Hull Engineering Studio

Where strength meets hydrodynamics

The hull is the backbone of any RIB or inflatable boat. It must be light enough to plane efficiently, strong enough to absorb impact loads, and dimensionally stable across a wide temperature range. At Aquafarer, our Hull Engineering Studio combines advanced CAD modelling, finite element analysis (FEA), and decades of practical naval-architecture experience to deliver hulls that are optimised for their intended mission —not generic shapes adapted from a catalogue.

We work with three primary hull materials —rotationally moulded HDPE, welded marine-grade aluminium, and hand-laid fibreglass —and have the engineering capability to design, simulate, and validate each one in-house.

Design tools and standards

Our digital engineering environment includes:

Our engineering workflow

Every hull design, whether it is a standard model or a fully custom project, follows a rigorous five-stage process:

1. Concept & requirements gathering —We meet with you to define payload, speed envelope, sea-state capability, towing requirements, and any special mission equipment (deck hatches, console positions, fuel-tank integration).
2. 3D surfacing & hydrostatic calculation —The hull form is modelled in SolidWorks and checked for hydrostatic stability (GM, righting arm) using built-in analysis tools.
3. Structural FEA —Load cases are defined: static (crew + gear), dynamic (planing impacts at 5g), and slamming (dropping from a wave crest at 3 m/s). Stress contours are reviewed; safety factor ≥ 2.5 is mandatory.
4. CFD drag optimisation —The hull is simulated at three loading conditions and five speeds. Wetted surface area, trim angle, and residual resistance are iteratively reduced.
5. Design review & release —The complete engineering package (3D model, FEA report, CFD report, weight estimate, ply book) is reviewed by our senior naval architect before release to the prototype workshop.

Customisation: your hull, your rules

No two operators have identical requirements. A harbour-patrol RIB needs a shallow-V hull for stability at low speed; a fast-interception craft needs a deep-V with spray rails; a dive-support boat needs a wide beam and a low transom. We do not force your application into a pre-existing hull shape. We design from your specification upward.

Examples of recent custom hull engineering projects:

• A stretched 6.8 m HDPE hull for a Caribbean tour operator, with a reinforced bow for beach landings (+15 % bottom thickness).
• A lightweight aluminium 7.2 m RIB for a coast guard, with integrated fuel-tank baffles and equipment-locker stiffeners.
• A fibreglass 5.5 m dive boat with a cut-down transom and twin battery boxes, designed for easy snorkeller reboarding.

Our engineers

The studio is led by a senior naval architect with 14 years of experience in high-speed craft design, supported by two mechanical engineers specialised in FEA and CFD. All three hold advanced degrees in marine engineering or naval architecture from internationally recognised universities. The team publishes regularly in industry journals and presents at conferences such as the International Conference on High-Performance Marine Vehicles.

Partner with us on your next hull

From the first concept sketch to the final stress report, our Hull Engineering Studio is your partner in creating a boat that is not just built —but engineered. We invest the simulation hours upfront so that every weld, every laminate layer, and every curve of the hull is there for a reason.

Whether you need a minor modification to an existing model or a completely clean-sheet design, we are ready to discuss your requirements.