Go West( lawn), Young Man

You think all the great boats in these pages were conjured out of thin air by some boat genie? Think again. At some point somebody somewhere had to sit down with a pen and a pad and dream up every single one of these vessels, and then figure out how its components would fit together. That’s where Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology comes in. The institute’s director, Dave Gerr, says the school’s success is owed to its teaching methods. “We teach practical boat design,” he says. “We’re the only school in the world that does exactly that. We cover subjects that aren’t covered in most other places: stability standards, interior ergonomics, hullform design considerations, things like that. That gives our graduates a real edge, they have an understanding of boats that others don’t. Also our instructors critique students in the way that an independent designer or customer would deliver a critique. Practical things, like how you access the engine, some designers don’t think about that, and they’re important.”

Consequently, since it was founded in 1930, Westlawn has turned out some of the very best yacht designers in the world. Indeed, its alumni list is impressive: Tom Fexas, Jack Hargrave, David Napier, John Cherubini, Dave Martin, and on and on. Unsurprisingly, you’ll notice some boats borne of a Westlawn pedigree in these pages. If putting in the time for the Yacht Design degree interferes with your day job, boating enthusiasts can take six-month classes on fiberglass boat building, fuel systems, and even a yacht design “lite” course.