard’ vessel or something more innovative, it helps to partner with boat builders who are committed to pushing the envelope.
This means they’ll have their fingers on the pulse. Throughout the design and build process, experienced boat designers who stay aware of emerging developments will be able to recommend new materials or technologies that will future-proof your vessel.
Confirm Their Regulatory Knowledge
No matter which country you’re in, there are certain guidelines and regulations that must be adhered to for every single vessel. The same is true for New Zealand, where there are various classification organisations at play (including Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS MCA, and CE).
All vessels must meet a set of stringent requirements to be found seaworthy, so it’s important that your partners in the process are completely up to date on what these requirements are.
It’s also important that your chosen boat builders have sea trials built into their process. Exhaustive sea trials will test your new vessel to its limits, confirming that every aspect of the new boat meets requirements, ensuring that you can set sail with confidence.
Ensure They Provide After-Sales Support
Top boat builders don’t cut off contact once the vessel has been delivered to you. While the design, build, and test stages are all vital to the process, after-sales support is just as important.
With a dedicated after-sales support team, you can rest easy knowing that help is just a call away if you encounter an issue with your vessel. This even applies if you just have a question about how to operate a particular piece of equipment on-board.
Companies without after-sales support are essentially leaving their customers high and dry, which is why we recommend confirming your chosen partners provide this service before going any further.
In summary, there are many factors to consider when selecting your boat designers or boat builders. The most important thing is to approach this process with clarity. It might take a while to find the right company to partner with, but taking the time to do this research and explore your options will serve you and your vessel best in the long run.
At Circa Marine, we have a team of in-house aluminium fabricators and a worldwide network of incredible boat designers ready to jump onto your project. Whether you’re seeking a commercial vessel or a boat for weekend getaways, we have the experience and innovative mindset to deliver what you’re looking for.
Experience the passion of working with the Circa team. Get in touch with us to book your initial consultation today.