JOHN BLAND · RHINO CAD TUITION & CONSULTANCY
I’m John Bland. I help canvas makers, sailmakers and upholsterers use Rhino CAD for their own projects. Most tuition is live online over Microsoft Teams, so there’s no need to travel.
I’ve worked in marine canvas since 1981 and used CAD since 2001. I teach the whole process, from measuring and modelling to patterns for the workshop.
A Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 from my work at Tecsew, reference 8574. This is the sort of relationship between CAD and the finished job that I teach.
We can start with the basics or work on a problem you already have. Subjects include preparing measuring data, constructing surfaces, unrolling panels and designing framework.
We share our screens to work through your CAD projects together. With your consent, sessions are recorded and shared with you to revisit afterwards. You’re also welcome to attend in person by arrangement.
£200 per hour · Two-hour minimum · No VAT charged
How tuition works and what it costs →If you are choosing equipment or changing your design process, we can look at your options and sample data before you commit.
An initial two-hour Teams consultation is £400.
About consultancy →Frank, Kallum and Sam have shared these examples of their work.
Flybridge enclosures and fitted covers
Narrowboat and cruiser canopies
Sprayhoods and cockpit enclosures
“A year and a few months later, I feel confident tackling any cover project that comes my way.”
Jim’s work and full testimonial →“I’ve built a much stronger foundation and feel far more confident driving my own designs.”
“The biggest takeaway I have gained from John is learning how to prepare measuring data to create clean surfaces, create surfaces that unroll accurately, and design framework in CAD. These skills have transformed the way we work, resulting in significant time savings, greater accuracy, and a much more efficient workflow.”
“I’m very happy with the quality of the lessons. To be honest, if I did not found out about you, it would have taken me years to get on this level where I am at now. I had no experience in cad a few months back and now I’m producing sprayhoods that fit!”
“His teaching moves fast; in just a few hours he packs in an enormous amount of practical knowledge. And because he provides videos and transcripts of every session, you can easily search back through the transcripts to find exactly the moment you need in the video. His hard-won advice has helped me avoid mistakes I'd never have known to watch for. Highly recommended.”
“John doesn’t simply teach software. He empowers you to understand how to use it as a real design and communication tool, and his enthusiasm makes the learning process enjoyable along the way.”
“I attended two class's with John Bland. A group class and a 1-on-1. He explains in detail every step of the way and doesn't hurry through if you have questions. His deep experience in the industry really shows as well as his love for teaching. If your looking to get into marine CAD. This is the way.”
“I can't recommend John's courses enough. I've both taken a pre-scheduled class and scheduled 1:1 sessions with him. I will likely do it again in the future.”
I founded Tecsew and developed designs for private owners, boat builders, importers and dealers. I now help individuals and businesses around the world, both new to CAD and with years of experience.
More about John →My work at Tecsew was featured in Marine Fabricator. A cockpit enclosure designed through my CAD process received 10/10 in Yachting Monthly’s October 2015 review (PDF).
Music: “Inspired” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 4.0. Excerpted, crossfaded and volume adjusted.
A guided Rhino 8 workflow from measurements or a 3D boat model to frame design, developed canvas panels, production nesting and client presentation images.
Three- and four-bar designs, dog legs, aft extensions, windows and blinds are shown in the demonstration.
Explore Bimini DesignerIn development and beta testing.
NestMate is also in development. I’ll share more as the tools become ready.
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Tell me what you make, your CAD experience and where you need help. I’ll reply personally.