Custom Dreaming

[Laz]

I wasn't quite sure where to post this...
My family does bareboat charters every summer, usually around Block Island and Newport, but we've been to BVI, Upper Lake Michigan, and Charlotte Harbor FL. Over the years we've been on several different models (Hunter, C&C, Catalina, Island Packet, Jenneau) from 30-37 ft. On each boat we've found good and bad features, both in handling and in comfort/layout, some majorly brilliant and some trivial but clever.

I would like to find a way to take an existing boat (say the Catalina 36 mkII) and redesign the interior and cockpit to my liking.

All of the software discussed here involves hull shapes and speeds and materials, etc. Does anyone know of a program that lets you play around with interior layouts with 3-D models?

And when I've got my perfect design, who should I get to build it for me? I'm looking for a creative builder who understands that functionality and reliability is more important than varnish albedo.

Thanks in advance for your input.

-Laz

[ErikG]

Hi Laz

I don't think it's worth it!

You'll get a better boat with just the right style, seahandling abilities and layout as you want it if you have a custom designed boat built for you.

In regards to your questions. You really have to get the proper hull drawing to do the correct interior model in 3d.
If you don't have a perfect representaition of the hull, the hull will have to be measured quite extensively as you will not likely get the linesdrawings from the original designer. Unless you ask him to do the redesign of course!

If the changes are relatively minor I'd do it with a measuring tape and good oldfashioned pen and paper

If the reason to have it in 3D is to be able to get more of a feel for the look and design of the new layouts, you could do the basic layouts in Rhino and then make the final measurments of the yacht itself and make the construction drawings from those measurments.

Anyone else with thoughts on this matter?

Erik

[Laz]

Thanks Erik.
I have done a similar "remodelling" project on my house, and the 3D software really helped to figure out which layout would work the best.
Also, whether it's full-custom or a rework, I'll be using someone else's hull design, which brings me back to square one.
And then there's the cost factor. I can buy a used 35' sloop for $100-125K with sails etc. Can I buy a new full-custom for under $200K?
I'm not familiar with Rhino...
Thanks again for your response.
-Laz

[ErikG]

Obviously. But if you're prepared to put in some time yourself it should definetly be possible to have a custom boat built for under $ 200.000

The only issue is that when you do start with a project like this, you have to be aware that they tend to grow as they go along and getting more costly as you go.

One example that you could have a look at ia on this web page:
http://vsrt.seglar.nu/
It might not be your cup of tea, but this is a 33 foot performance oriented yacht being built here in Sweden.

The "true" total cost is difficult to say because how do you value your own time?

Erik

[Edit] Almost forgot... When hiring a yacht designer to do a custom yacht you can have as much to say about the design as you want. It's your money! And they all want it (i wish I could say "we all want it" but that's a bit further down the road)

I have done a similar "remodelling" project on my house, and the 3D software really helped to figure out which layout would work the best.

The difference is that with a house, things are (hopefully ) rectangular. A 3d house model is usually a 2d drawing extruded straight up with a roof and fenestration punched in. Whereas a boat is a much more complex curved model with the hull as a complicated 3d mesh. Also with a boat, inches really count, unlike with a house where in the design stage a 6" error is not a big deal. With a boat you really want things to fit as well as possible with the complicated hull shape - where will the dinette seat come to if the seat height is at x inches? How far aft will the forward berth have to come to maintain this width minimum at this height? What if I add an extra step up? Now can I fit a storage locker here after moving the dinette 6" and the forward berth 6", or is it too narrow now? I think for the best possible interior in a boat, if you want to model it in 3d you really do need a fairly good 3d hull model as Erik says.

[Polarity]

Hi Laz

I went through this.. ! http://boatdesign.net/forums/showthr...=&threadid=300

However I got a little carried away ...

http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/sh...t=1&thecat=500

I did however have the plans for the yacht on paper. If you can get a rough lines plan you can develope the hull shape.

Cheers

Paul!

[Laz]

Hi Paul;
Excellent! So Rhino is the way to go? I wonder if any of the boat mfgs will lend me their drawings? Probably not...

Thanks for the link to the forum and the drawing. You obviously put a lot of work into it.

-Laz

[Polarity]

Hi Laz

I propbably have about 5-600 hours in it, but that includes learning not only the Software but all the terminology as I had never touched any kind of drawing package, together with a lot of thinking and moving around. I would strongly recomend getting a copy of the "Boat Data Book" - Ian Nicolson, unless you know (for example) the size hatch required to fit a bagged genoa through, or all the seat dimensions for comfortable sitting!

Rhino has a fully functional Demo you can download - limited to 25 saves, and this includes an excellent tutorial. - There is quite a lot about rhino in these forums - as you may have noticed!

Re the plans if you have a plan,profile and body plan - in a picture format (ie scanned or off the web) you can put it in the background and trace over it to generate a hull shape to mess around with. You could always buy stock plans (Ted Brewer, Dudley Dix, Bruce Roberts, Van de Stadt, Ganley etc etc)

Good luck with it. Feel free to email/pm me if you have specific Q's you think I may be able to help on..

Cheers

Paul

[Polarity]

The Catalina 36 has a large owners site here
http://www.catalina36.org
and the brochures link has the plan and profile, if you could beg a body plan off someone together with an idea of the interior profile you would have everything you need.

Paul

[Laz]

Wow - thanks Paul!

Actually the responses from this forum have been quicker and more thorough than I expected, so now I'm behind. So now I have much to ponder...
This project is still a few years off, as we need to sell the children first. But it's good to dream and plan.

-Laz

[Laz]

Update - I downloaded the free trial of Rhino, and it looks like fun! Does anyone have a 34-37' sailboat hull I can use to play around with interiors and cockpits? Remember, I'm not trying to design a better hull, just a better place to sleep.
-Laz