Can I make a steel boat unsinkable & self righting?

[dskira]

Originally Posted by daiquiri

Byrd, too bad you don't speak italian (right?)...
If you did, I would recommend you a book "La mia barca sicura" (My safe boat - http://www.hoepli.it/libro/la-mia-ba...9788888389691), written by this guy, Ernesto Tross, who has had an unusual idea.

He has started by collecting and analysing available statistical data about boat accidents worldwide. Then he elaborated a set of strategies aimed at counter-fighting the main origins of accidents which came out of that analysis.

Finally, he transformed his ideas of safety into a design and ultimately into a boat. It is an ugly boat by any non-military standard, but definitely safer than average.
This is a page with some pics of that sailing caterpillar: http://www.cantierino.it/AGALLERIA/orsobianco/a.html

As soon as I find some free time, I'll try to translate the main guidelines from the book, which have led him to those unusual design choices.

Cheers

I like it, very interresting and quite a guy. I read Italian.
Realy neat, thank you.
Daniel

[daiquiri]

Thank you Daniel.
Actually, this is his second boat, the first one was made with similar principles. The second one is a product of both statistical analysis and his practical experience with the first boat. We are talking about a guy who has sailed all over the globe in the past decades.
If you can read italian, I really recommend buying that book. It has several really interesting and mind-stimulating parts about safety-oriented boat design.

[Ike]

another good book to look at Boatbuilding With Steel, Gilbert C. Klingel International Marine Publishing 1973

It's sort of the bible on building in steel. But learn the basics first. The Larsson and Eliasson book is excellent but you may be better off starting with something even more basic such as,
The Nature of Boats: Insights and Esoterica for the Nautically Obsessed , By David Gerr, International Marine 1995

[Byrd88]

D... That boat is PERFECT!!! And no I do not speak Italian & would be forced to use a translator... that are all pretty much terrible at doing actual translation. You are obviously very good at speaking English, as I can tell you have not used a translator. I assume the book you've suggested has the plans to build such a boat?? I see you are in engineering & design yourself... How much do think someone in your field would charge me to build a boat to those specs? I'm sure the price will hurt, but seemingly worth it. And you offering to translate the main guidelines is amazingly generous of you, I thank you for any & all help!! You sincerely have found the perfect boat for my requirements... Thank you D!!

[Byrd88]

Thank you again Ike... Especially on the steel boat building book, I will certainly attempt to find that in the near future.