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Master'sNaval, Offshore & Sports Nautical Applications open

Master’s in Small Craft & Personal Watercraft Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in small craft engineering and marine minimum viable products (MVP). 12 modules covering the small craft market, the MVP methodology, conceptual design, hydrostatics and seakeeping, resistance and propulsion, structure and construction, agile prototyping, systems, CE certification, user experience and commercial launch, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse the small craft market.

02

Apply the minimum viable product methodology.

03

Carry out the conceptual design of small craft.

04

Calculate stability, resistance and propulsion.

05

Select construction materials and processes.

06

Plan prototyping and certification.

07

Develop commercial launch strategies.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Small craft designers.
  • Marine product engineers.
  • Marine entrepreneurs bringing a new boat to market.
  • Prototyping technicians.
  • Certification managers.
  • Boatyard production managers.
  • Engineering and science graduates seeking to join leisure boatyards.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive 2013/53/EU (recreational craft and personal watercraft)
  • ISO 12217-1 (small craft stability and buoyancy for non-sailing boats of 6 m or more)
  • ISO 12215-5 (small craft hull construction: design pressures, design stresses and scantlings)
  • ISO 14946 (small craft maximum load capacity)
  • ISO 6185 (inflatable boats)
  • ISO 8666 (small craft principal data)
  • ISO 10133 (small craft DC electrical systems)
  • Maxsurf
  • Rhinoceros 3D
  • Fusion 360
  • SolidWorks
  • Orca3D
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Segments: inflatables, dinghies, kayaks and motorboats
  2. 1.2Manufacturers and business models
  3. 1.3Users and usage patterns
  4. 1.4Marine sales and distribution channels
  5. 1.5Rental, charter and the sharing economy
  6. 1.6Electrification and sustainability trends
  7. 1.7Competitor analysis and positioning
  8. 1.8Barriers to market entry
  9. 1.9Life cycle of a marine product
  10. 1.10Case study: market for a 5-metre motorboat
  1. 2.1The minimum viable product concept
  2. 2.2Lean startup methodology in the marine sector
  3. 2.3Defining value hypotheses
  4. 2.4Low- and high-fidelity prototypes
  5. 2.5Validation with users and skippers
  6. 2.6Product validation metrics
  7. 2.7Design iteration and pivoting
  8. 2.8Prototype funding and grants
  9. 2.9Industrial property protection
  10. 2.10Workshop: defining the MVP of an urban boat
  1. 3.1The naval design spiral
  2. 3.2Customer requirements and specification
  3. 3.3Main dimensions and ratios
  4. 3.4Hull type selection
  5. 3.5General arrangement and ergonomics
  6. 3.6Weight and centre of gravity estimation
  7. 3.7Deck and cockpit design
  8. 3.8Industrial design and aesthetics
  9. 3.9CAD tools for hull shape design
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: hull shape design of a dinghy with Maxsurf Modeler
  1. 4.1Hydrostatic and Bonjean curves
  2. 4.2Stability of small craft
  3. 4.3ISO 12217-1 and 12217-3 criteria
  4. 4.4Buoyancy and reserve buoyancy
  5. 4.5Design of unsinkable boats
  6. 4.6Behaviour in waves
  7. 4.7Manoeuvrability and steering
  8. 4.8Afloat stability testing
  9. 4.9Maximum load and person capacity
  10. 4.10Laboratory: load capacity calculation according to ISO 14946
  1. 5.1Resistance of planing hulls
  2. 5.2The Savitsky method
  3. 5.3Outboard engine selection
  4. 5.4Propellers and their selection
  5. 5.5Electric propulsion for small craft
  6. 5.6Waterjets in light craft
  7. 5.7Human-powered and assisted propulsion
  8. 5.8Fuel consumption and range
  9. 5.9Speed trials
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: speed prediction with Savitsky
  1. 6.1Scantlings according to ISO 12215
  2. 6.2Fibreglass construction
  3. 6.3Aluminium construction
  4. 6.4Rotomoulded polyethylene hulls
  5. 6.5Thermoplastics and thermoforming
  6. 6.6PVC and Hypalon fabrics
  7. 6.7Joints and hardware
  8. 6.8Weight control in production
