Velocity prediction is specially important at the early design stages. On the other hand, if you don't have a big budget for resistance analysis with a CFD code or a bigger budget for tank testing, they can also estimates the final resistance of your designs with an acceptable approximation for specific conditions. But if you are dealing with high performance and/or unusual hull forms they can't help you much.
listed in alphabetical order!
Ahvpp	AHVPP/1 is a tool for predicting the performance of sailboats. In essence, it is a mathematical model of a sailing yacht. The program takes a yacht's hull offsets along with several other measurements, reduces them to a set of characteristic curves which are then used in formulas giving the surge and moments on the hull and sails as functions of boat speed, course angle, etc.
Autopower	Autopower's advanced user interface enables optimization of hull parameters based upon twelve independent resistance and propulsion methods. Features: 8 methods for displacement hulls, 1 method for semi-displacement hulls, 2 methods for planing hulls, 1 method for catamarans and propeller optimization. Methods based on empirical studies and approved tank methods. Analysis of 5 models concurrently. Hull parameters may be generated by Autoship.
Desp	The computer program DESP predicts the resistance and propulsion characteristics of displacement ships. The predictions are based on formulas obtained from a regression analysis on results of model experiments and sea trials. DESP can be used to estimate the speed and power in the early stages of the design. DESP can not be used for planing craft.
Fastyacht V++	FastYacht V++ velocity prediction software available stand alone or in the FastYacht drawing context. Runs real-time while drawing and does global design optimization. Provides IMS, Whitbread 60 and America's Cup rating information. Runs all types of yacht types and rigs, from proa to BOC to Admirals Cup.
Hullspeed	Hullspeed lets you estimate the resistance and power requirements for any Maxsurf design using industry standard prediction techniques. When designing a powered vessel using Maxsurf, Hullspeed provides a wide range of calculation methods to help you estimate the resistance and powering requirements of the hull. Calculation methods provided in Hullspeed include: Savitsky pre and post planing; Lahtiharju for planing vessels; Holtrop for fast displacement hulls; Series 60 for large ships; van Oortmerssen for full form hulls such as tugs and trawlers; and Delft systematic yacht series for sailing yachts. Hullspeed can automatically read in any Maxsurf design file and measure the required input parameters from it.
NavCad	NavCad is a software tool for the prediction and analysis of vessel speed and power performance. It also provides for the selection of suitable propulsion system components - engines, gears and propellers. It contains a "snapshot" of the project's principal parameters - such as Displacement, L/B or engine power. The Performance Summary is a spreadsheet of the current system performance. It is a complete look at the results of your project calculations, from resistance all the way through engine power, fuel rate and cavitation.
Powering	Powering is a code for ship resistance/power prediction based on regression analysis. Only few input parameters are required. The code can be applied to a variety of ship configurations, namely conventional slow ships, fast ships, semi-planing hulls and planning hulls. Correlation between numerical calculations and some experiments on catamarans on finite water depth was performed, with reasonable agreement.
PowerPrediction	The Power Prediction calculates the powering requirements of vessels covering a large range of hull forms from merchant ships to planing vessels, using a variety of analytical and regression methods. The program can calculate the effect of appendages and the effect of changes in hull form parameters. In addition to calculating the resistance and EHP, the program also calculates the propulsive coefficients for each speed.
Span	Span provides sailing performance analysis for yachts in a variety of sailing conditions and produces performance polar curves to show predicted speeds. Using calculation methods similar to the original IMS Velocity Performance Prediction Program, Span solves the equations for lift and drag for hull and rig and finds an equilibrium velocity and angle of heel. Span's calculations operate through a variety of true wind angles and speed and calculate with both spinnaker up and spinnaker down.
Windesign	WinDesign is a yacht velocity prediction program. You can work with more than one yacht at at time and move freely from one to another, transferring data between them, running the yachts as a group and comparing results against a selected trialhorse. You can use your own hydrodynamic and aerodynamic force data and produce a variety of meaningful outputs for evaluation and analysis. Wave resistance, heel drag, induced drag, canoe body and appendage friction drag, and added resistance in waves are based on advanced formulations.