boat design - art or science?

[BMcF]

Originally Posted by kach22i

After isn't a SES a derivative of a fast catamaran?

Actually no..the SES was around as the 'sidewall hovercraft' for quite some time before Westamaran debuted their frumpy-looking 'fast' powered ferry cats (W88?) in the 70s. The invention of the SES (patent-wsie anyway) is attributed to a good friend of mine, Al Ford...said patent granted in the 1950s. However, the first SES that I am aware of was invented by Thornycroft in the late 19th centry and the tow-tank model still exists. Of course, Herreshoff had his sailing cat at the same time..but the SES and cat designs never converged as competing (and similar looking) powered concepts until recent times.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by BMcF

Actually no..the SES was around as the 'sidewall hovercraft' for quite some time before Westamaran debuted their frumpy-looking 'fast' powered ferry cats (W88?) in the 70s. The invention of the SES (patent-wsie anyway) is attributed to a good friend of mine, Al Ford...said patent granted in the 1950s. However, the first SES that I am aware of was invented by Thornycroft in the late 19th centry and the tow-tank model still exists. Of course, Herreshoff had his sailing cat at the same time..but the SES and cat designs never converged as competing (and similar looking) powered concepts until recent times.

I've always thought of the SES as a type of hovercraft, but marketing wise it's may be best to sell it as something more familiar (CAT).

Thanks for the history lesson BMcF, these names are all new to me (know "Thornycroft " though).

[AleX`G]

IMHO if you are building something that needs to serve a purpose then you need to base your ideas on science to make sure it works. Anything beyond that will affect how it works sometimes the raw design may look good as soon as designers add things they compromise even more on the efficiency at which the thing does its job.
I would say the same is true for buildings and boats as well as cars but buildings is more inclined towards art because they can get away with so much 'adding of stuff' that it will not compromise the efficiency of the building.

There is not much art in a plane because if there was it wouldnt fly. I would say on the other hand that art can inspire ideas and that in turn is science but people who actually practice art in this way are judging the efficiency of the thing on its effect on humans and our brains more of a mental efficiency more than a physical one.

Alex

[ssnoopys]

Hello,
I am totally agree with your opinion that boat design is an art but In now days it is running as a business in art.

[NADreamcatcher]

Perhaps artistic viewpoint belongs to the eye of the beholder but the focal point of view through a lens from the same point of view is science. Black is to white what economics are to desire.