  9. 6.9Industrialisation of construction
  10. 6.10Case study: material comparison for a tender
  1. 7.1Prototyping with additive manufacturing
  2. 7.2CNC machining of plugs and moulds
  3. 7.3Rapid moulds and composite moulds
  4. 7.4Scale prototypes for testing
  5. 7.5On-water prototype testing
  6. 7.6Short-run manufacturing
  7. 7.7Outsourcing processes
  8. 7.8Scaling up to production
  9. 7.9Manufacturing cost management
  10. 7.10Workshop: prototyping plan for a marine MVP
  1. 8.112 V electrical systems
  2. 8.2Fuel systems
  3. 8.3Steering systems
  4. 8.4Bilge pumping and drainage
  5. 8.5Basic navigation equipment
  6. 8.6COLREG navigation lights
  7. 8.7Mandatory safety equipment
  8. 8.8Accessories and customisation
  9. 8.9Connectivity and IoT sensors
  10. 8.10Practical exercise: electrical diagram of a motorboat
  1. 9.1Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU
  2. 9.2Design categories A, B, C and D
  3. 9.3Harmonised ISO standards
  4. 9.4Conformity assessment modules
  5. 9.5Technical file and EU declaration
  6. 9.6Builder's plate and CE marking
  7. 9.7Registration in Spain
  8. 9.8Boating licences
  9. 9.9Personal watercraft regulations
  10. 9.10Case study: certification route for a dinghy
  1. 10.1User-centred design
  2. 10.2Ergonomics of small craft
  3. 10.3Accessibility in boating
  4. 10.4Digital user experience
  5. 10.5After-sales service and warranty
  6. 10.6Subscription and rental models
  7. 10.7User community
  8. 10.8Complaint management
  9. 10.9Customer loyalty
  10. 10.10Laboratory: usability test of a prototype
  1. 11.1Launch strategy
  2. 11.2Pricing and margins
  3. 11.3Presence at boat shows
  4. 11.4Marine digital marketing
  5. 11.5Dealer network
  6. 11.6Boat exports
  7. 11.7Commercial and sales indicators
  8. 11.8Business scalability
  9. 11.9Investment and funding rounds
  10. 11.10Workshop: commercial launch plan
  1. 12.1Definition of the concept and hypotheses
  2. 12.2Boat design
  3. 12.3Stability and propulsion calculations
  4. 12.4Basic structural design
  5. 12.5Prototyping and validation plan
  6. 12.6Certification route
  7. 12.7Business model
  8. 12.8Project conclusions
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme can be combined with full-time work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Maxsurf, Rhinoceros 3D, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Orca3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is studied on real procedures for on-water prototype validation, stability and capacity calculation and CE certification planning. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Directive 2013/53/EU, ISO 12217-1, ISO 12215-5, ISO 14946, ISO 6185, ISO 8666, ISO 10133.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Directive 2013/53/EU, ISO 12217-1 and ISO 12215-5 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Maxsurf, Rhinoceros 3D, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Orca3D, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete small craft MVP, from concept and design to prototyping, certification route and business model, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

MVP definition
Define the minimum viable product for an urban boat.
Hull shape design
Design the hull shape of a dinghy with Maxsurf Modeler.
Speed prediction
Predict the speed of a planing hull using the Savitsky method.
Prototyping and certification plan
Plan the prototyping and CE certification route of the boat.
Master's Thesis
A complete small craft MVP, from concept and design to prototyping, certification route and business model, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Small craft designerMarine product engineerMarine entrepreneurPrototyping technicianCertification managerBoatyard production manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

Apply now Scholarships
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Maxsurf, Rhinoceros 3D, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Orca3D, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme's software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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