Marine and Vessel 3D Scanning

We laser scan yachts, workboats and marine structures and turn the point cloud into models that designers, joiners and fabricators can build from. Based in Lymington on the Solent, we work in yards across the South Coast and the UK.

Why scan a vessel

  • Refit and fit-out: true hull, deck and interior geometry for joinery, headlining and systems that fit first time
  • Fabrication: arches, davits, biminis, hardtops, swim platforms and rigging hardware modelled in Fusion and exported as STEP for CNC and the fabricator’s CAD
  • Deck layout and hardware: winch, track and fitting positions for racing optimisation
  • Engine room and piping: congested spaces captured once, routed in the model
  • Records: pre-purchase, insurance and class documentation of the vessel as it is
  • Marine structures: piers, jetties, pontoons, seawalls and slipways for condition and design
Laser scan mesh of the Fast 40 racing yacht Tschuss: 30 million triangles, hull, deck and rig captured with Leica scanners.

How we scan a boat

We are within easy reach of the yards at Southampton, the Hamble, Gosport, Cowes and Poole, and travel to yards and marinas anywhere in the UK. Capture is by Leica RTC360 and BLK360, with the DJI Matrice 4 for hulls and superstructures in dry dock; modelling is in Autodesk Fusion and Revit.

Afloat or on the hard, we set the scanner on deck, dockside and below to capture every surface with overlap, then register the stations in Leica Cyclone into one point cloud. In dry dock the drone captures the hull above the waterline and the superstructure from angles a tripod cannot reach. From the cloud we surface the hull and deck in Fusion and model the parts your project needs.

Deliverables

  • Registered point cloud (E57, RCP) of the whole vessel
  • Surfaced hull and deck model
  • Component models in STEP, IGES or Fusion for fabrication and CNC
  • General arrangement and section drawings in DWG and PDF
  • Photographic record and HDR panoramas

Recent marine work

Frequently asked questions

Can you scan a boat afloat?

Yes, for deck and interior. Hull scanning needs the boat out of the water; we combine scanner and drone capture in the yard.

How long does it take?

Most yachts up to 60 ft are captured in a day. Modelling depends on what you need: a hull surface takes days, a full fit-out model longer.

What does the fabricator receive?

A STEP or IGES file of the relevant area or part, plus the point cloud, so they can check fit before cutting metal.

Reach out to see how we can assist you

For expert advice and consultancy on your project, contact us today.

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