Interview with John Simpson
John Simpson has been a boat
designer for 45 years. I had a chance meet him at a Metal Boat Festival a few
years ago. Now every time I go to one I look forward to hearing him speak. He
has a vast knowledge of boat design and is always willing to share that
knowledge.
John, you have been a long time
member of the Metal Boat Society and contributor to the Metal Boat Quarterly,
thank you for your years of support.
DB: When did you get into boating?
JS: My
first boating experience was at 4 years old with my dad in an open 16’ rental boat with inboard engine.
When did you
realize you wanted to design boats for a living and how did you become a
yacht/marine designer?
Even
though I had been sketching out boats for several years and had been boating
since 10, it was during a university summer job maintaining 3 naval utility vessels
(75’, 48’, and 36’) that design and construction got into my
blood stream. My first step was to interview several naval architects to get a
feel for the business. All were very helpful and one suggested the best path
was to marry a rich woman (I didn’t). I did another summer job in a boatyard leading to a 4
year marine design/drafting and engineering apprenticeship at a shipyard where
we built several ferries & barges and at that time, the world’s largest semi-submersible oil rig. At
completion I had jobs with several naval architects designing yachts, fish boats,
dredges, barges, etc. Around 1972 (incorporated 1974) I started doing my own
design work and topping up wages working with a boat builder.
Could you tell us about your first commission?
The ‘first’
was a 70’ steel schooner
shortly followed by a 33’ fuel efficient motor
cruiser(s). Both are still in service
Since that first
commission, how many boats have you designed?
By my records about 110 – sail, power, commercial ranging in
size from 17’ to 80’ in steel, aluminum, and FRP. Some
designs evolved from originals so the total number is higher.
This may not sound like a lot of designs over
40+years but keep in mind that some
designs can be complicated and if they need to meet Government Regulations,
must be diligently monitored throughout construction… this and outside consult work absorbs
time.
Not only do you
have experience designing, but you have experience in building. Could you tell
us about your boat building experience?
From
a bare hull: a 9’ sailing dinghy &
a 22’ sail boat. Plus, 2
years with one builder followed by 3 years doing custom power boats 30’ – 50’, the latter as foreman,
estimator, assistant manager, & designer.
What lessons have you learned from building that have
helped with your design work?
Try not to design what one boss called an “Architect’s Dream”… ie: impossible to build. It was obvious that the designer had no boatbuilding experience and
little boating experience. I was
just getting into my own design business and my ‘boss’ gave me some good advice:
Never
forget that one day:
(a)
You may have to build one of your designs.
(b)
You may have to
use one of your designs.
I have done both on
several occasions
As a designer you are well versed in not only yachts, but
commercial vessels. I hope our readers will go to your website http://www.simpsonmarinedesign.com and take a look at your portfolio. What
are some of the challenges with commercial designs that are not present in
recreational design?
The challenges are very similar but
commercial boat (fishboats, etc) owners often push the limits, sometimes at
great risk: Overloading, improper loading, or sailing into harm’s way, is not uncommon. Not all boats are the same.
What are some of the challenges with recreational and cruising
designs?
Very similar to commercial vessels: Different
boats (designs) have different characteristics and each must be used within its
limits. Putting a hot-tub on the housetop of a pontoon type house boat might be
fine but on a motor cruiser, it may not be an option.
Any tips for the amateur builder looking at designs and wanting
to build their own
boat?
(a)
Choose the right design by getting some boating
experience.
(b)
Work up a realistic
schedule – with particular
attention to time. Unfortunate as it is, I have seen many cases where the ‘boat project’ outlived the builder.
(c)
Don’t underestimate the
price. If your dream is a $500,000 yacht, you are not going to build it for
$150,000. (not to the same standards at least.)
(d)
Concentrate on the boat and not the parts. Building your
own parts (windows, port lights, engine conversion, etc.) could be a poor
investment of time: That 10 year project might stretch into 20…. And never get completed!
(e)
Use marine parts & equipment – it is designed for that purpose.
Boats equipped with automotive and/or domestic equipment may put you at
risk.
(f)
Get the ‘other
half’ involved- being a “boat widow” is not fun.
(g)
Pay now…
or .. Pay later. Doing it properly the first time is a good investment.
Corrections later can sometimes be very costly…. If they can be done at all.
Any tips for anyone wanting to modify a design of an existing
boat?
Be very cautious: small changes can sometimes
have huge consequences. Work with a naval architect/designer (preferably the
one who did your boat)
Could you tell us about your consulting services you offer?
This covers wide variety of services ranging
from performance estimates, propeller sizing, stability evaluation, to a design
check (a review of the design with a second opinion).
Anything on the drawing board you want to tell us about?
A small project for a
client that did a circumnavigation in one of my designs. They want to go from ‘offshore’ to ‘inshore’. It is a 30’, easily transportable sailing punt to be used for
exploring various inland waters in North America & beyond.
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