DLBA Naval Architects

01/18/2023

// GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

Announcing Donald L. Blount Memorial Graduate Scholarship

DLBA Naval Architects, a division of Gibbs & Cox, a Leidos company, is proud to announce the creation of the Donald L. Blount Memorial Graduate Scholarship. The scholarship is provided to support graduate and post-graduate (PhD) students in the field of high-speed craft hydrodynamics. The scholarship is offered through the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). The inaugural award for this scholarship will be made for the 2023-2024 academic year and is open to students worldwide.

The scholarship is named in memory of Donald L. Blount (1935-2022), an innovative naval architect and founder of DLBA Naval Architects.

“Donald is dearly missed by all of us at DLBA as well as the world-wide high-speed craft community,” said Jeffrey Bowles, DLBA Naval Architects director. “Our team intends to march forward with great pride to perpetuate the legacy that he created for the maritime community. This scholarship honors his many personal and professional contributions as an innovator, teacher, and mentor.”

Eligible individuals must apply through SNAME on or before February 1, 2023, to be considered for the scholarship. Those interested in applying may access the e-form on SNAME’s website and are strongly encouraged to read through SNAME requirements and procedures for graduate and post-graduate scholarships.

Leidos and its subsidiaries, Gibbs & Cox and DLBA Naval Architects, provided the funding for the scholarship.

DLBA Naval Architects, a division of Gibbs & Cox, a Leidos company, is proud to announce the creation of the Donald L. Blount Memorial Graduate Scholarship.

09/28/2022

The DLBA Team is aware of the pending impact of Hurricane Ian on the west coast of Florida. While we are sad that IBEX - International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference has been cancelled, and we won’t be there to see our friends and talk boats, we agree with the decision to cancel the event. Our thoughts and prayers are with our South Florida boatbuilding friends local to the area, including Jupiter Marine, Century Boats, Sea Force, Carbon Craft, Chris Craft Boats , and everyone else. Batten down the hatches, head for high ground (which is hard to do in Florida), and we look forward to seeing everyone at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

09/23/2022

// See you at IBEX?

‘Where Better Boats Begin' is the slogan of the annual IBEX - International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference and that’s certainly a vision that everyone at DLBA can aspire to. We’ll be sending a team to Tampa, Florida for the three days of this year’s exhibition, which runs from ,Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 September.

Shows like this which are dedicated to marine technology make for a great place to meet and discuss any issues you may have related to naval architecture and engineering. Drop us an email if you would like to make an appointment in advance in or nearby the Tampa Convention Center.

[email protected]

09/16/2022

// Almeida Yacht Design (AYD) 60

Another collaboration between DLBA and AYD has begun! The new yacht is to be a nominal 60’ Length Overall (LOA) and will combine both cruising and fishing design cues.

Discover more: https://lnkd.in/ebkPXzjG

09/08/2022

// Hodgdon Yachts' "Valyra"

If you were at the Palm Beach Yacht show in March, you might have seen VALYRA, a DLBA design built by Hodgdon Yachts. In fact, she was Hull #2, following in the footsteps of her sistership, ZARKAVA (with a couple of subtle upgrades, of course). These boats were designed by DLBA under the keen eye of Donald Blount. Jeff Bowles has led the DLBA team in the engineering effort over the course of several years, which has included sea trialing a parent craft, hydrodynamic model testing, aerodynamic CFD analysis, advanced noise reduction engineering, and more.

Discover more: https://lnkd.in/eRYfz9cq

If you were at the Palm Beach Yacht show last month, you might have seen VALYRA, a DLBA design built by Hodgdon Yachts. In fact, she was Hull #2, following in the footsteps of her sistership, ZARKAVA (with a couple of subtle upgrades, of course). These boats were designed by DLBA under the keen eye....

08/19/2022

// DLBA university
"Comparative Analysis of Common Methods for Predicting Vertical Acceleration of Hard Chine Planing Monohulls including Correlation to Hydrodynamic Model Test Data”

🎓 We talk a lot about going fast here at DLBA. Speed is exhilarating, right? Well, we have to remember that it is not the end-all be-all requirement for water borne craft. There is a little thing called seakeeping, and in its realm, size does matter! Passengers want an enjoyable, comfortable ride – not one filled with large motions and jarring accelerations. The bigger the boat, the softer the ride, but often times you can’t just make the boat bigger.

