Funny, I was thinking that the only 15 ft boat
I can recall that has a cabin is a Potter.
Your comment about the free computer programs coincides
exactly with my experience. They almost work.
I've tried working with cad and programs like
Carlsons Hull, but have never had much success with them.
Sure, Cad type programs work great, if you know how to use them.
Personally I prefer to manually draw a lines plan, then
loft it, then build. I've only actually done this, start to finish,
once. Everything else I've ever built was from an existing design
that I modified. I've drawn a lot of small boat designs though.
I just like to work larger than a little screen will let me.
I can stand back and look at it and site down a line from the side.
Why go the computer route? Ok ok..there are a lot of reasons, I know.
My previous suggestion...the one that Per jumped on...to bring a file to
a computer router guy would not be my first choice.
I assume this boat is plywood. Yes? That makes a big diference because
the work of drawing it, either manually or on a computer is simplified.
I was more interested in the path that your thinking might take during
the design process. Something like a flow chart. A graphic line with
stops along the way. If you can map that out, mabey copy or repeat
someone else's path, then you might get to where you want.
If you want to bush wack thru the pucker brush, well, you'll get
bloody in the process.
If you want to email me any of the scanned sketches, I'd be happy to
offer my 2cents.
William R. Watt wrote:
stevej ) writes:
William R. Watt wrote:
The best
ones have the simplest set of essential information.
Man, ain't that the truth. You got to SIMPLIFY.
But I don't understand, if you can build a model, why
can't you draw it?
...
So, why do you even want to "get it down on paper"?
Is it to sell the design?
You mentioned that you don't plan on building it.
Who will build it?
I see plenty of amateur boat building projects on the Internet but rarely
an amateur boat designing project. I can only think of one for a one sheet
boat and Barend Migchelsen's geometric analysis of a dory. I thought I'd
try to design a boat and show the process on my website. It's a boat I'd
like to build and sail but that's not practical for me to do. The boat
is kind of unique so I'm starting from scratch. The closest boat to it I'm
aware of is the 15 ft West Wight Potter. This is a first for me.
As part of the project I'm using some free computer programs off the net
and hope to write up some guidance on how and when to use these particular
programs as well. I'm using three because no one gives me enough
information. Although the computer programs produce line drawings from
tables of offsets I'm not happy with the way they smooth the curves as I
manipulate the offsets. I don't know how to get any of them to draw a flat
run. Those are important because I hope to use the numbers one program
puts out for cutting the plywood panels.
I've scanned sketches and captured screen images. If all goes well I hope
to take photos of models and scan them too.
If it's ever finished I won't be selling plans. People could use the design
for free as long as they don't use it for profit.
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