BoatMaster

BoatMaster is software that accurately simulates the maneuvering and docking of a boat. It allows the user to configure a motorboat, sailboat or houseboat and to operate that boat under varying conditions of wind and current. Dock lines and fenders can be used in conjunction with several dock configurations. This flexibility allows the user to set up different boat configurations and to vary the conditions used to practice boat handling and docking techniques. Three dock configurations are provided that have slips, side slips, wharfs and pilings. Motorboats, sailboats and houseboats can be simulated. They can be configured with single or twin engines which can be either inboards or outboards. The physical and mechanical attributes can be set for boats from 20 to 100 feet in length. A bow thruster can be also configured. Boat parameters can be set in either metric or english units of measure. Wind and current can be set to be either constant or varying in both direction and speed. The program is operated from the keyboard or from dialog type control consoles which use the mouse for control. OpenGL is used to render a 3D scene of the boat and dock as the simulation runs.