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eS-cq3cV

We talk a lot about going fast here at DLBA. Speed is exhilarating, right? Well, we have to remember that it is not the end-all be-all requirement for water borne craft. There is a little thing called seakeeping, and in its realm, size does matter! Passengers want an enjoyable, comfortable ride – ...

08/17/2022

// DLBA offers a huge congratulations to the Duffie Boatworks] crew for taking 1st place at the White Marlin Open with the While Marlin of the week. DLBA is proud to support the Duffie Boatworks team!

Repost from Duffie Boatworks] - Introducing your 49th Annual White Marlin Open Champions!

The 'Billfisher' (64' Duffie), owned and operated by our very own Jon Duffie, caught this 77.5 lb white marlin by Jon's brother, Jeremy Duffie, on Day 5 of the tournament. The boat will take home over 4.5 million dollars in prize money resulting in the world record payout for a single fish.

08/05/2022

// Designing for the Atlantic Challenge

by Donald Blount & Louis T. Codega
Presentation to The Hampton Roads Section SNAME

This month we look back at one of our founder’s greatest achievements – DESTRIERO. DESTRIERO was designed in the late 1980’s by our founder, Donald L. Blount, with the objective of becoming the fastest vessel to ever cross the Atlantic Ocean. The conceptual design of the vessel required the trade space for hull dimensions to be explored quickly without much information. Donald developed an easily adaptable process, using information available in the public domain to zero in on vessel size to meet a set of requirements.

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gnD5r2TC

07/29/2022

// GUTHRIE 66’ – A Boatload of Potential

▶️ At the end of 2020, DLBA Naval Architects was brought in to scan the entire exterior and all interior compartments of the partially built Guthrie 66’ at Croswait Custom Composites in Wanchese, NC. The scans, and resulting surface models turned out great. Since then, much interest has been bubbling to the surface by potential new owners to finish that boat. She’s a robust build with framed hull structure, using extra Okoume along with the main internal frames and longitudinal stringers, truly a woodworking piece of art. The hull form is both beautiful and well designed to handle the snottiest conditions comfortably.

🖥 Discover more: https://lnkd.in/eKcQwQFU

07/20/2022

// @ DLBA Naval Architects, we do the legwork so you can enjoy the results. Here’s a 43’ (13m) catamaran by whom we assisted last year by reviewing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results to inform their creation of an efficient stepped hull, balancing safety and performance while operating close to the threshold of dynamic instability. In their run in late June, they got her up to 73mph (63 knots) while carrying her 5,800kg (12,000 lbs.) of weight. An representative told us, “Its having good longitudinal stability within the trim angle range of ‘2.5 degrees, and we don’t feel any porpoising throughout the ride, dynamic instabilities in running and turning as we have been expected with this geometry.” It’s so gratifying to see our contributions to our client’s work come to life. We look forward to working with on future projects.

by Design

07/15/2022

DONALD L BLOUNT
1935 - 2022

Pioneer in High Speed Craft Design Passes

Donald L. Blount, an international esteemed technical expert in the field of high-speed craft hydrodynamics died on July 14, 2022 at the age of 87. Donald was driven all his life to do one job: design high-speed powerboats that could comfortably and efficiently run through rough water. His fascination with hydrodynamics began when he was a Virginia Tech co-op student working at the David Taylor Model Basin, the Navy's premier hydrodynamic research facility.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/g_vDRmPy

07/11/2022

// WEBINAR INVITE Going with the Flow
Modern Appendages & Ride Control

Sure, your boat looks great above the waterline – but below the waterline is where great performance originates. Tune in to our webinar “Going with the Flow” where together we will explore modern appendages and ride control options that can unlock increased performance of your vessel.

Discover more and registration: https://lnkd.in/efddBdDc

Sure, your boat looks great above the waterline - but below the waterline is where great performance originates. Tune in to our webinar “Going with the Flow” where together we will explore modern appendages and ride control options that can unlock increased performance of your vessel. Some topic...