Matt Langenfeld wrote in message ink.net...
New concepts (plus to yaks/canoes I want for personal use) are prototpyed.

All my plans have a prototype that is an actual/similar design. Or are
in the process of being built. Example: The Swamp Girl was a custom
design request and then the builder built one and sent in pictures. I
expect pictures of the Buccaneer and Hiawatha in the next week or 2.

I have 3 other designs that are not currently shown being built that
I'll release once I have pictures of them.

So far I've had no incidences of a "bad design" (knock on marine
plywood). So when I release plans without actual pictures, I'm pretty
confident there will be no issues.

Real pictures of boats actually built give credibility to your designs.
Until you get a repuatation like Jacques Mertens, a new designer alomst
has to prove themselves.

BTW, I really like your War Canoe. Very cool lines!

Thanks. The WarCanoe is a perfect example.. That boat could make me a
fortune in plans, I get requests constantly. I built 5 hulls before I
got one that worked and have had no less than a dozen different
paddlers of different skill levels use the boat, have taken it out a
couple of dozen times myself, two seasons, pond, lake, river, sound...
Hopefully, this season I will have enough info to feel confident
enough to reccomend and sell the plans .

I have to confess, my interest is selfish. I constantly worry about
these computer generated plans being sold without being tested. If we
as amateur designers are not careful we will end up with laws like the
Brits which would put you and me completely out of business (as it
were . Amateurs can not sell a boat for something like five years.
If you wish to sell plans or boats professionally, you need to submit
those plans the man for approval (read, many frekin' euros!), and to
sell boats you must provide two completed hulls to the man (read, one
for testing, one for his kids!) and have them "approved". If enough
folks buy untested plans from some (not suggesting you) who really are
not familiar with the style and use of the particular hull they drew
and how it may act if someone for instance gets caught in the wrong
conditins, folks could start getting hurt. Enough folks (or the right
one person) get(s) hurt, we are liable to see rediculous regulations
like many of our mates in Europe. This really scares the hell out of
me as I don't build enough boats to make a living, but to many to keep
them hanging around the yard...

Scotty, rant-off, flame proof suit on



--
Matt Langenfeld
JEM Watercraft
http://jem.e-boat.net/

Backyard Renegade wrote:

Nice report. Do you build and test all of your plans before selling
them? I ask cause I do not see finished hulls for many of the plans
you have for sale. In the interest of full disclosure I must note that
I too have a dozen or so sets of plans on the drawing board but only
sell two of them as those are the only ones which have been built
several times and extensively tested.
Thanks for your response, Scotty from SmallBoats.com